I don't know if this is the place to ask this so please move if needed. Jane retired last year and wanted a in ground pool so last fall we had one put in. Now I would like it so she can get as much use out of it as possible . Anyone here heat their pool or hot tub with a wood heater and if so what kind. I have looked them up and found a few that could do the job but would like some input from anyone doing this. Thanks Greg B.
Many people run a big loop of hose or poly water pipe on a roof or build solar boxes. My parents did when I was a kid . Worked great.
might be the perfect application for a wood gasifer. Usually they need large mass storage to work efficently, not much more massive that a couple thousand gallons of pool water.
Quite the undertaking to heat that much pool water in the winter months. As mentioned a wood gasifier is the only thing that comes to mind. The hot tub idea would be easier to do, alot less water and not as much of a strain on the system to keep it warm.
I have known a few folks that did this for the hot water tub and a pool. But I've lost track of them and don't remember how they did it. So all I can say is that you should be able to make it work. The folks I knew lived in northern MI so they heated in some serious cold.
I was looking at this one any thoughts? 100% Type 304 Stainless Steel Heat Exchanger (83 total feet of pipe, handles up to 65-70 GPM) BTU input to the water of 100,000 to 125,000 per hour. (Adding wood every 1.0 to 1.5 hours) Comes with a 24" long, 8" diameter chimney pipe, cap & magnetic thermometer. Measures 35" high x 23" wide x 33" long and weighs 475 lbs. (Top Of Chimney Cap with 1 stove pipe = 5 feet) Inside of fire box measures 28" deep 18" wide and 20" tall. Can heat a 20,000 gallon pool by 1.0 full degree per hour with a good fire, solar cover and air temps over 55. Painted with heavy duty exterior Hi-Temp Satin glossy black paint. Capable of increasing the water temp from 65 to 85 degrees in 2 days on a 20,000 gallon pool, while covered with a solar blanket.
What a clever idea! Maybe tie in a pool heater along the way somewhere set at min temp incase gasifier needs help.
Guys the best part of this is Jane is all for it and I will need to cut a lot more wood!!! Maybe a few new saws a bigger Kubota tractor, wood shed,and many many more hours out back in the woods .
As a child I joined a friend's family on vacation in Vail, in winter. The pool was quite warm, 78*?. They had hundreds of small plastic balls floating on top to help with heat retention.
My in laws heat there pool with an OWB and a massive industrial plate exchanger my BIL scored at work.
