Raypak Heater Training & Pool Heating Q&A
Aloha Pools & Spas Deep Dive Podcast
John Watts: Welcome to another edition of the Aloha Pools & Spas Deep Dive Podcast. I’m John Watts, alongside Brad Cook. Brad, who do we have with us today?
Brad Cook: We’ve got a very impromptu podcast with TJ Redmond and Alex Santana from Raypak. They’re here training our staff on everything Raypak—the ins and outs of the service side and pool heaters in general.
Gas-fired heaters can make your pool the perfect temperature any time of year, so we’re excited to have them here. TJ has been with Raypak for nearly 25 years, so I think we’ve got the right expert in the room.
Getting Started in the Pool Industry
John: TJ, tell us a little about your background and how you ended up at Raypak.
TJ Redmond: I’m actually second-generation in the pool industry. My dad got into the business first, so I grew up around pools and equipment. From the time I was about six years old, I was helping out and learning about different products.
I worked summer jobs, spent time with Guardian Pools in Florida, and learned construction, remodeling, repair, and service. At one point, I thought I was done with the pool industry.
Brad: But it pulled you back in?
TJ: Exactly. I left for less than a year. Then I got a call, came back, and eventually found my way to Raypak.
John: That’s a story we hear a lot. Once people get into this industry, it seems to pull them back.
TJ: It really does. People outside the industry may not understand it, but it’s provided for a lot of families over the years. It’s a great business.
25 Years at Raypak
John: You’ve been there almost 25 years. What roles have you held?
TJ: I started as a sales assistant. We did well enough in Florida that they split the state into additional territories and gave me my own region.
Over the years I’ve worked with Puerto Rico, served as a heat pump specialist, spent time in the commercial division, and today I’m the Regional Service and Training Manager for the Southeast United States.
The Most Common Heater Question
John: What’s the question you get asked most often?
TJ: Easy: “My pool is this many gallons—how long will it take to heat?”
The problem is that’s a loaded question.
Brad: We were just talking about that yesterday.
TJ: Right, because there are so many factors. What’s the air temperature? How much wind is there? What’s the starting water temperature? What temperature are you trying to reach?
The biggest factor is actually the surface area of the pool. That’s where most of the heat escapes.
John: So surface area matters more than gallons?
TJ: Absolutely. Gallons matter, but surface area is usually the first thing I look at because that’s the “hole” where heat is constantly leaving the water.
Wind, ambient temperature, waterfalls, fountains, and customer expectations all play major roles.
What Determines Heater Size?
TJ: Every proper heater sizing comes down to three things:
- Location – Geographic area, exposure to wind, nearby water, etc.
- The Pool Itself – Size, features, waterfalls, fountains, and other equipment.
- Customer Expectations – Do they just want to take the chill off the water, or do they want to swim in February?
Those are completely different heating requirements.
Alex Santana: It also depends on what temperature they want. Some people are happy at 80°, others want 95° water.
TJ: Exactly. You can’t answer heating questions without knowing the customer’s goals.
Replacing an Existing Heater
John: If someone’s replacing an existing heater, what’s your first question?
TJ: Simple:
“Before the old heater started falling apart, were you happy with how it performed?”
If they say yes, then life is easy. We look at the BTU rating of the old heater and replace it with something comparable.
If they weren’t happy, then we start asking more questions about:
- Surface area
- Pool volume
- Desired temperature
- Lowest outdoor temperature they’ll swim in
- Wind exposure
- Water features
- Heat-up expectations
That’s when we dig deeper into sizing.
Gas Heater vs. Heat Pump
Brad: One thing we talk about a lot is whether customers should choose a gas heater or a heat pump.
TJ: Sometimes the answer is both.
A hybrid setup with a gas heater and a heat pump can be fantastic.
The gas heater gives you quick heat when you want it. The heat pump maintains temperature efficiently.
Alex: Plus, many heat pumps today can cool the water.
TJ: That’s a huge benefit. There’s nothing worse than a July weekend where it’s 98° outside and the pool is 95°.
Being able to cool the water down to something comfortable makes a big difference.
The “Trans Am vs. Honda” Customer
TJ: One of the first things I try to determine is what kind of customer I’m dealing with.
Are they a Trans Am customer or a Honda customer?
John: Explain that.
TJ: A Trans Am customer wants performance. They want the pool hot and they want it hot now.
A Honda customer wants efficiency and economy.
Neither one is wrong. The key is matching the equipment to the customer.
If you sell a high-performance gas heater to someone who really wanted efficiency, they’ll get the gas bill and never turn the heater on again.
Bigger Isn’t Always Better
John: Years ago it seemed like everyone just sold 400,000 BTU heaters.
TJ: And in many situations, bigger does help because nobody ever calls and says:
“My pool heated up too quickly.”
But there are still practical considerations.
The goal is to size equipment correctly so it isn’t running excessively every day.
For example, if a gas heater needs to run more than 7–8 hours daily just to maintain temperature, it’s probably undersized for the application.
Physics and equipment longevity don’t change regardless of the brand name on the equipment.
How Much Does It Cost to Run?
John: After price, I think the next question customers ask is, “How much is this going to cost me every month?”
TJ: That’s one of the biggest questions.
We can estimate operating costs using:
- Local electricity rates
- Natural gas rates
- Propane costs
- Pool size
- Desired temperature
The important thing is being realistic while helping customers understand what ownership looks like.
Can You Heat a Pool Year-Round?
Brad: We see people who want to use their pools all winter.
TJ: It can be done, but people need to understand what comes with it.
When it’s very cold outside, you’ll lose a tremendous amount of heat and water through evaporation.
You may need:
- Automatic water filling
- More chemical maintenance
- Additional heating capacity
There’s almost nothing we can’t do from a heating standpoint, but everything comes with a cost.
It’s a lot like buying a car. Everyone wants the leather seats and moonroof until they see the monthly payment.
Final Thoughts
John: This has been incredibly informative. We could probably talk for another hour, but I know you’ve got a room full of people waiting for training.
Brad: Thanks for joining us today.
Alex: Thanks for having us.
TJ: We appreciate it.
John: And thank you for tuning in to another Aloha Pools & Spas Deep Dive Podcast. Be sure to like, subscribe, and leave your questions below.
Most importantly—
Everyone: Dive safely.
