Spa Electric Heaters

Spa electric heaters are useful for unwinding and relaxing in colder climates and during winter seasons. They ensure that there will always be warm water waiting for you no matter the temperature. There are many different types of spa electric heaters available. It is vital to know of the types that are commonly available before you make a selection that suits you and your family's needs best.

The Metal Element

One common type is spa electric heaters that come with a metal element. They operate on the same basis as a kettle and is ideal for when space is an issue. When the power is switched on, electricity will run through the metal element which has high electrical resistance. Most of the electrical energy will be converted to heat at this stage. The produced heat will in turn, be transferred to passing water.

This type of spa electric heater typically produces between 6 kilowatts and 24 kilowatts of energy. It usually runs on its own circuit breakers due to the amps it draw. The amount of power it consumes falls in the same range as a small portable electric heater. It uses power every time the water temperature drops in order to retain heat in the water, which can conserve a lot of energy.

Additionally, its heating process is slow and can take more than half a day to heat up a spa, which renders it impractical to turn it off when not in use. An energy-saving tip would be to set the thermostat at a lower temperature when the spa is not in use and turn it up before using.

Heat Pumps

Another type of spa electric heaters utilise heat pumps which combines the heater with heat pumps. This is a rather new technology in the spa industry although it has been used for years in the air-conditioning and refrigeration industries. Rightly so too, as the technology works just like a refrigerator does, only in reverse. Instead of drawing in surrounding air for cooling purposes, the heat pump extracts the heat from the air using an electric-driven compressor and transfers the heat to the water. Spa electric heaters that have heat pumps operate on a plug and play system and are practical when laying a gas line is not an option.

Selecting The Best Type of Spa Electric Heater

In order to select the best spa electric heater for yourself, you need to pay attention to several things beforehand. Determine the amount of water that will need to be heated and the desired temperature that you want the water to be heated to. Also, are you willing to wait long for the water to be heated to the set temperature? Spa electric heaters usually come with a thermostatic control with a set maximum temperature of 40 degrees Celsius. Check if you can add in a form of flow control device to ensure the heater won't operate without sufficient water flow. This will help to prevent energy wastage and equipment failure.