Many swimming pool owners wait with great anticipation every year for their swimming pool water to get warm enough to swim in. The days warm up but the nights are still cool so the heat gained during the day is released overnight. Several weeks may pass before the water warms up enough for swimming. But what if you could lengthen your swimming season by several weeks, or even several months? The good news is: you can, by installing a swimming pool heater.
In the spring and autumn months and in areas with cool summers you can warm the water in your pool with a pool heater. Considerably more heat is lost from above ground pools since they do not have the earth to insulate them and add warmth from the soil. An above ground pool is especially susceptible to heat loss due to the exposed sides..
There are three main types of swimming pool heaters to choose from.
Natural gas / propane pool heaters are most popular because of their fuel efficiency. Most models can be ordered for either natural gas or propane. The Jandy Jandy LXi heater is a great example of a highly energy efficient, easy to install gas heater. Gas heats water the fastest and is best when you need to raise the water temperature a number of degrees. Today’s natural gas / propane heaters carry energy efficiency ratings between 81% and 95%, making them the most popular type of pool heater. Thermostatic controls ensure that the heater only runs when the water temperature falls below the set level. Consider hiring a professional plumber to install your gas pool heater to insure that all connections are properly made and that all safety precautions have been taken.
Electric heat pumps draw heat from the outside air, compress it and use it to heat the water in your pool. The AquaPro Pro 600 is an excellent example of a high efficiency, high quality heat pump. The process is similar to that used by your home’s air conditioning unit - only backwards. A heat pump can effectively heat your swimming pool’s water as long as the air temperature is 50 degrees Farenheit or above. Heat pumps are usually more expensive to operate than gas, so it is often used in combination with a solar pool heater. The solar heater heats the water during the daytime and the heat pump maintains the heat gains at night.
The third basic type of swimming pool heater, that is growing in popularity, is the solar heating system. Solar heaters use your pool’s existing pump and plumbing to circulate the pool water to a an array of solar panels that concentrate the sun’s light and heat the water as it flows through. Solar pool heating systems can be very cost effective to operate, but have a much higher installation cost. With a solar pool heating system virtually all of the cost is upfront. Over the life of the system you would quickly find it to be the least expensive type of pool heater system to own Another possible downside to a solar heating system is the space required to house the solar panels either on the ground or on a roof. The usual recommendation is that the solar array should have an area equal to the surface area of the swimming pool. If you live in an area where summers are very hot, a solar heater can be run at night to cool overheated pool water. An Enersol Solar pool heater is an easy-to-install product for in ground pools. Enersol is a long-established, reputable manufacturer that offers one of the longest warranties in the industry.
Whether you have a pool heater or not, a solar pool cover, or solar blanket, is a great advantage to have. Solar covers are made from thin but very durable plastic sheets with insulating bubbles of air between the layers. They resemble the packaging material “bubble wrap”. A solar cover floats atop the water and conducts sunlight into the water to heat it. At night, the cover insulates against heat loss. This can greatly enhance the effectiveness of any other swimming pool heating system by retaining the heat gained during the day. Additional benefits of a solar cover are:
- Reduces chemical and water evaporation
- Prevents dirt and debris from collecting in the pool
- Reduces maintenance and stress on the filtration system
Solar reels are available to make putting the cover on and off a simple task. A solar reel can even be permanently attached to the side rails of your above ground pool.
As you can see, there is a swimming pool heater for just about every situation. Most pool equipment manufacturers have introduced new models that are more durable, friendly to the environment and to your budget and more energy efficient than ever before. In choosing the right heater for your pool you will need to factor in the availability and price of fuel, the size of your pool that determines the size of heater you need, and how much and how fast you want to raise the temperature of your water. So extend your “summer” swim season into spring and fall. Get a swimming pool heater today.





















