Most of us aren’t interested in the technical details of the equipment we use in daily life. As long as the basics are covered, we feel pretty confident in our continual use of these life-enhancing products. Learning all about electromagnetic waves will not make heating up my Chinese leftovers from last night any more beneficial or enjoyable!
First thing you should know are your options: there are electric pool heat pumps, solar powered heat systems, and then there are gas powered pool heaters. Heat pumps are powered by electricity and convert energy, as opposed to creating it, whereas heaters use either natural gas or propane. Solar powered heat systems, as the name suggests, harness the sun’s energy to power the unit and heat your pool. While these may not be the absolute only choices one has, it’s hardly advisable to go with alternative methods – while entertaining and creative,.
Heat pumps transport heat from the air to your pool (or spa) by the means of external energy. That being said, it may take quite a bit more of an effort from your heat pump to heat a pool when it’s 2 degrees outside – in fact, 45 degrees is about the cut off for premium heat efficiency, but if the temperature outside is below that benchmark, your pool will still be heated, just not with optimum efficacy. Still, for the majority of the time, your heat pump will be one of the best means of heating your pool since it never has to create energy, which can be costly.
Heaters are fueled by natural gas, and many of us are well aware of the unfortunate high fuel prices. Therefore, using this means of heat for your pool tends to be a bit outdated and more expensive. One major benefit is the low heat-up time – gas heaters are excellent for bringing your pool up to temp quickly.
A newer and often overlooked contender in the pool heating market is solar heat systems.
Most units include a solar collector, a filter, a pump and a flow control valve. The solar collector actually has pool water circulating through it as sunrays are “collected” to heat the water. The filter, much like the one already used in your pool, removes contaminates from the water before it ever enters the collector.
The pump does all the heavy lifting, circulating the water through the system, and the control valve acts as the traffic director, diverting water through the collector. Depending on your climate, you can opt for a glazed or unglazed solar collector. If you only want to use your pool in above freezing temperatures, unglazed is the way to go.
It may go without saying that the solar heater will be out of commission on a day with less than ideal weather…Not that many people want to swim on a bad weather day, anyhow.
Heater Efficiency Comparison At this point, you may have drawn your own conclusions for this section. Energy efficiency is higher on some people’s lists than others, but it seems that this is a steadily rising concern for everyone – and rightfully so.
Hands down solar energy is the most cost efficient, environmentally friendly, recommended means of heating your swimming pool. With virtually no additional cost to run the unit and its use of an already available heat source (the sun), a solar heat system is well worth the initial investment. They also tend to outlast the competition.
Next on this list would be an electric heat pump. The potential scare of an outrageous electric bill may scare some homeowners, but there’s really no need to fear. Technological advances ensure a low cost of operation, since heat pumps also utilize external heat sources and never have to generate their own heat.
It’s true, gas heaters are becoming a thing of the past. While there is still a demand for them, as consumers are made more aware of the importance placed on efficiency, it’s hard to truly justify a gas heater purchase – unless, of course, fuel costs in your area are significantly low. Still, gas heaters tend to die before any other
Type of pool heating system.
The Real Deciding Factor: What Will it Cost Me?
Ah yes, the most important part, especially in an uncertain economy. Basically, gas heaters will be your lowest cost initially, but may not be worth it in the long run. Solar heat systems cost a pretty penny to buy, but their low to non-existent operating costs will yield a payback of 1.5 – 7 years! Heat pumps are typically in the same price range as a solar heat system, but some units are a bit more capable in that they can cool in the summer and heat in the winter.
For a closer cost analysis, visit any of the following resources:
SOLAR
GAS
ELECTRIC
Contact Swift Pool Supplies if you’d like a custom detailed cost comparison of running a heat pump versus other heating methods.
Before Your Purchase, Some Final Considerations
There’s a lot of emphasis on a heater’s BTUs, which is what most pool heaters capacity is rated by. One BTU = 1 degree Fahrenheit per pound of water. That may sound a bit confusing, but with a little math, calculating your exact needs isn’t a huge stretch. It’s helpful to know that there are about 8.33 pounds in a gallon of water, meaning 8.33 BTUs will heat one gallon. If you feel up to it, there’s a detailed formula for more in depth calculations.
In most cases, higher BTUs will draw more energy and result in slightly higher costs. But if you want to heat your pool quickly and more efficiently, choose a heat pump with BTU output on the higher end of what you need. Bigger tends to be better, but don’t go overboard!
There are industry leaders for a reason. Not all brands are created equally and you, as the consumer, should be able to place all your trust in the brand you are purchasing. Reading other customer reviews or having a small discussion with a pool professional can help you decide which company consistently exceeds customer expectations.
My last bit of advice is very important: spend a little bit more and buy a solar pool cover! You may have heard it growing up (and perhaps say it to your own children now): “close that door, I’m not paying to heat/cool the entire neighborhood!” While amusing, it’s a good bit of advice. All the energy you use to heat your pool will escape unless you keep the heat trapped where it belongs.
If you are unsure which type of pool heating options best suits your needs simply complete the “Pool Heating” and we will be happy to advise on your requirments & sizing, we carry a the largest range in Australia.
Pool Heating Systems
The biggest advantage a solar pool heating system has over a traditional one is that its source of power is, of course, free. Once you have paid for your solar pool heating system setup, you won't ever have to spend another nickel to warm your pool. No more increases in the electric or gas bills, and no more concern that you are contributing to the greenhouse gas problem. Just clean, renewable energy for as long as you use your swimming pool. Please Click Here to visit my official site for more details about solar heating pool.
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