Tips For Warming Up Your Pool
Weather is unpredictable, one day it can be warm and sunny, the next cloudy, chilly and breezy. This can be difficult for you as a swimming pool enthusiast, since you probably prefer to be able to enjoy your swimming pool with warm water every day all summer long. Agreed?
So how can you ensure that you can continue to enjoy your swimming pool despite the changeable weather? After all, nobody wants to swim in cold water! We at SunnyTent have listed a number of tips here for you. From practical tips to a number of questions that you, as a swimming pool owner should actually be able to answer when it comes to heating up your swimming pool.
Types Of Intex Pool Heaters
Intex pool heaters are often measured in BTU or British Thermal Unit. If a higher BTU is indicated that means the quicker that machine can heat your swimming pool.
Gas Pool Heaters
Using gas heaters is one of the most common ways you can heat an Intex pool as its fairly easy to use. And can heat your index pool quickly.
Most gas heaters use either propane gas or natural gas to heat your swimming pool.
The BTU that you need will highly depend on your pool size. The larger it is the higher BTU your pool requires for your gas heater.
Like any typical machine that uses gas, these heaters emit air pollution and can be expensive to operate as they can cost you anywhere from $300 to $600 per month. Of course, you also have to pay for the upfront cost of acquiring a gas heater thats anywhere between $1,000 to $1,500.
Heat Pumps
Heat pumps work by either using both electricity and your surrounding air or by electricity and a water source.
Heat pumps are a more efficient way to heat an Intex pool and will only cost $50 to $150 to operate monthly.
The main drawback of using heat pumps is that theyre more expensive to acquire than a gas heater. Their price usually ranges from $2,000 up to $4,000.
Solar Heating System
It works by utilizing your installed solar panels to transfer heat from the sun to your pool by letting your pool water pass through them.
But what if its raining or during the night when theres no sun to heat my solar panels?
Solar Covers or Blankets
Quick Recap
Size Of Your Swimming Pool
If your pool size is bigger, that means you need more time to heat your pool. To increase your pool temperature, you need more calories. According to the theory:
A calorie is the amount of heat it takes to raise the temperature of 1 gram of pure water 1 degree C at sea level. It takes 100 calories to heat 1 g.
If you have a larger pool, which means it can hold a larger amount of water, therefore, your pool needs extra time to absorb the required amount of calories or energy from the sun.
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Speaking Of Cop Choose A High Efficiency Hpph & Size It Correctly:
The COP is the efficiency rating of the HPPH. Heat pump pool heaters are really energy efficient and the energy efficiency of a heat pump pool heater is measured by the coefficient of performance . The higher the COP for the pool heater, the more energy efficient it is. Typically, COP is measured by testing a heat pump pool heater with an outdoor temperature of 80 degrees. COPs usually range from 3.0 to 7.0, which equates to a multiplying factor of around 500%. This means that for every unit of electricity it takes to run a compressor, you get 3-7 units of heat from it. This is why fitting the right size of heat pump for your pool is of primary importance for optimum efficiency and to minimize energy costs. Sizing a heat pump pool heater involves many different factors so whenever youre sizing a heat pump, the surface area of the pool is taken into consideration. Basically, a heater is sized based on the surface area of the pool and the difference between the pool and the average air temperatures.The variables for pool heating:
- Wind exposure factors
- Humidity levels for the area
- The Cooling factor in areas of lower night-time temperatures
Heat pump pool heaters are rated by Btu output and horsepower . Standard sizes include 3.5 hp/75,000 Btu, 5 hp/100,000 Btu, and 6 hp/125,000 Btu. To calculate heater size for an outdoor swimming pool, follow these steps to give an approximate required rating:
How Long Does It Take For A Pool To Warm Up With A Heater
The heating time of a swimming pool with heater or heat pumps depends on a few factors, such as heater or heat pump capacity, pool size, air temperature, and your desired temperature.
Heater or Heat Pump Capacity
To reduce your pool heating time, you can follow the heat pump sizing chart, if you are interested in a pool heater, then check for the accurate pool heater size. Every heater or heat pump manufacturer provides a clear sizing chart according to pool size vs required BTU or Kw.
Pool Size
A larger pool will require more time, however, if you have enough size of heater or heat pump, then, 8-12 hours is enough for a medium-sized inground pool.
Air Temperature
Surrounding air temperature is also a factor, especially, if you are heating with a heat pump, as the heat pump collects the heat from the surrounding air. For better efficiency of a heat pump, air temperature should be above 10 degrees Celsius.
Although you can heat your pool water by direct sunlight, there are many other effective solutions to heat a pool. It is because sunlight takes a lot of time to heat the pool water. Getting a solar pool heater can save you a lot of struggle in heating your pool water. Hence, you can use a solar panel or gas heater for the job. It will reduce the heating time and keep the water warm for a longer time.
That is why experts believe that using a gas heater is the best way to heat a pool quickly.
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Heating The Swimming Pool With Wood
You can also use a wood stove to heat your pool. In this system, the water needs to run along the stove, where it picks up the heat that is caused by the fire.
This type of heating is mainly used on smaller pools for occasional use. Heating a pool with wood is quite labour-intensive and wood is also expensive .
We do not recommend this system. If you want to heat a large pool with such a system, you will constantly have to supply it with wood.
How To Heat A Swimming Pool For Free
If you are a new swimming pool owner, you may be wondering how to heat a swimming pool for free. You may not have selected the pool heater you want to use.
Or the heaters you have looked at may not be cost-effective. Dont let this worry you. If you are looking at how to heat a swimming pool for free then well provide you with some answers.
Were here to show you cost-effective ways to heat your swimming pool. This way you will be able to keep your pool warmer without going to great expense.
Youll learn the different ways of keeping your pool heated. You will also learn how your pool loses heat and how to prevent this.
Now that you know there are cost-effective ways of keeping your pool warmer, lets have s look at how they work.
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Heat Pumps Compared With Other Pool Heating Systems
An electric pool heating system is expensive to use. It uses so much electricity that it can only be considered for whirlpools up to 1,500 L. An electric system is unsuitable for a standard pool of approx. 50,000 L.
The main drawback of gas or fuel oil heating systems is their low efficiency. These heating systems require 5 kW of energy to generate 1 kW of heat, whereas for a heat pump it is just the other way around. As a result, a great deal of energy is needed to heat a large swimming pool.
Solar systems are also quite popular pool heaters, but then you have to rely solely on the sun.
Cheap Ways To Heat A Pool This Summer
While every pool owner enjoys the experience of their warm swimming pool, the cost of heating the pool often tends to be significant. Even with highly efficient systems such as the Heat Pump Pool Heater , the cost often does not get that better for most people.
What new pool owners do not know is that there are cheap ways to heat a pool. In this article, you will learn how to heat a pool affordably.
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Do Black Garbage Bags Warm Up A Pool
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A swimming pool tarp, for example, that’s black on both sides is like a giant solar panel. Because a black tarp on a swimming pool’s water surface traps solar heat energy, it will eventually turn cool, refreshing pool water into a tepid, warm bath.
Similarly, can I use a regular tarp to cover my pool? An obvious solution is to cover the pool when it’s not in use to keep out foreign material, but custom-made swimming pool covers can be quite expensive. An alternative option, much less expensive, is to use a large plastic or vinyl tarp, secured at the corners with tent stakes and bungee cords.
In this way, how can I heat my pool cheaply?
Here are the seven cheapest ways to heat your pool this off-season.
Do Black Bottom pools keep water warmer?
A dark bottom pool can save you on energy cost compared to a light bottom pool. As mentioned earlier, the dark bottom pools absorb more of the sun’s heat and increases the water temperature accordingly. This can be a benefit that can make your swim season start earlier and last longer.
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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Using A Pool Heat Pump
A heat pump acts as solar mats but is not reliant on sunlight. It can be used in hot weather too as it only requires heat present in the air. A heat pump absorbs heat from the air and uses it to heat the water that is pumped inside. This water goes to the pool to warm it up. But as these pumps dont generate on their own, they still need warm temperatures to work. These pumps can only work from April to October.
They are cost-efficient as they only need a one-time expense of installation. And only a water pump is used in them to heat the water. These pumps need to be placed in an open area to operate and wont take much space.
In short, they are cost-effective, space-saving, easy to install, continuous, and can work all day. The only problem is, you cant use them in the winter. This is not because of the efficiency of heat pumps that is lesser in lower temperatures, but also because they might be getting jammed or damaged.
Dome Shaped Solar Collectors
The operation of the dome-shaped solar collectors is similar to that of the solar mats. However, the piping, in this case, is generally rolled up in some type of dome shape, where the water is heated.
Compared to the solar mats, this system takes up less space. Whenever you are not trying cold water swimming, one dome should help you heat an average of 5,000 liters.
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When To Call A Pro
Your pool is a major investment for your home, and it is one that will require ongoing maintenance so you can enjoy it for years to come. While winterizing a swimming pool can be accomplished on your own, it pays to hire a professional to do it for peace of mind.
Like many technicians, an experienced pool professional will have done the work of closing a pool many times over. They will be able to recognize any issues that need to be taken care of prior to reopening the pool next season. To avoid the disappointment of delaying that first swim next season, you may want to hire a pool pro to winterize your pool properly during the last days of the swim season.
Proper pool maintenance all season long can make it easier to winterize a swimming pool yourself. However, if you do not close it up properly, you could be in for a hefty repair bill next pool season. Be sure to call a pro for advice if you need any assistance in winterizing your pool for the off-season.
Use Liquid Solar Cover
As the name suggests, you will deal with the liquid chemical that works to create a barrier that prevents heat loss. Its specifically designed for the swimming pool which makes it safe for us and the environment. Though its not effective as visible solar cover, its still worth considering.
- Just follow the manufacturers instructions to find out the amount of liquid solar cover that you can add to your swimming pool.
So those are some ways that you can keep in mind when you want to heat up the pool without the heater. Of course, you dont have to bother paying the monthly bill, you just have to spend the money for the initial purchase.
Basically, you are going to rely on natural heat from sunlight when you use the options above to warm up your pool. It needs more effort but suits really well for you who have a limited budget.
Well, lets add this tutorial on how to heat a pool to your DIY projects list now!
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Heating A Pool With Sun
So, how long does it take a pool to warm up? If you want to heat a pool with the sun, you need a proper solution. Your pool must be able to absorb the heat to warm the pool water. All you need is a black water hose for the stream. Connect it to your tap and leave it in the direct sunlight. It absorbs the heat energy and gives you warm water when it comes out of the tap.
Black Water Hose
Although this process is slow, you can still heat water for free. On average, time to take for a pool to heat up by the sun is 8 to 12 hours.Also, note that you may not get your desired temperature only with the sun. You can increase its heating rate and more temperature by using a solar cover.
A solar cover traps the heat and keeps the pool water warm. This process requires a one-time investment and works without any maintenance cost.
Effective Solar Pool Heater
Heat your in-ground pool with this effective DIY solar pool heater that is easy to build. For less than $300 and just a couple hours of work, you will start raising the water temperature of your pool immediately.
Two 4 feet by 4 feet homemade solar panels is efficient enough to effectively heat a normal sized in-ground pool. One panel can heat a small pool and three can heat a large pool.
A couple hundred dollars is a small price to pay to keep your pool water at the right temperature! Plus, they are fun to make!
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How Warm Is Warm Enough
Everyone has their own preference regarding the temperature of their swimming water. Some want a temperature of at least 28 ° C, others are satisfied with a few degrees cooler. If you have a large swimming pool with a heat pump for example, then these extra few degrees on a yearly basis mean a lot higher energy bill.
So, try to find out for yourself what the ideal temperature is for you and what this may cost extra per year. With the SunnyTent, swimming water from mid-April to mid-September is almost always more than 25 degrees.
