Compare Gas Pool Heaters
Natural gas and propane heaters compared on BTU, thermal efficiency, heat exchanger, warranty, controls and relative price, with every figure traced to a manufacturer source.
A gas heater burns natural gas or propane and pushes that heat straight into the water. It is the only type whose output does not depend on the weather, and it is the only one that can bring a spa up to temperature while you finish dinner. Current gas pool heaters run in the low-to-mid 80 percent thermal efficiency range, so most of what you burn ends up in the pool.
It is also the most expensive heat per degree, and it is not close. Used the way gas is meant to be used — on demand, for a weekend, for a spa — that is entirely manageable. Used as an everyday pool heater from November through March on the Gulf Coast, it produces the utility bills that make people call us about a heat pump. If the pool gets used most weeks, compare heat pumps first.
Two things separate gas heaters in Florida. The first is the heat exchanger: cupro-nickel rather than plain copper, because salt air outside and a salt cell inside are both hard on copper. The second is the gas supply itself — large parts of Sarasota and Manatee County have no natural gas at the street, which means propane, a tank and a delivery contract. Check what is available at your address before you compare anything else.
Every gas heater we have researched
Specifications and manufacturer warranty information reviewed for the 2026 model year. Each heater page carries the date it was last checked and links to the manufacturer documents behind it.
Showing 9 of 16 gas heaters
Hayward · Universal H-Series
Hayward Universal H-Series H250FDN Gas Pool Heater
Model H250FDN
Heat OnlyFast heatMid-range- BTU input
- 250,000 BTU/hr
- Thermal efficiency
- 84%
- Heat exchanger
- Cupro-nickel
- Warranty
- 3-Year Parts / 1-Year Labor
- Wi-Fi / automation
- App Control via AutomationAutomation Compatible (Relay)
An average-sized Florida pool, or a pool with a small spa, where you want gas-speed heat without paying for 400,000 BTU you will never use.
MPH Equipment Score — 4.6/5How we rate heatersView detailsPentair · ETi
Pentair ETi 400 High-Efficiency Gas Pool Heater
Model ETi 400
Heat OnlyFast heatPremium- BTU input
- 400,000 BTU/hr
- Thermal efficiency
- 96%
- Heat exchanger
- Titanium
- Warranty
- 3-Year Parts & Labor
- Wi-Fi / automation
- Automation Compatible (Relay)
A high-use pool or pool-and-spa where the fuel bill is the deciding factor, and an owner willing to pay premium money up front and manage a condensing heater's condensate.
MPH Equipment Score — 4.5/5How we rate heatersView detailsRaypak · AVIA HD with NiTek
Raypak AVIA HD 404A with NiTek Gas Pool & Spa Heater
Model P-R404A-EN-N
Heat OnlyFast heatUpper mid-range- BTU input
- 399,000 BTU/hr
- Thermal efficiency
- 84%
- Heat exchanger
- NiTek (nickel alloy)
- Warranty
- 3-Year Parts & Labor
- Wi-Fi / automation
- Wi-Fi Built InAutomation Compatible (Relay)
A salt pool, a coastal lot, or any Florida pool whose chemistry does not get watched closely — the version of the AVIA to buy when the heat exchanger is the part you are worried about.
MPH Equipment Score — 4.1/5How we rate heatersView detailsJandy · JXiQ
Jandy JXiQ400NK Smart Gas Pool & Spa Heater
Model JXIQ400NK
Heat OnlyFast heatPremium- BTU input
- 399,000 BTU/hr
- Thermal efficiency
- 84%
- Heat exchanger
- Copper
- Warranty
- 1-Year Parts5-Year Heat Exchanger
- Wi-Fi / automation
- App Control via AutomationAutomation Compatible
A pool and spa owner who wants the heater itself to tell them, and their service company, what is going on — and who is already committed to a Jandy AquaLink system.
MPH Equipment Score — 4.0/5How we rate heatersView detailsHayward · Universal H-Series
Hayward Universal H-Series H250FDP Propane Pool Heater
Model H250FDP
Heat OnlyFast heatMid-range- BTU input
- 250,000 BTU/hr
- Thermal efficiency
- 84%
- Heat exchanger
- Cupro-nickel
- Warranty
- 3-Year Parts / 1-Year Labor
- Wi-Fi / automation
- App Control via AutomationAutomation Compatible (Relay)
A normal residential pool on a lot with no natural gas at the street, where a propane tank is the practical way to get gas-speed heat.
MPH Equipment Score — 4.6/5How we rate heatersView detailsHayward · Universal H-Series
Hayward Universal H-Series H400FDN Gas Pool Heater
Model H400FDN
Heat OnlyFast heatUpper mid-range- BTU input
- 399,900 BTU/hr
- Thermal efficiency
- 84%
- Heat exchanger
- Cupro-nickel
- Warranty
- 3-Year Parts / 1-Year Labor
- Wi-Fi / automation
- App Control via AutomationAutomation Compatible (Relay)
A large Florida pool, or a pool and spa combination, that needs to reach temperature on demand rather than hold it all season.
MPH Equipment Score — 4.6/5How we rate heatersView detailsHayward · Universal H-Series
Hayward Universal H-Series H400FDP Propane Pool Heater
Model H400FDP
Heat OnlyFast heatUpper mid-range- BTU input
- 399,900 BTU/hr
- Thermal efficiency
- 84%
- Heat exchanger
- Cupro-nickel
- Warranty
- 3-Year Parts / 1-Year Labor
- Wi-Fi / automation
- App Control via AutomationAutomation Compatible (Relay)
A large pool or a pool-and-spa combination on a lot with no gas main, where fast heat matters more than the cost of the propane it burns.
MPH Equipment Score — 4.6/5How we rate heatersView detailsPentair · MasterTemp HD
Pentair MasterTemp 400HD Heavy Duty Gas Pool Heater
Model MasterTemp 400HD
Heat OnlyFast heatUpper mid-range- BTU input
- 400,000 BTU/hr
- Thermal efficiency
- 82%
- Heat exchanger
- Cupro-nickel
- Warranty
- 2-Year Parts & Labor
- Wi-Fi / automation
- Automation Compatible
A large salt-water or coastal pool, or a pool and spa that gets used hard, where the exchanger material matters more than the last two points of efficiency.
MPH Equipment Score — 4.3/5How we rate heatersView detailsPentair · MasterTemp HD
Pentair MasterTemp 250HD Heavy Duty Gas Pool Heater
Model MasterTemp 250HD
Heat OnlyFast heatUpper mid-range- BTU input
- 250,000 BTU/hr
- Thermal efficiency
- 82%
- Heat exchanger
- Cupro-nickel
- Warranty
- 2-Year Parts & Labor
- Wi-Fi / automation
- Automation Compatible
An average-sized salt-water or coastal pool that wants a corrosion-resistant exchanger without the gas line, flow rate and fuel bill of a 400,000 BTU heater.
MPH Equipment Score — 4.2/5How we rate heatersView detailsPentair · MasterTemp
Pentair MasterTemp 400 NG Gas Pool Heater
Model MasterTemp 400 NG
Heat OnlyFast heatUpper mid-range- BTU input
- 400,000 BTU/hr
- Thermal efficiency
- 84%
- Heat exchanger
- Copper
- Warranty
- 2-Year Parts & Labor
- Wi-Fi / automation
- Automation Compatible
A large pool, or a pool and spa combination, on a pad that is already Pentair and an owner who wants heat on demand rather than an everyday running cost.
MPH Equipment Score — 4.2/5How we rate heatersView detailsPentair · MasterTemp
Pentair MasterTemp 250 NG Gas Pool Heater
Model MasterTemp 250 NG
Heat OnlyFast heatMid-range- BTU input
- 250,000 BTU/hr
- Thermal efficiency
- 84%
- Heat exchanger
- Copper
- Warranty
- 2-Year Parts & Labor
- Wi-Fi / automation
- Automation Compatible
An average-sized Florida pool with no spa, or a pool where gas is the backup to solar or a heat pump rather than the everyday heat source.
MPH Equipment Score — 4.1/5How we rate heatersView detailsJandy · JXi with VersaFlo
Jandy JXi400NK Gas Pool & Spa Heater with VersaFlo Integrated Bypass
Model JXI400NK
Heat OnlyFast heatUpper mid-range- BTU input
- 399,000 BTU/hr
- Thermal efficiency
- 84%
- Heat exchanger
- Copper
- Warranty
- 1-Year Parts5-Year Heat Exchanger
- Wi-Fi / automation
- App Control via AutomationAutomation Compatible
A pool running a variable-speed pump where the heater sits in the main plumbing all year and you want the pump to stop paying for it the eleven months it is idle.
MPH Equipment Score — 3.9/5How we rate heatersView detailsRaypak · AVIA
Raypak AVIA 264A Gas Pool & Spa Heater
Model P-R264A-EN-C
Heat OnlyFast heatMid-range- BTU input
- 264,000 BTU/hr
- Thermal efficiency
- 84%
- Heat exchanger
- Copper
- Warranty
- 3-Year Parts & Labor
- Wi-Fi / automation
- Wi-Fi Built InAutomation Compatible (Relay)
An average-size Florida pool where the owner wants three years of parts and labor cover, plus app control, without buying into an automation system.
MPH Equipment Score — 3.9/5How we rate heatersView detailsRaypak · AVIA
Raypak AVIA 404A Gas Pool & Spa Heater
Model P-R404A-EN-C
Heat OnlyFast heatUpper mid-range- BTU input
- 399,000 BTU/hr
- Thermal efficiency
- 84%
- Heat exchanger
- Copper
- Warranty
- 3-Year Parts & Labor
- Wi-Fi / automation
- Wi-Fi Built InAutomation Compatible (Relay)
A large Florida pool, or a pool and spa, where the owner wants spa-speed output and three years of parts and labor cover.
MPH Equipment Score — 3.9/5How we rate heatersView detailsJandy · JXi
Jandy JXi400N Gas Pool & Spa Heater
Model JXI400N
Heat OnlyFast heatUpper mid-range- BTU input
- 399,000 BTU/hr
- Thermal efficiency
- 84%
- Heat exchanger
- Copper
- Warranty
- 1-Year Parts
- Wi-Fi / automation
- App Control via AutomationAutomation Compatible
A large Gulf Coast pool, or a pool and spa combination, where the spa needs to be ready in under an hour and the equipment pad has no room to spare.
MPH Equipment Score — 3.6/5How we rate heatersView detailsJandy · JXi
Jandy JXi260N Gas Pool & Spa Heater
Model JXI260N
Heat OnlyFast heatMid-range- BTU input
- 260,000 BTU/hr
- Thermal efficiency
- 84%
- Heat exchanger
- Copper
- Warranty
- 1-Year Parts
- Wi-Fi / automation
- App Control via AutomationAutomation Compatible
An average-size Florida pool, or a pool with a small attached spa, on a pad where there is no room for a 400,000 BTU cabinet and no appetite for a 1-inch gas line.
MPH Equipment Score — 3.5/5How we rate heatersView details
Side by side
Identical rows for every product, derived from the same verified fields, so nothing here is comparing unlike things.
| Specification | Hayward Universal H-Series H250FDN Gas Pool HeaterH250FDN | Pentair ETi 400 High-Efficiency Gas Pool HeaterETi 400 | Raypak AVIA HD 404A with NiTek Gas Pool & Spa HeaterP-R404A-EN-N | Jandy JXiQ400NK Smart Gas Pool & Spa HeaterJXIQ400NK |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| BTU input | 250,000 BTU/hr | 400,000 BTU/hr | 399,000 BTU/hr | 399,000 BTU/hr |
| Fuel / power | Natural gas | Natural gas | Natural gas | Natural gas |
| Heat or heat + cool | Heat Only | Heat Only | Heat Only | Heat Only |
| Heat exchanger | Cupro-nickel — Standard on every Universal H-Series model, not a paid upgrade | Titanium — Titan-Tough direct-fire titanium, ASME certified construction; temperature rise 30°F ±5°F | NiTek (nickel alloy) — NiTek nickel-alloy straight tube — Raypak rates it 300% more erosion resistant than copper and 200% more than cupro-nickel on ASTM G73-10 (2017) liquid-impingement testing — with no efficiency penalty | Copper fin tube with polymer headers, a factory sacrificial anode and VersaFlo factory-installed — which is what earns the 5-year heat-exchanger warranty |
| Thermal efficiency | 84% thermal efficiency | 96% thermal efficiency (tested per ANSI Z21.56:19/CSA 4.7:19 2019, section 5.10) | 84% thermal efficiency | 84% thermal efficiency |
| Warranty | Parts: 3 years · Labor: 1 year field labor (3 years when sold by a Hayward Rewards dealer) | Parts: 3 years · Labor: 3 years | Parts: 3 years · Labor: 3 years | Parts: 1 year · Heat exchanger: 5 years (VersaFlo factory-installed) |
| Controls & automation | Onboard control pad with a two-digit temperature display and separate pool and spa setpoints; app control when connected to a Hayward Omni control system. | Digital display with Pool On / Spa On / Heater Off, Service System and Service Heater indicator lights, a five-error code history and readouts for both stack flue sensors; 2-wire dry contact for IntelliCenter, IntelliTouch or EasyTouch. | Digital control with built-in Raymote Wi-Fi — free app control, heat-time calculator and fleet monitoring. Third-party automation connects through a two- or three-wire dry-contact remote; RS-485 Modbus is reserved for Raypak AquaStar pumps and The Attendant. | Large 80-character digital display with live sensor readings and heat-up time estimate; Bluetooth diagnostics in the Fluidra Pro app for technicians; RS-485 into Jandy AquaLink, with iAquaLink app control through that system. |
| Relative price | $$ — Mid-range | $$$$ — Premium | $$$ — Upper mid-range | $$$$ — Premium |
| MPH Equipment ScoreHow we rate heaters | 4.6 / 5 | 4.5 / 5 | 4.1 / 5 | 4.0 / 5 |
Scroll the table sideways to see every column. Every row is derived from the same fields on each product, so the comparison is like for like. Showing the first 4 of 16 models — a side-by-side table stops being readable past that. Every other model has its own page in the list above.
Who makes gas heaters
Each brand hub covers the lines it builds, what we like about the equipment, what we would want you to know, and the sources behind every figure.
Comparisons and guides
Head-to-head tables and the background reading that usually settles the decision.
Want a straight recommendation on gas heaters?
We install and service pool heating in Sarasota, Manatee, Charlotte & Pinellas County, Florida. If you are outside that area, the comparison above is still yours to use — ask your local contractor the same questions.
Licensed & insured · Florida Certified Pool/Spa Contractor #CPC1460367 · Mon-Sat, 8am-6pm
Local installation
We install and service this equipment in Sarasota, Manatee, Charlotte & Pinellas County, Florida.
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More on gas & propane heaters
Natural gas versus propane, 250K versus 400K, heat exchangers, running cost, lifespan and the faults we see most.
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Mon-Sat, 8am-6pm · Licensed & insured · Florida Certified Pool/Spa Contractor CPC1460367