How to Choose the Right Pool Heater

Getting the most out of your outdoor paradise means keeping the water warm enough to enjoy for as much of the year as possible. To keep your pool water heated during colder weather, or even just to boost water temperature on summer nights, consider installing a swimming pool heater as part of your pool system. There are three main types of pool heaters you can choose from:

Gas Heaters

Compared to any other type of swimming pool heaters, gas heaters by far have the cheapest price tag. Gas heaters also have an advantage over other types because of their ability to quickly warm up pool water. In fact, gas pool heaters are the fastest type of pool heater compared to others mentioned here. Since gas heaters burn propane or natural gas to create heat, they operate independently of outside air temperature or water.

On the downside, gas heaters are expensive to install and to operate ($500-600/month) and have a lifespan of only about 5 years. Gas heaters are best suited for pool owners in more extreme cold climates who want to keep the water heated the majority of the year.

Electric Heat Pumps

Electric heat pumps work much like central air conditioning systems. Rather than removing heat from inside your home to keep air cool, heat pumps take heat from outside air and use it to pump into your pool water to keep it warm. However, it doesn’t have to be 80°F+ outside for this to work. Electric heat pumps can extract useful energy from outdoor temperatures as low as 45°F. Advantages of this type of pool heater include lower operating costs (only $50-$150/month), high energy efficiency, and longer lifespan.

Unfortunately, these highly efficient heaters come with a hefty price tag. On average, an electric pool heater will run you between $2,000 and $4,000 big ones. And while they can still extract heat at temps as low as 45°F, if you live in extreme colder climates, this option would not be the best fit for your pool.

Solar Heaters

The last type of pool heater you can consider investing in is a solar powered heater. By far the most environmentally friendly, a solar pool heater will cost you ZERO additional monthly operating costs once installed! Plus, their lifespan is between 15-20 years, so you can count on it to be a reliable investment. This is the most environmentally friendly option since it uses renewable resources and emits no pollution.

But as you might have guessed, solar technology will cost you big time. How big? Anywhere between $4,000 to $7,000. Solar heaters are a great option for pools located in warmer, milder climates as they will be less reliant on a secondary pool heater during the winter. Since the solar panels take up a large portion of flat space, this option is only suited for pool owners with large enough roof configurations to install the panels.

Finding the right heater means taking into consideration not only cost, but also climate, lifespan, heating speed, and many other factors mentioned above. For more information about which pool heater is best for you, get in touch with us at ThePoolGuyStore.com, and we can help you find what you need from our great selection of products. Happy swimming!