Difference Between a Propane Pool Heater & a Gas Pool Heater

Propane and natural gas pool heaters both provide the ability to heat large volumes of water at a faster pace than their electrical counterparts. Although both are very effective in meeting the end goal, there are differences that could lead you to prefer one over the other.

  1. Practicality

    • A propane pool heater is more practical for those without natural gas lines running to the property. It is most likely not logical to go through the trouble and inconvenience of paying for and laying new gas lines. Since propane is portable and refilled in tanks, it allows for heating in areas that may not be accessible to natural gas lines.

    Pricing

    • An advantage that both propane and natural gas heaters have over their electrical counterparts is price. Even though propane is significantly less than electric, natural gas pool heaters typically cost about half of what a propane heater does to run.

    Convenience

    • Although it's a simple process, additional effort must be used when using a propane pool heater as opposed to its natural gas counterpart. Propane is not provided through pipes to homes and therefore must be held in a tank. Tanks come in various sizes, all the way from a small tank that can be purchased at a gas station, to a very large tank that requires installation. Therefore, it is a minor inconvenience--but one that is still worth noting--that you must either take and physically refill your smaller propane tank or have someone come to your home to refill your larger tank for you.

    Properties

    • Heating units are measured in BTUs, or British Thermal Units. This measurement is used to determine how much energy it takes a heater to raise the temperature of something 1 degree Fahrenheit. With the same volume of gas present, propane can provide nearly 2 1/2 times more BTUs than natural gas. Propane is also heavier than natural gas, and therefore poses a greater risk of explosion if there is a leak and the gas is enclosed in an area that is not well-ventilated.

    Environment

    • For those who may be environmentally conscious, natural gas burns cleaner than propane because of differences in their chemical properties, thus releasing fewer pollutants into the air while your heater is running.