Picking a water heater
A common question Adelaide Spa owners ask is “what type of heating system should I install?”. Considering water heating is the second largest segment of household energy consumption and is the largest source of greenhouse gas emissions produced from Australian homeowners, deciding which water heating system to choose for your spa requires much more thought than “which is faster?”. We have done our research and laid out the pros and cons of each system, so you can choose one that suits you and your spa heating requirements.
- Electric Heater
- Gas Heater
- Heat Pump
Spa heating with an Electric Heater
With most Australian spa pools on the market today having a built-in conventional electrical heater and due to its simplistic nature, electric spa heater is by far the most common method used.
PROS
The benefit of this heating system is that its relatively “fuss free”, with most equipment contained underneath the spa cabinet along with no additional installation or connection required, they do a good job but if you are looking to reduce your running cost… this option may oppose a problem.
CONS
Heating your spa will take some time. On average electric heating will warm the water in your spa a degree an hour, and if you take into account the starting temperature, this not only takes some time to heat up but it can also be very costly especially if you live somewhere cold…like the Arctic.
Spa heating with gas
With the capacity to turn cold water into warm in a mere hour, its no surprise that gas heating is a favourite among commercial spa owners (hotels, spas and recreation centres) or people who have a gas heated pool/spa combo.
PROS
What makes Gas heating so appealing is its ability to heat your spa quickly. Take, for example, a 1000 litre spa, when heated by a gas heating system, it can warm your entire spa from cold in about an hour. When you compare this to its counterparts, we can all understand its appeal.
CONS
Before you go ahead and decide on a Gas Heating System for your Adelaide spa, there are a couple factors to keep in mind. While heating your spa quickly is great, and all, gas heating places second to heat pumps when it comes to energy (cost) efficiency. Gas heating systems are best suited for people with holiday homes who want to heat their spas quickly for occasional use. Initial startup fees for a Gas Heating System are quite costly. They are very expensive to buy, require a fair amount of space to be housed and not to mention the gas line will need to be professionally connected to and from your spa.
Spa heating with a Heat Pump
With its ability to transfer the heat in the air outside of your unit to the water stored in your heater through a heat transfer, Heat Pumps are the most energy efficient and cost-effective way to heat your spa on the market today.
PROS
These air sourced heating systems offer an array of benefits. With its ability to override your spa’s built-in electrical element and use up to 75% less energy, to it using around 55% less energy than Gas Heating, it is the clear winner amongst those who are looking to be cost-effective while being energy efficient.
CONS
Similar to the Electrical Heating System, Heat Pumps take about the same time to heat the water in your spa… around one hour per degree but think of it as a much more effective way of doing so. Since Heating Pumps are external, keep in mind that it will need to be installed outside of your spa by a professional technician.
Which Heating System is the best?
The answer to this question is mostly dependent on what your spa heating requirements are. From pre-installed to fast heating or something more cost efficient, each heating system offers something a little different. Contact one of our certified spa electricians today for free advice on which Adelaide spa heating system best suits you!