How Much Are Swimming Pool Heaters

Gas Heat Or Heat Pump

Whatever your climate, warmer or cooler, you will want to experience the comfort of heating your pool. Even if the air temperature seems warm enough, it doesn’t necessarily mean your pool’s water is comfortable enough to swim in.

The only way to continuously enjoy your pool is to heat the water to the perfect temperature, there are pool and spa heating solutions for every application, budget and climate – let’s explore them.

Types Of Pool Heaters

Solar Heating Least expensive way to heat your inground swimming pool, after the initial purchase of the solar heating panels you get free heat from the sun. Panels are mounted on a roof or you can build a rack or pavilion. The solar panels should be mounted where you get the most sunlight during the course of the day. The ideal location would be an unobstructed southern exposure. You can still use solar panels if you do not have a Southern exposure but you should increase the amount of solar panels in order to maintain the same efficiency.

When heating a pool with solar heating panels the temperature of the water increases slowly 1-3 degrees per day. A 15-20 degree temperature rise is possible, with warm, sunny weather. During rainy periods, heater output will diminish, until the air temperature climbs higher than the pool temperature.

Heat Pumps For inground pools, heat pumps require a 220v dedicated electrical line and depending on the size of the heat pump typically at least a minimum of a 40 amp breaker. They require a lot of amps to operate, but they are quite efficient, and are very cheap to operate, especially during the summer months.

Pool heat pumps work in the reverse of an air conditioning unit to transfer heat from the air into your swimming pool water. Warm outside air is drawn over an evaporator coil by a fan, the heat is transferred to your pool water as it runs through the heat exchanger and returns back to the pool warmer.

Best Solar Pool Heaters Reviewed

Now that we have identified the best from the lot, lets take a deeper quick look at the entire list to find out if we can find the one that suits your pool needs.

• SunQuest Solar panels are designed for both In-ground and Above-ground swimming pools
• MAX-FLOW design with 2 OD headers better water circulation less back pressure on your pump.
• Compatible with your existing pool pump.
• Increases pool water temperature up to 10 degrees.
• SunQuest is an easy do-it-yourself installation.

SunQuest Solar panels are designed for both In-ground and Above-ground swimming pools. They are specifically designed to allow better water circulation and less back pressure on your pump. This is a great solar pool heater as not only is it compatible with your existing pool pump but also increases the pool water temperature by up to 10 degrees. It also has energy-efficient solar panels that collect maximum solar energy which can be used as pool cover as well.

Pros:

• Increases pool water temperature to 10 degrees
• Uses a check valve to ensure maximum water flow

Cons:

• Installs on roof, rack, ground or fence
• Patented web design for maximum exposure to suns rays
• Uses existing pool pump
• Raises pool water temperature 6-10 degrees F

Pros:

• Lifetime limited warranty that includes freeze protection
• Industrial grade durability
• Strapless flush mounting
• Roof-friendly instalation

Pros:

Pros:

Pros:

Cons:

Pros:

• Highly efficient for above-ground pools
• Heats up water temp by 15 degrees

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Pentair Mastertemp Pool Heaters

You have probably heard about the quality and reputation of Pentair aquatic systems. They manufacture a variety of pool products that include: automation systems, lights, cleaners, heaters, filters, pool pumps and much more.

We will focus on two types of pool heaters, with a focus on the most popular and common size for each series Pentair 460736 and the Pentair 460737 . These are both 400,000 BTUs, which homeowners seem to buy in droves.

Natural Gas Models:

There are some variations to the heater, depending on the model.

• HD : Stands for Heavy-duty, which means it has a Cupro-Nickel Heat Exchanger.
• ASME: Designed for commercial applications, with enhanced features.
• Upgrades to thermal regulator include a governing stainless steel sleeve for better wear protection.
• All internal components of the bronze header are now plastic for lightweight, corrosion and wear protection.
• Ignition Control Module includes more diaphragm spring force for better gas control and robust operation.
• Fuller pre-mixed system with highly efficient air and gas mixture allows for faster heat up times.

Common Features

Compact design enables it easy to fit in small spaces. A completely pre-mixed system with an efficient air and gas mixture allows your MasterTemp to heat up fast.

A Bigger Inground Pool Heater is Better

This isnt a marketing ploy, it really is true. Bigger is better when it comes to buying an inground pool heater.

Pentair 460736 | Natural Gas | 400,000 BTU

manual

About Propane Gas Pool Heaters

The right pool heater will extend your swimming season by weeks or months, and make even the cloudiest summer day perfect for swimming. There are many types and styles of heaters, but only one will reliably heat your pool in a matter of no time with the flick of a switch. Propane heaters will heat your pool faster than electric or solar heaters, and unlike the latter they dont require clear skies to run. Whether it’s day or night, propane heaters will heat your pool to the perfect temperature.

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How Much Does It Cost To Open Or Close A Pool

The average costs to open a pool is around $400, and for pool closing expect to spend $300. These services include taking the cover off, cleaning the water of any debris, checking for leaks, and getting the chemicals to the right balance. At the end of the season, they can also take the water level down, drain pumps and the filter system, and place the cover to protect the pool for the winter.

Choose The Right Size For Your Solar Pool Heater

You should consider the number of solar thermal collectors concerning the surface area of your pool, the performance of the solar collectors, and the temperatures at your location. For most swimming pools, installing a solar collector array equal to 60% 75% of the pools surface area is more than enough. You might also want to couple your pool heating solar system with a solar cover, which is an excellent pool accessory that ensures your pool can retain heat.

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Solar Pool Heaters Cost

The price for solar heaters for pools might go from $3,500 to $8,000 depending on the size you need. If you live in a colder state or have a large pool you might want to install a larger solar pool heater. To reduce the cost of your solar heating system, you might want to invest in a pool solar cover, since the solar cover it is highly efficient in helping the pool retain heat and avoids pool water evaporation as well.

Why Trust The Spruce

This article was written by Erica Puisis, a home and lifestyle writer who has been researching the latest products for indoor and outdoor living for The Spruce since 2017. To compile this list, she considered a model’s heating capacity, components, power source, and price, along with each manufacturer’s reputation and reliability.

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How Do Solar Pool Heaters Work

The entire process is seamless once it has been installed.

Recommended Swimming Pool Heat Pumps

Here at 1st Direct Pools, we provide an array of poolside products and equipment. If you’re currently trying to find the perfect heater for your pool, we highly recommend looking at our great range of heat pumps. Below, we’ve chosen a great selection of heat pumps, from top-of-the-line models to more affordable alternatives.

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What Is The Best Heater For An Above Ground Pool Table

If you are looking for lightweight and highly efficient modules, sun2sun solar heated floors is your best option. It is recognized as the most powerful solar pool system. Increase the temperature in the pool when it is exposed to sufficient sunlight. The black polyolefin used is light, flexible and durable.

Do Pool Heaters Use A Lot Of Energy

Propane pool heaters require propane gas to operate. On average, using a propane pool heater for one hour requires four gallons of propane. A propane pool heater does not require connection to a gas line and therefore will not affect the cost of utilities. Electric and gas pool heaters require connection to your homes electric and/or gas and may cause a steep increase to your utility bill.

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What Are The Features To Look Out For

Design of solar panels

Design is one of the elements that define the performance of the pool heaters. They act as solar thermal collectors to catch energy from the sun to heat up your pool water. Some panels are most efficient in their performance than others therefore look for better solar panels while pool heaters.

Installation kit

While most pool heaters come with a DIY kit so that you can install the pool heater yourself. However, in the case of few other models, you have to purchase a separate installation kit and pay extra money. Also, some pool heaters have a universal installation feature, meaning you can install them anywhere. Others are less customized and can only be installed in specific places to get more light from the sun.

Warranty

Warranty is something that is least provided by most suppliers. It is vital to ensure that you dont face any unwanted problems with your defective product. You can contact the company to replace it. Therefore, you must look for a warranty before buying a pool heater.

Which is the better option?

Solar Pool Heater Advantages

Solar pool heaters come with a variety of pros that offset the disadvantages by a large margin. Here are some of the more obvious ones:

Easy maintenance

Theres very few parts in a solar pool heating system. Hence, it requires little to no maintenance for many years.

Adequate Heating

If you live somewhere with lots of sunlight then solar pool heaters have no issues raising the temperature of your pool. And when you couple the heater with a solar pool cover, youre in good shape to have a warm swim whenever you want.

Use Automatic Diverter Valves

With a little extra investment you can get an automatic diverter valve that automatically senses the pool temperature and diverts water to the solar panels. This means the system can be automated to keep you pool consistently at a certain temperature range.

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How An Electric Pool Heater Works

An electric pool heater works by heating water that’s circulated through the pool plumbing via the pump and filter system. An element in the assembly housing, inside the heater is superheated by electricity, similar to a stove, hair dryer or space heater in your home. This process is repeated until the desired water temperature is reached or the system is powered off.

The simplicity of how an electric pool heater works make it an attractive option for some pool owners. In addition to being easy to operate for the user, it means that you’ll most likely spend less money to service and maintain it.

Determining Heat Pump Swimming Pool Heater Efficiency

The energy efficiency of heat pump swimming pool heaters is measured by coefficient of performance . The higher the COP number, the more efficient. However, there is no standard test for measuring the COP. Therefore, you really can’t compare the COPs of different models unless you know that the manufacturers used the same test for each model. For example, the same heat pump will operate at a higher COP when the outside air temperature is higher.

Typically, manufacturers measure the COP by testing a heat pump pool heater with an outdoor temperature of 80ºF and pool temperature of 80ºF. COPs usually range from 3.0 to 7.0, which converts to an efficiency of 300%700%. This means that for every unit of electricity it takes to runs the compressor, you get 37 units of heat out of the heat pump.

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Electric Heat Pump Pros And Cons

Now that you have a rough idea of how electric heat pump pool heaters work and how much they cost, lets dive deeper into a broader range of benefits and drawbacks to owning an electric pool heat pump…

Pros of electric pool heat pumps:

• Energy efficient
• More environmentally friendly than gas heaters
• Long lifespan
• Lower monthly costs than gas heaters
• Can extend swim season by several weeks

The fact that electric heat pumps rely on the warmth of the surrounding air makes them more energy efficient and environmentally friendly than gas heaters. This upside isn’t without its drawbacks, as we’ll explain in just a moment.

Electric pool heat pumps also have long lifespans, ranging from about 10 to 20 years and guarantee relatively low monthly operating costs. Like other pool heaters, they can extend the swimming season by several weeks to several months, depending on the area.

Cons of electric heat pumps:

• Expensive to purchase and install
• May heat pool water slowly
• Typically can’t work in outside temperatures below 55 degrees Fahrenheit

Electric heat pumps can be a costly addition to your backyard oasis, and they can also take longer to heat your swimming pool water than gas heaters. Electric heat pumps tend to not work when the air temperature dips below 55 degrees Fahrenheit, which means they won’t typically operate effectively in colder weather.

A Swimming Pool Heater Is Just What You Need On Colder Days However How Much Do They Cost Which Model Is Best For Me And Do You Need One

• Follow

Do you sense like youre solely getting one weather season worth of usage out of your swimming pool? Would you hope to be able to do laps in the chillier months without thinking like youre floating in the Arctic Sea? If the response is yes, a swimming pool heater is a direction to go.

While supplementing a pool heater demands an upfront expense, it benefits you maximize your purchase by being capable to utilize your swimming pool and spa for much more of the time. Amidst setup and running costs, a pool heater costs between $500 and $7,000, with the medium cost around $2,200.

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Pool Heater Cost By Type

There are different types of swimming pool heaters. The most common swimming pool heaters are electric resistance, gas, , and solar. Most swimming pool heaters are suited to all types of pools but in some instances certain heaters are preferable.

The unit used to measure an electric or gas pool heater size is a BTU. This stands for British Thermal Unit, which is the standard unit in the industry to measure heat capacity. One pound of water can be heated 1°F with 1 BTU. The amount of BTUs needed will depend on the type of heater, for instance a heat pump will need fewer BTUs than a gas heater.

Swim Admission Policy For Children

Children five years old and younger:

• Must be accompanied in the water by a parent or adult guardian at least 16 years old
• The parent or guardian is responsible for the child’s direct supervision and must be within arms-reach of the child at all times
• Maximum two children per parent or adult guardian

Children aged six to nine:

• Must be accompanied in the water by a parent or guardian at least 14 years old or 16 years old for Wave Swims
• The parent or guardian is responsible for the child’s direct supervision and must be able to give immediate assistance if needed
• Non-swimmers must remain within arms’ reach of their parent or guardian
• Maximum four children per parent or guardian
• During wave swims, it is recommended that parents or guardians are within arms-reach of their children at all times regardless of swimming ability
• Must pass a Swim Test to access the deep end

Children aged ten to fifteen:

• May swim alone
• Always recommended to swim with a buddy
• Organized groups must meet a ratio of eight children per one guardian

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How To Compare Pool Heaters For Inground Pools

There are a few things to consider when choosing a heat pump pool heater – it is very important that you choose the right size for your pool during the installation process. The size of the heater is chosen based on the surface of the pool and the difference between the pool temperature and the average air temperature.