How To Heat Up My Above Ground Pool

How To Heat An Inflatable Or Above

BackHow to Heat an Inflatable or Above-Ground Swimming Pool

• How to Heat an Inflatable or Above-Ground Swimming Pool

How to Heat an Inflatable or Above-Ground Swimming Pool

If youre looking to make the most of summer, an above-ground pool is the perfect way to indulge in the sunshine!

Sadly, the summers sunny weather alone wont be enough to warm up the pool, especially in the UK! However, there are ways you can create a much more relaxing experience and warm-up that water!

Here at 1st Direct Pools, weve been working with pool owners for many years, helping them to find the perfect solutions for their pool. We stock a wide range of options, from the popular swimming pool heat pump to solar heat systems and electric/gas heaters.

Above-ground pool heaters are a fantastic way to get more use out of your pool! Heating your pool will not only make it more appealing during the summer, but it will also help you get more from your pool outside the summer season.

Finding A Torch With Good Consistency

While bigger is better, another focus youll want to keep in mind is finding a torch with good consistency. The consistency of a torch comes in its ability to create a steady flame. All the torches on this list are known for that in one way or another.

A constant flow of fire will allow you to have an even sear on your steak. This feature is often the difference between a proper sear and a burnt mess.

Professional chefs with a great deal of control prefer more giant flames because it saves them time in the kitchen. But a smaller, more controlled flame might be better for beginners.

Also, look for torches with a swirl flame that spread along the entirety of the meat. The swirling flame is great for covering a consistent area.

Five Best Blow Torches For Sous Vide

• With safety lock prevents accidental ignition and a wide set base helps to prevent it falling over. Long angled nozzle and burn-free finger guard keep your hand safely away from the flame.
• Refill the kitchen torch with any brand of butane, simply slide the security lock to open, light up with Piezo Ignition Technology.
• Ideal for caramelizing sugar atop creme brulee, glazing a baked ham, searing a steak, roasting bell peppers, melting cheese and toasting bread crumbs.

When we write this, . They do this by offering one of the highest quality products on the market.

The flame is just perfect for blazing over your meat. It gives just enough flame for you to be confident in that seared outer texture. However, it isnt too much fire to burn the meat.

The adjustable flame knob is located on the back, allowing you to control levels easily. The grip is also suitable for many hand sizes. Others have used the more robust flame features for resin or melting glass. Our preference is to use it for melting cheese.

The only pain behind this one is that it doesnt take the most popular butane tanks. As a result, filling it can be somewhat annoying.

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Eurkitchen Culinary Butane Torch

If youre looking for more torch options, try out the EurKitchen Butane Torch. This torch is designed with kitchen safety in mind. Its small and compact, so it fits perfectly in any kitchen. Theres also a finger guard against burns and a gas flow safety lock as well. Its also very lightweight for easy handling.

The flame produced is impeccable as well. Its adjustable up to 6 inches, and a maximum of 2370°F with the help of the gas flow regulators. The one touch ignition starts the flame fast, and the torch takes any form of butane for refilling.

This little torch is so versatile for home cooking, you can use it for so much more that sous vide. Caramelize sugar, melt cheese, glaze ham, even toast marshmallows! And of course, sear meat!

How To Heat A Swimming Pool

Ahhhh, a heated pool. Theres nothing quite as glorious as taking confidence in knowing that when you plunge into your pool youre not transforming into a polar bear.

What? You mean that jumping into an unexpectedly cold pool wasnt the experience you were going for? How about spending oh-too-long easing your way into liquid frost on a hot summer day.

Wouldnt it be nice to not only be able to enter your pool immediately, without the shock of the instant temperature change to your body, but also extend the swim season year after year? Sure would!

While a pool heater is the most efficient method for scoring a warm watered pool, there are other routes you can take to help heat up your pool and keep it open for a longer season.

Before we start, here are a few things to be aware of:

Not all pools will have similar results due to various factors. For example, the weather/climate and pool location play key roles in how your pool will react to these different heater types.

Picture this, in our home state of Tennessee, summer days will reach temperatures near 100 degrees Fahrenheit, while nighttime temperatures will only differ by 10-15 degrees.

However, if you are in Arizona for example, it may be upwards of 100 during the day and below 60 at night. This can cause quite a fluctuation in customer experiences. Similar to this is that a pool in humid climates will retain heat much better than that of a pool in a dryer climate.

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Features To Consider When Choosing A Torch For Sous Vide

Brands like Kollea, Bernzomatic and Sondiko design awesome sous vide torch enough to give you a choice paralysis during your selection process.

Most sous vide torches are uniquely designed for different users. Some prefer beginner-friendly models, while professionals and culinary artists desire advanced ones for industrial use.

You can consider lots of features during the selection process, but, in this section, we will focus on safety features, temperature and consistency, fuel, and construction, among others.

Why Should I Sear With A Torch

Searing with a torch allows for, much like sous vide, the precise control of heat. Sous vide is also a technique that uses searing to lock in flavour rather than developing a crust for basting, as with pan steaks. Although broilers will do in a pinch, torches allow for the considerate and precise application of heat.

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Optimize Pool Mechanical Systems

A well planned pool pump and filtration system helps energy efficiency & saves money. Plan from the beginning for extra valves to be fitted in pipe runs so that additional pool heating systems like a heat pump or solar panels can be easily retrofitted or drained down for winterizing in the future. A little more thought at the planning and installation phase always saves money in the long-term and lets you fit the most efficient heating systems to your pool in the years ahead. Instead of the classic Army acronym 7P’s, perhaps we should remember Proper Planning Provides the Possibility of Peak Pool Performance?

Why Use A Kitchen Torch At All

Finishing your sous vide dishes with a kitchen torch creates texture, flavor, and color contrast that makes the food more appealing and restaurant-like. Using a torch to sear allows you to get the perfect top without overcooking the food. If you love sous vide recipes, a kitchen torch is a must-have for your setup.

In addition to sous vide recipes, kitchen torches are also excellent for desserts and other baked goods. It adds the unique flavor and creates a texture from burnt sugar for a perfect look. Use a kitchen torch to take your home cooking experience to a whole new level.

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How To Install An Above

• Written by Bipasha Bhatia on Aug 12, 2010To ensure our content is always up-to-date with current information, best practices, and professional advice, articles are routinely reviewed by industry experts with years of hands-on experience.Reviewed by

An above-ground pool heater makes it possible to enjoy your pool for longer than just two hot months during the summer. The amount of difficulty involved really depends on the type of heater. There are gas heaters, electric heaters, and solar heaters. Normally a solar heater will have much lower energy costs but the actual pool heating may be inconsistent. Determine which works best for your pool and weather. Even if the weather is hot out, this does not ensure that the water will be warm.

Step 1 – Pick a Location

The area where the heater will be placed should be level. It is also not a good idea to place the heater directly on the ground. A cement slab is best but stone patio blocks will also work well. If the heater is powered by gas then it should be placed near the gas supply or gas line. Solar heaters will not require a connection to the house and can be placed anywhere, though a sunny spot is best.

Step 2 – Check the Water Connection

Step 3 – Install an Electrical Line

Check to see if you can install the electrical line yourself or if a professional electrician is needed. This will vary depending on your towns laws. An electrical line will need to be run from the heater to the breaker box.

Step 4 – Install a Gas Line

What Makes A Pool Too Cold

Swimming pools that are too cold is a much more common problem than them being too warm. Even here in Central Florida, a big percentage of pools are too cold for their owners even in the summer. If you live somewhere where it snows, you might be asking, Why. How can a swimming pool in Florida be too cold in the dead of summer? Well, there are a couple of things that cause it, but by far the main cause is a thing called a screen enclosure.

Screen enclosures for swimming pools are great. I wouldnt have one, but they are great. They keep the pool cleaner from things blowing in and offer a feeling of being more indoors. The screens keep a lot of things out from the outside world including direct sunlight. You may not think just a screen would matter much in terms of taking away the suns intensity, but it really does. The vast majority of pools that are screen enclosed are too cold for me to want to swim in them, even in July.

Trees are the other big culprit in keeping pool water cold. If a pool has a canopy of trees directly over it, its water will be cold. Some trees are better than others for blocking out the sun with oak trees being number one. Big oaks are beautiful, but you may learn to hate yours if they are hovering over your pool. Other trees like pines, elms, and maples are better as they let more sunlight through, but the pool will still be chilly.

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The Five Best Blow Torches For Sous Vide Cooking

Sous vide is an excellent cooking method you can use to get tender meat. However, the exterior of that meat leaves something to be desired for those who enjoy firmness., sous vide cooking should be supplemented by a kitchen torch to address this limitation. Here are the five best blow torches for sous vide cooking.

A blow torch for your kitchen works to add a crispy exterior to your meat. The firm finish ensures a soft inside and a well-done outside. Below, we have a list of the best sous vide torches you can use to meet this goal.

Jo Chef Kitchen Torch

Best Features: Multipurpose torch for indoor and outdoor use, high-quality built for durability, safe to use with child safety lock

Ideal for searing all types of sous vide dishes, this culinary torch is designed from premium materials for added strength. The multipurpose torch is perfect for caramelizing your food and taking it to the next level. The best feature of this one is that it is exceptionally safe. This one by Jo Chef includes a child safety lock to prevent accidents. There are also flame and hand protection guards to avoid flaring and offer maximum protection from heat during use.

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A Swimming Pool Chemical Calculator

Adjust sliders to calculate the time needed to heat the pool.

This calculator is approximate because it doesnt account for the many factors that impact heat loss in the swimming pool. The exact time needed to change the pool temperature will vary based on evaporation rate, convection losses, thermal radiation losses and conduction losses . One of the easiest ways to reduce heat loss is by using a pool cover it can reduce convection losses between 15%-25%. Always oversize when purchasing a pool heater. An undersized pool heater takes longer to heat and cost more money to operate.

More About Pool Heat

Pool Heat Evaporative Losses:

Swimming pool water on the surface is continually transitioning to water vapor. The heat energy used during the transition to water vapor is lost from the body of water reducing the overall temperature. Evaporative losses can account for 50% of swimming pool heat loss.

Convection Losses

Convection losses are similar to evaporative losses in that they are both related to environmental conditions impacting the surface area of the pool. Convection losses occur when air contacts the surface area and heat energy is transferred. This effect is similar to the chill felt on the skin from the breeze when exiting the pool. Convection losses can be responsible for 15%-25% of heat energy loss. These losses can easily be reduced with the use of a pool cover.

Thermal Radiation Losses

Bernzomatic Ts8000 High Intensity Trigger Start Torch

The TS8000 shares all of the useful features of the TS4000 mentioned above. However, the advantage of the TS8000 is that it has a larger high-intensity flame for maximum heat output. Bernzomatic states that it provides a 30% faster soldering time. I suspect you would see a similar improvement in searing time as well.

The TS8000 also has an adjustable flame control knob which allows you to adjust the size and intensity of the flame making this torch useful in more types of applications.

The TS8000 High Intensity Trigger Start Torch is available at for around $40.00 and at Home Depot for about $40.00. The torch is available at both retailers included in a “kit” which also includes a 14.1 oz. Map-Pro-filled cylinder.

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Steak Cooking Times For Sous Vide Method

Core temperature is the best way of determining how well cooked your flat iron steak is. A rare steak needs to reach a temperature in the middle, known as core temperature, of 50C / 122F.

Medium rare is at 55C / 130F and medium at 60C / 140F.

The time to reach the required core temperature will be determined by the thickness of your flat iron steak.

The thicker the steak, the longer time it will take to come to temperature.

The core temperature is reached by immersing the steak into a bath of water with the required temperature.

Work out your flat iron steak sous vide time here:

Thickness Required cooking time

1.5 inches 1 hour 45 minutes 2 inches 2 hours 50 minutes 2.5 inches 4 hours 15 minutes 3 inches 6 hours

Even though the times for thicker steaks look very long, remember that you do not need to be babysitting your steaks while they are cooking.

Remember you cannot overcook a steak when you use the sous vide technique as the core temperature will never go above the temperature of the water in the water bath.

And now lets cook.

Are You Purchasing A Heater Or A Heat Pump

Determining how long it takes to heat your pool depends on a couple of different things. Have you determined if you are purchasing a heater or a heat pump? Sure they both heat your pool, however, they do so in very different ways. Lets dig a little deeper.

Heat pumps are unique pieces of equipment in the sense that they dont create their own heat. Instead, it pulls heat from the ambient air and uses it to heat your pool water. If you live in a colder environment, you can see how this may present a problem. Heat pumps operate best when temperatures are above 50 degrees Fahrenheit. In temperatures below that, heat pumps cannot efficiently perform. As a result, pool owners need to run their heat pumps longer in order to heat their pool. That is why it is crucial to consider the average temperature in your area, especially during the cooler months, before purchasing your heat pump.

An undersized heat pump must run longer in order to heat the swimming pool. Longer running times mean a decrease in efficiency and higher operating costs. In short, its an all-around bad situation and purchases a gas heater instead.

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How To Stay Safe

Sous vide searing torch safety is mostly common sense. The tricky part is that searing is actually playing with fire. Its super fun and exciting. Remembering to use common sense is the hard part. Here are some easy tips to prepare yourself and your workspace.

• Choose a torch built for safety keep the flame away from your hands with nozzle length and heat guards
• Clear your workspace no towels, no cooking spray, no kids running around
• Use a heat resistant searing dish most normal cookware will work. Just dont try to sear food still on the drain pad or paper towels.
• Clear a safe zone around the searing dish
• Use the minimum effective dose of gas
• Ensure all valves are closed after searing to prevent leaks

Using a sous vide searing torch is an easy way to add the gourmet touches that transform your great meals into awesome meals. The most important step is choosing the best torch for you. Click here to learn more.