Buy it from a local professional. I've been doing pools for 22 years I have found Ray pack to be the most reliable and dependable when it is an authentic unit

Having worked in the swimming pool business for over 13 years I can say this is the best heater you can buy. I've worked on many heaters including ones made by Teledyne Laars, Pentair, Sta-rite, Jandy, and Hayward. These are the reasons why I recommend this heater in my business: it has a simplistic, easy-to-work-on design with less wiring and moving parts. This is important because mice and insects destroy all of the heaters I mentioned at a faster rate. Raypak actually seals the computer board in a compartment that is almost impregnable. When something does go wrong the diagnosis is much simpler because there are fewer wires and parts. Frankly just about every other heater I work on is a complete nightmare in the wiring department. Over the years Raypak is the only company I've seen make meaningful changes to their product namely, protecting the delicate computer board and decreasing the size of the power supply.

As far as I'm concerned Raypak makes a really great pool heater. I just replaced a nearly 20yr old Raypak with a new Raypak 406k and absolutely love it! It is still one of the easiest to hook into a compool or aqualink control system, digital interface with precise target temp control (unlike a millivolt unit that is hard to dial in your temp with any accuracy). My father replaced his Raypak about a year before I did and his was about 17yrs old. His unit stays in direct sunlight while mine is always under shade, not sure if that is why I got extra years or not. I talked my brother in-law into replacing his 4yr old extremely troublesome and expensive Teledyne Laars with a Raypak, going on 8yrs now and not a single problem. I would give this product 10 stars if I could to offset the very unfair 1 star that the other guy left over a service dispute that was likely his fault to begine with, or perhaps a bad apple, either way Raypak is worth more than 1 star in my opinion.

I am a Pool and Spa installer and service company with over 25 years of in depth installations and repair of all types of heaters including Raypak heaters. I am also a warranty station for Raypak and therefor see the best and worst of what they create. I am a warranty station for other heater brands as well and I can tell you with 1st hand authority that Raypak has it together and is the best product out there.

Purchased a Hayward RAYPAK 266k BTU natural Gas Pool heater with digital ignition from INYOPOOLS about a month ago. Had it professionally installed. Nothing but trouble since. Very hard to light off the burners (the display’s favorite phrase is “Ignition Failure.” On those occasions when it does light it screams like a “BANSHEE.” Contacted INYO and they brushed me off to the manufacturer. Contacted Hayward and they said it was an install problem. Got the installer to talk to Hayward and then come out to look and fiddle with a “by-pass?” Still screams when lit but the noise goes away after a few minutes. The ignition failures persist. Extremely disappointed in this product and Hayward/Raypak. Would not recommend.