How to Keep Your Pool Warm This Winter

There are plenty of different ways to warm your pool and extend your pool season this year. From brand names to styles, see the different pool heaters and their pros and cons.

1. Solar: Solar pool heaters are growing in popularity. As other parts of your home are getting a solar solution, why not your pool? Read this blog post all about the benefits of a solar pool heater including lower energy costs and a more eco-friendly bonus. Unlike the other options, a solar pool heater does not operate to it’s fullest extent on cloudy days or at night.

2. Electric: Electric pool heaters are most popular in warmer climates . Out of the two different types of electric heaters, an electric option heats a coil which then warms the water. It is designed to warm a smaller pool, spa, or above ground pool of 5,000 gallons or less in an area that stays above 40 degrees Fahrenheit. A heat pump on the other hand, relies on the outside air temperature to heat the pool. It warms the air and then transfers that warm air to the water. A heat pump does not take as long as an electric, and it is recommended to keep a larger pool warm. Electric pool heaters are a reliable, simple to use, and compactly built heating solution.

3. Natural Gas or Propane: When it comes to a gas or propane pool heater, there needs to be a gas or propane line to serve as a connection as well as ventilation. If you are installing the gas or propane heater to an indoor pool, make sure that it is installed safely with a way for the gas to air out. The gas or propane heater options are some of the most popular pool heaters for colder climates due to their ability to produce consistent water temperature and warm water quickly. Without having to rely on the outside temperature, gas pool heaters typically produce more BTU’s per hour than electric heaters for a warmer pool, faster. Fuel prices will be a factor as well as the type or model. With a low-nitrogen oxide (NOx) model, it produces fewer emissions than traditional heater for an environmentally friendly alternative to traditional heating methods. Before you decide on a pool heater that runs on gas, have a professional do a sizing analysis for your pool. This isn’t something that you just want to guess at. A lot of factors come into play including the surface area of the pool, the difference between the pool and the average air temperatures, and comparing local pools. Even taking into account higher than average wind speeds at the pool surface, lower humidity, and cool nights can determine if a larger gas heater is needed.

4. Commercial: If you have a larger pool, or if you just want your pool to heat up faster, you should look into a commercial-sized pool heater that has a high BTU (British Thermal Units) rating. A BTU is the amount of energy needed to heat one pound of water to one degree Fahrenheit. For a commercial grade pool heater you would be looking for something in the 266K BTU to 400K BTU range. If you were shopping for an above ground pool heater for example, the BTU rating would be much lower. For a commercial pool heater, look for low NOx options that heat the pool with low amounts of energy and high amounts of environmental consideration.

Whether you are searching for an inground pool heater or above ground, Sta-Rite pool heaters, Hayward pool heaters, Jandy pool heaters, Raypak pool heaters, or Pentair pool heaters are all available on Pool Express to help you decide on just the right fit.