Owning a pool in your home means you also need to invest in a good pool heater. Before you dive into your pockets and purchase a heater, it’s best to figure out what type of pool heater is the best for you first.
If you are a bit confused and don’t know where to start, this article will help you in making a decision. You will be able to choose the best heater for your needs. There are several types of pool heaters each with different strengths and weaknesses, so it’s better to brush up on each one before making a final decision. Read through this article and figure out what’s the best swimming pool heater for you.
Heat Pump Heater
Heat pumps require electricity to run but instead of electric energy, it uses warm air to generate heat for the pool water. This means that these air-source heat pumps take the heat from the air and transfer it to the water.
Heat pump heaters are not only energy-efficient, but they also use renewable energy and don’t emit air pollution. One downside is that installing a heat pump heater is costlier. Since this type of heater depends on the air to heat water, it can heat pool water slowly depending on the temperature of the air. In the end, a heat pump heater will heavily rely on the outdoor temperature to work efficiently and may not be effective in cold weather.
Gas Heater
Gas heaters use natural gas or propane to generate heat. Gas is burned inside a combustion chamber which contains copper coils. Water then passes through these coils and is heated.
A thing to consider with gas pool heaters is the price of gas that is readily available to you in your area. This heater does not rely on solar energy or the air temperature for it to work.
Some of the advantages of gas heaters are that they are inexpensive to install, don’t rely on solar energy or air temperature, and will heat your pool fairly quickly.
One main disadvantage is its high monthly maintenance cost. These installations are not environmentally friendly and not energy efficient. Lifespan is also on the shorter side of only 5 years. Since gas pool heaters can operate without relying on the temperature or current season’s climate, this is an ideal choice for those who live in colder temperatures.
Electric Resistance Heater
While electric heat pumps require electricity to function, it uses air temperature to work. The electric resistance heater, however, uses electric currents to generate heat. A current is applied to the resistor inside the unit, the resistor then generates heat. Water washes over the resistor and gets heated in the process.
The advantage of the electric resistance pool heater is that they are relatively inexpensive to purchase. This type of heater does not rely on the air temperature to function and is environmentally friendly.
The downside of an electric resistance heater is the expensive monthly maintenance cost, which will depend on the size of your pool. The larger your swimming pool is, the more electricity you will need for this heater.
The electric resistance pool heater is also not energy efficient and will require some complex heavy duty wiring to install. It requires a significant amount of electricity to function well, thus making it a viable option for small-sized pools only. If you are looking into purchasing an electric resistance heater, consider the size of your pool first.
Solar Pool Heater
Solar pool heaters make use of solar panel installations to collect heat from the sun. Afterwards, the collected heat gets transferred to the swimming pool. Swimming pool water travels through the circulation system of the solar panels, which allows it to heat.
The upside to installing solar pool heaters is that they are inexpensive to operate. You will have no additional monthly cost since you are collecting free energy from the sun. These are also energy efficient and only require the operation of a pool pump.
Lifespan is on the longer side of about 20 years. It uses renewable energy and doesn’t emit air pollution, making it an environmentally friendly pool heater installation. The downside of the solar pool heater is that it’s quite pricey. This also depends on the sun and thus cannot operate at night, and will work less effectively in cloudy weather. It will heat the water slowly, and the installation can be unsightly to see. If you live in an area that sees a lot of sunlight, having a solar pool heater can be a good investment. While the initial installation is costly, the close to zero monthly expenses can be a pocket saving investment in the long run.
By investing in a pool heater, you will ensure that the water in your pool is at a comfortable temperature—not too hot and not too cold, for that dream ‘swim when you want’ lifestyle. With a pool heater installed, you will be able to enjoy your pool to the fullest and not be limited to the weather or season. You can still take a dip in the winter, fall, and even during summer mornings. Purchase the perfect pool heater so that the next time you take a dip in your swimming pool, you won’t get shocked by the icy cold water!