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There are those who will say that installing an outdoor natural gas appliance to stretch your summer fun is a luxury! You should instead see it as a way to maximize the return on your backyard which, from April to October turns into an extension of your kitchen and your family room. Face it, you are now a fan of outdoor living.

Stretch your pool season from spring to fall
Whether you have an in-ground or an above-ground pool, installing a water heating system will stretch out the number of days your family can take advantage of it! Before picking one of the heating options, here are a few questions you should ask yourself:

• Is your pool in a sunny or shaded part of your yard?
• When do you use it the most? Daytime? Day and night? Weekends?
• Would you like to stretch the pool season from spring to fall, or are you simply interested in keeping the average temperature steady throughout the summer?

There are several types of pool heating systems. Some use the heat of the day (heat pump) or of the sun (solar heater) to achieve their full potential. As a result, they will not be very effective if you want to stretch out the pool season. Electric and natural gas pool heaters are not weather-dependent, so they offer many more options and far more flexibility.

Taking into account your needs, along with the type and size of your pool, some pool specialists, natural gas suppliers or master electricians will be able to advise you on the most suitable pool heater. You can buy a pool heater from a pool specialist, but it will have to be installed by a natural gas contractor who is a member of the CMMTQ (Corporation des maîtres mécaniciens en tuyauterie du Québec) or by a master electrician. Please note that Enbridge Gaz is a natural gas distributor, and it neither sells nor installs pool heaters.

Why choose a natural gas pool heater?
One normally chooses a natural gas pool heater for its ability to quickly heat a large volume of water. A natural gas pool heater that has been adapted to the volume of water in your pool can heat it between 1.5°C and 2°C per hour, compared to an electric pool heater, which can only heat it 2°C per day! This ability to very quickly heat a large volume of water can help you save because you can decide not to heat your pool at certain times, for instance at night, without inconveniencing swimmers the next day.

Financial assistance for a natural gas heater
Depending on the model (number of BTUs) a natural gas pool heater can cost between $1,400 and $4,000. Then there is the cost of installation. Until December 31, 2017, Enbridge Gaz offers its customers $1,500 in financial assistance towards the purchase of a natural gas pool heater.

Installation of a natural gas pool heater
Installing a natural gas pool heater requires that it be connected to the natural gas supply to your home, which is in the lower part of the metre. Your natural gas contractor will look after that, and will contact Enbridge Gaz once the connection has been completed.

Connecting the pool heater involves burying a line in a trench 12 to 24 inches below ground. Before completing the installation, it is important to take into account any possible constraints, such as landscaping, bushes or patio stones that may be in the way of the connection. At least three working days before the excavation work, you must get Info-Excavation to locate all underground public utilities on your property, and to have in hand any useful information about the land once you start digging. The Info-Excavation service is free.