Westside Wholesale Frequently Asked Questions

To help determine the BTU size needed for your pool, we need to gather some information. Enter all of your information regarding your pool using the drop down menus and click on the "calculate" button. Please note that heat rise varies when dealing with different heaters. The usual recommendation is an increase of 1 to 1 and a half degree per hour. For further definitions, please scroll your mouse over the question marks.

Note: Most newer heaters are 83% efficient. Heaters manufactured prior to 1996 are 78% efficient. Please also note that these calculations are rough estimates as to which size pool heater you may need. Please print out this page and consult with a certified pool installer to verify the minimum heater size required for your pool, before placing an order.

(We recommend you size your heater one size larger than required)

Surface area of pool (Sq. ft): Used to determine the approximate square feet of surface in the pool's interior. The usual equation for a rectangular pool is Length x Width x 1.6 equals total square feet	200 300 400 500 600 700 800 900 1000
Efficiency of heater (%): Pool heater efficiency is expressed as a percentage, provided by the manufacturer, that represents the amount of energy a pool heater transfers to the water for each unit of energy (BTU) used to generate that heat. The US Department of Energy has mandated that all pool heaters have an efficiency rating of at least 78%.	75 76 77 78 79 80 81 82 83 84 85 86 87 88 89 90 91 92 93 94 95
Desired temperature rise (F): The desired temperature minus the average ambient air temperature. The desired temperature is simply the final temperature you'd like your pool water to reach. The average ambient air temperature is the average daily temperature and should be figured on the basis of the coldest month you plan on using your pool.	10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30
Wind (mph):	3.5 mph 11 mph
Altitude: If you live at an altitude 2,000 feet or more above sea level you will need a special model pool heater designed for that altitude. The difference in the oxygen level in the air necessitates this special model. Just one more thing to think about before purchasing a swimming pool heater!	Sea Level 1000 ft. 2000 ft. 3000 ft. 4000 ft. 5000 ft.
Required Natural Gas Heater Output (BTU/Hr.):
Minimum Natural Gas Heater Size Required:
Required Propane Heater Output (BTU/Hr.):
Minimum Propane Heater Size Required: