Richmond pool season is short. Without a heater you get late May through early September. With a natural gas or propane pool heater you stretch that to March through November, and a heat pump pool heater can keep things comfortable on a 55 degree morning. Fresh Air handles the gas and electrical side of the install across Henrico, Chesterfield, Hanover, Powhatan, Goochland, and the surrounding counties. We work with your pool builder or service company on the plumbing tie-in.
For a gas pool heater we run a dedicated line from the meter or propane tank, size it for the BTU load (most residential heaters need a 1-inch or 1.25-inch line), set the regulator and shutoff, and pressure-test before the heater is fired. For a heat pump pool heater we pull a 240 volt dedicated circuit from the panel, install the disconnect at the unit, and bond the equipment to the pool grid. We coordinate the gas inspection with the county and, when possible, the electrical inspection on the same trip.
Most residential pool heater connections take 1 to 2 days. A long gas line run (over 75 feet from the meter, trenching through landscaping) or a panel upgrade to make room for the new circuit can add a day. Permits in Henrico and Chesterfield usually come back within a week.
A gas line and regulator for a pool heater runs $850 to $2,400 depending on distance, trenching, and whether the existing meter has capacity. A heat pump pool heater electrical hookup runs $650 to $1,800 depending on panel space and circuit length. A panel upgrade to 200 amp service adds $2,500 to $4,500 if needed.
Heat pump pool heaters do not qualify for the federal 25C residential energy credit (pool-use heat pumps are specifically excluded), but Dominion Energy occasionally runs efficiency incentives worth checking before you buy. Gas heaters do not carry rebates, but operating costs are predictable and the equipment lasts longer than most homeowners expect.
Fresh Air carries the Virginia licenses for HVAC (2710051155) and electrical, gas, and plumbing (2705143403), so one crew handles every piece of the connection except the pool plumbing itself. We have been doing residential gas work in the Richmond area since 2011 and have a track record with Henrico, Chesterfield, and Hanover inspectors. Our technicians are NATE-certified and current on the latest models from Pentair, Hayward, Raypak, and Jandy.
Call Fresh Air at 804-730-1999 or book online. We will walk the route, confirm the load, and have a written quote back to you, usually within 48 hours of the site visit.