Use A Solar Heater & Pool Heat Pump Together To Maximize Savings
Of course, theres one method that cant be beaten when it comes to cost-effectiveness and performance. And thats because it involves using two of the most energy-efficient heating solutions available: pool heat pumps and solar pool heaters.
In this scenario, a pool owner uses the pool heat pump to achieve desired temperatures when needed, mainly using the solar heater to sustain the temperature. But whats great about this combination is that it greatly reduces how often you need to run your heat pump.
Working together, the two heating systems can easily keep the pool warm around the clock. While the pool heat pump covers the cloudy days and nights, the solar heater steps in on sunnier days to maintain the pool heat pumps hard work.
You can learn more about using these two pool heaters together in this post.
Cost: $25 $100
Think Carefully About Where You Put Your Pool
How do you determine exactly where you will place your pool? Is it because there is enough space or just because the swimming pool has always been there? The location that you choose is important both for cleaning your swimming pool and for warming up your swimming pool.
For example, do not place your Intex pool under or near a large tree. Everything that falls from the tree will then end up in your swimming pool. In addition, your swimming pool is then in the shade of the tree. So, try to look carefully where your swimming pool has the most sun hours.
Pool Color Effects The Amount Of Solar Gain
Black gets hot where white stays cool. Ever noticed that the color of your car effects how hot it gets when parked up in summer under a blazingly blue sky? It’s exactly the same with swimming pools… If located in a year round hot climate zone like New Mexico, Texas, Southern California or Florida then choosing the pool color shouldn’t just be about aesthetics. Neither should choosing a darker colored pool be ignored if in Quebec, Ontario, BC, Montana, New York or Illinois and serious about enjoying a backyard pool for as much of the year as possible without the pool heating costing the Earth. Literally.
Recommended Reading: Tibbetts Pool Entrance Fee
Invest In A Mechanical Evaporative Chiller
An evaporative pool chiller is a powerful way to cool off your pool in a hurry. Its basically like an air conditioning unit for your pool that works by using fans to cool the water as it travels through the system. These are most effective when used at night to take advantage of the cooler temperatures.
Not only can a pool cooler decrease your pool water temperature by 10 degrees Fahrenheit , they actually can help you save on pool chemical usage as well. As you probably know, warmer water burns through sanitizer at a much higher rate than cool water and can also be a breeding ground for bacteria.
With a pool full of nice cool water, your consumption of pool chemicals can easily take a plunge, making your pool less costly and easier to maintain all around.
Advantages & Drawbacks Of Pool Heat Pumps
The principal advantage of a pool heat pump is its high efficiency and low energy cost. Subject to normal use, the pool heating cost of a heat pump works out at 600 to 700 euros per year. This does, however, imply the use of a good-quality pool cover.
Unfortunately, heat pumps are slow heaters, so it will take a couple of days to heat the pool from around 15 °C to 28 °C. You can expect to achieve a daily gain of 2 °C.
A heat pump is also dependent on the ambient temperature. The efficiency of a heat pump increases at higher temperatures, and decreases at temperatures below 10 °C.
Pool heat pumps are often thought of as being extremely noisy, but in fact they are not. The sound level corresponds to a whispered conversation. The heat pump does not cause any noise pollution except within a 5 m radius.
Recommended Reading: Mandalay Bay Beach Gazebo
The Horticultural Greenhouse Principle For Heating The Water
In addition to the fact that the SunnyTent ensures that the water remains clean, the SunnyTent also ensures that the water remains warm. The SunnyTent uses the greenhouse principle for this. In a greenhouse, from mid-April to mid-September it is almost always more than 25 degrees. Even when the sun is not shining.
The SunnyTent is actually an all-in-one solution for your swimming pool, the water stays clean and warm without you have to purchase all kinds of expensive solutions or equipment for this.
Above Ground Pool Heater Installation
Pool heat pump installation is quick and easy, not to mention safe. You will have the added benefit of protection from carbon monoxide poisoning as the pool heat pump is heated. The heat pump is a state regulated device. Read the safety manual that comes with your unit and youll be fine.
Why use a Pool Heater? The weather is getting warmer so you are looking to get more pool time. An added benefit to a pool heater is that you are saving money.
Not only are you reducing your electric bill and adding to the bottom line but you are improving the quality of the water in your pool. Your pool will be cleaner as it is being constantly circulated, providing improved air quality. The pool is also being heated so it is getting used.
You May Like: Pristine Pools Pittsburgh
Average Heating Pool Cost
The average pool heat pump cost is highly dependent on which type of heater you are using. Say for example you opt to choose the Electrical Resistance Heater. Its equipment can be bought at around $2000 but its monthly operating cost can range from $500 to $600. The Gas Heater can be purchased at $1500 with the same operating cost as the Electrical Resistance Heater. The Heat Pumps is one of the cheapest based on operation cost. You can buy it at around $2000 to $4000 but the heated pool price is worth it as the operation cost is just around $50 to $150.
There is also the Solar Heaters which can be bought at around $4000 to $7000 but there is no additional cost for purchasing and using the product. The Solar Heater runs on sustainable energy and you wont be charged for any monthly fees. A standard swimming pool would be about 8m by 4m in size and would need a solar heater worth around $2500. The installation cost would range from $1250 to $1350.
Relaxation And Stress Relief
Owning a warm pool allows you to destress and relax, which can, in turn, soothe any aching muscles.
We hope this blog has helped answer some questions you had about heating options for your swimming pool. If you have any more queries, don’t hesitate to give our experienced team a call we are always on hand to help!
Recommended Reading: Covering Pool Equipment
Now Which Color Solar Cover Is Best
Clear solar covers allow more of the suns heat to penetrate the water and increase water temperature by about 15 degrees and prevent up to 95% of pool water and chemical evaporation. Dark blue solar covers are great for heat retention. So if you have a gas heater or pool heat pump, your heater wont need to run as long with a dark blue cover.
If you have a large pool, or if you often swim, removing the solar blanket can be a little bit annoying. You can cut the solar blanket into smaller panels and remove the pieces one at a time.
Or it might be worth investing in a solar cover reel.
Can You Add Heat To An Existing Pool
As a whole Heat pumps are not new technology, they have been around for a long time and installed on a regular basis for swimming pools. More than any other option for heating a pool, they allow you to keep your pool open longer.
The main reason being that they not only heat the water they can also use the energy from a photovoltaic solar blanket and reduce the amount of heat lost through convection. With the use of an integrated solar heat exchange system, a heat pump can increase the operating range of a pool by around 50%. Size & Size Requirements When choosing a heat pump you must make sure it is sized correctly for the size of your pool.
Most heat pump heaters are sized for between 6,000 to 12,000 gallons of water.
Read Also: Tibbits Pool Yonkers
How To Preserve Heat In Your Pool
Youve achieved the perfect pool temperature, but things like high winds and evaporation could cool down your pool water. A pool enclosure helps to protect your pool from winds and prevents evaporation keeping your pool toasty and warm.
Not to mention, pool covers help keep out debris and rainwater, which makes pool maintenance a lot easier. If you have an above-ground pool cover, we have make a dedicated article on the subject.
Types Of Swimming Pool Heaters
There are three main types of powered swimming pool heaters:
- Natural gas or propane pool heater
Each type of heater has a somewhat different mechanism of operation, which means each type has its own set of pros and cons.
Let’s dig deeper into the way each type of swimming pool heater type, how much you might spend to buy a typical heater of each type, and how much each type typically costs to run over the course of a swim season or calendar year.
Note: There are other types of pool heating systems, like wood burning stoves and electric resistance heaters. These are rarely used to heat residential inground pools, which is why we tend not to cover them. Let’s stick to a detailed explanation of solar, heat pump, and gas heaters.
Don’t Miss: How Can I Heat My Above Ground Pool
How To Heat A Pool Super Fast And Crazy Affordably
Looking for the best way to heat up your pool? Maybe you want to open up your pool early and start swimming ASAP. Or perhaps youd just like your water a little warmer throughout the swim season.
Three pool heaters can heat your pool: Solar, DIY options, and traditional pool heaters. So lets dive into the best ways to heat your pool quickly and efficiently.
Before we continue, if youre looking for help keeping your pool clean and clear throughout the season, check out our FREE Pool Care Cheat Sheet. Its a totally free, easy-to-use guide to help you keep track of taking care of your pool.
Heating Your Swimming Pool With A Heat Pump
Solar energy pool heating makes you reliant on the amount of sunlight. A heat pump is therefore a perfect alternative that does not rely on the sun for energy. That is also why it has for years been the most popular pool heating system in Belgium.
Using a heat pump for heating your pool water in fact provides numerous benefits. A heat pump is highly efficient, economical, easy to use, and durable. This type of heating is much more environmentally friendly than a gas or fuel pool heating system. In addition, heat pumps have a long service life. If you want efficient pool heating, you should choose a high-quality heat pump.
Also Check: Is The Mandalay Bay Pool Open Year Round
How To Calculate Your Pool Water Volume
You can easily calculate the water volume in your pool as follows:-
Round Pools
To calculate the volume of a round pool, you can use the formula
Pool Volume = 3.14 x radius x radius x depth
Example
A 12 diameter round above ground pool with a depth of 0.8m
Diameter = 12 x 0.305 = 3.66m
Radius = 3.66 / 2 = 1.83m
Volume = 3.14 x 1.83 x 1.83 x 0.8m = 8.4 m3
The Hot Splash supports pools up to 10m3 so would be ok for this pool
Rectangular Pools
How To Warm Up Your Pool Water
- Make sure your pool gets plenty of sunshine.
- Try removing trees and any other shade-creating plants or structures near the pool.
- Try using a solar pool cover — it absorbs the sun’s warmth while trapping heat in the pool.
- If you dont want to get a solar cover, you can place solar rings over the top of the pool to help absorb some warmth into the water.
- Shield your pool from the wind. Wind cools your pool water as it blows over the surface, so wind blockers can help retain heat if you live in a windy area.
- Heating mats can circulate pool water through mats warmed by the sun. They work best with smaller pools.
Recommended Reading: Pool Metal Sequestering Agent
How Much Does It Cost To Heat Pool
Who does not want to soak in a warm pool in a chilly weather but the average pool heat pump cost is making your budget go weary. The weather changes constantly and there are just some times that we and a couple of other people would like to take a dip. May it be because we are celebrating a birthday, a special occasion or even a holiday tradition, we dont run out of reasons to dive into an inviting body of water. But since no one wants to get into the water if it is freezing cold, an idea will then hit you. Should you get a pool heater? But will it consume too much electricity and will heated pool price eat up your bill?
There are several types of heater used in residences and they have different advantages and disadvantages. You have the option to choose which one best fits your needs. Here are the common types of pool heaters that you can buy: Electrical Resistance Heaters, Gas Heaters, Heat Pumps and Solar Heaters.
Once you have chosen the perfect heater for you, it is now time to think of the cost to heat pool.
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?
Read Also: Cary Ymca Pool
Warm Up The Pool And Retain The Heat
Heating up a swimming pool is the first step, then naturally the ideal is to retain this heat. Heat rises to the top, so a swimming pool loses the most heat via the surface. With a good insulating cover, you ensure that the heat is retained.
A possible cheap product that you could use for this is the solar sail from Intex, made from bubble wrap, but these sails do not last very long. A better and more sustainable option is a SunnyTent, which ensures that the heat is retained.
Back to all blogs
Do I Really Need A Pool Heater
We’ve found most pool shoppers prefer to have a pool heater installed if they have the opportunity. However, the upfront and ongoing costs of swimming pool heaters can be major deterrents to pool owners and prospective buyers.
The real question we’re often called on to ask is simple: do I need a pool heater?
Generally, most outdoor pools dont need heaters, especially in warmer climates. In some of the more northerly areas, pool heaters can be virtually a requirement to make your pool water comfortable enough to swim on a regular basis.
If you’ve got an indoor swimming pool, you’ll need a heater — you cant rely on the warmth of the sun to heat the water, and youll need to be able to regulate the pool water temperature to properly control the humidity in the indoor pool environment.
To decide if a pool heater is right for you, ask yourself these questions:
- Are you planning to enclose your outdoor pool?
- Do you strongly prefer to swim in warmer water?
- Will children or older adults be using your pool?
- Do you want a longer swim season ?
- Can you afford thousands of dollars in upfront costs, and hundreds in monthly or yearly ongoing costs, to keep your pool water warm?
If you answered yes to all or most of these questions, you might want to explore your options and start shopping around for a pool heater. We’ve written reviews of some top pool heaters on the market — click the link in this sentence to see our recommendations!
Recommended Reading: Dolphin Pool Cleaner Turns On But Won T Move
Cool Pool Water: 6 Ways To Keep Your Pool Water Cool
- |February 10, 2020
Swimming pools are a cool and refreshing way to beat the heat during the sweltering dog days of summer. There is nothing better on a hot day than jumping into the cool and rejuvenating water of your backyard pool.
So what can you do if your pool water has passed the point of refreshing and now just feels like warm chlorinated bathwater? Dont despair were going to share the best options out there for how to cool your pool in no time so you can actually enjoy your pool all summer long.
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.
Don’t Miss: Aria Las Vegas Pools
