Which Pool Heater is the Best

The swimming season in Florida appears like it gets shorter every year. More and more pool owners in South Florida are turning to pool heaters to extend their swimming season. Today, we will look at the most popular types of pool heaters to assist you in deciding which pool heater is best for your pool.

Gas Pool Heaters

Gas pool heaters work by igniting either natural gas or propane within a “combustion chamber” situated inside the heater. This scorching gas then heats a metal coil. As the pool water flows over the heater, it passes through this coil and is heated. This procedure continues until the pool water reaches an established temperature, at which point the heater will shut itself off. This temperature can be changed manually using the heater’s built-in controls.

Heat Pumps

Heat pumps operate by drawing in warm air from the outside using a built-in fan. This warm air then passes over the heat pump’s “evaporator coil,” which is filled with a coolant. When the warm air combines with the refrigerant, a chemical reaction results in producing a heated gas. This gas, at the same time, heats a metal tube. As the pool water passes through the metal tube, it is heated to the chosen temperature, at which point the heater shuts off.

Solar Pool Heaters

Solar pool heaters utilize energy from the Sun to heat your pool. They are by far the most accessible pool heaters available. Solar heaters are made up of one or a lot of black plastic or rubber panels. These panels absorb solar energy. Water then passes over the warmed panels and is heated up.

So, Which Kind of Pool Heater Is Best?

Now that you know a little more about the most popular types of pool heaters, the question is: Which one is best? The answer is based on how you plan on using your pool. To help you decide which one is best for your pool, here are a few common scenarios.

You Need to Extend Your Swimming Season

The most common reason people in South Florida are purchasing pool heaters is extending their swimming season. If you’re interested in extending your swimming season, you will require to get either a heat pump or a gas heater. Solar heaters are just too inconsistent and don’t function well in colder weather.

When looking to extend your swimming season, the heater you should ultimately select should depend on how regular you will be using the pool. If you continuously use the pool throughout the week, get a heat pump. If you plan on using the pool less often, a gas heater will eventually end up being the cheaper choice. Why is this? It all comes down to how quickly the pool heater can heat the water.

You Need a Warm Pool, But Only Use It on Certain Days

If you’re busy and only have the opportunity to use your pool here and there, a gas heater is likely your best option. Gas heaters can heat the water fast; you are able to get the pool water up to your desired temperature within a matter of a few hours, perfect for spontaneous swims!

Although they are more expensive to run per hour when compared to a heat pump, because you will only be running the heater for a few hours each week, in this scenario, a gas heater will also be less expensive to run than a heat pump. This is because a heat pump typically requires at least 24 hours to properly heat a pool, where the gas heater will only require 2-4 hours.

You Need to Keep Your Pool at a Consistent Temperature

If, on the other hand, your family regularly uses your pool throughout the summer and wants to ensure that it stays at a consistent temperature, a heat pump is your best option. Heat pumps are perfect in this case since they can maintain your desired temperature and are significantly less expensive to run than gas heaters on hourly basis.

You Only Swim When It Is Sunny

If your family is the kind that only wants to swim on hot, sunny days, solar heaters are possibly the best option. Because they are inexpensive to purchase and run, you won’t be overpaying to heat your pool.

Resources and References:

• How Solar Pool Heaters Work