Fall usually means it is time to say “good-bye” to your pool until spring. But what if you didn’t have to close your pool up as early in the year? Wouldn’t you love to extend your swimming season? You can, by investing in pool heaters. Pool heaters can keep your pool open longer in the fall and allow you to open your pool earlier in the spring. Some pool heaters may even let you use your pool year-round, at least in certain areas and climates.
There are three major options when it comes to pool heaters:
- Electric heat pump heaters: Just like heat pumps can be used to efficiently heat your home, an electric heat pump pool heater works like an air conditioner in reverse and pulls heat from the ambient air to heat your pool. This type of heater works well when temperatures are above 50 degrees and they can easily add about 20 degrees to the temperature of your pool. One consideration is that they are generally more expensive up front than other types of pool heaters, but they are eco-friendly and usually last about 20 years.
- Solar-powered heaters: If you have room in your pool area and want a truly eco-friendly option, solar-powered pool heaters might be a great choice. They generally last 15-20 years and can add 15 degrees to your pool without extra operating costs. The solar panels will need to cover an area about half as big as your pool and get about 6 hours a day of unobstructed sunlight. They also only work when the sun is shining, so they might not be the right choice for every area.
- Gas heaters: If you want to use your pool year-round, gas pool heaters are your best option. They are less expensive upfront but do cost more to operate. They can heat your pool quickly and add up to 30 degrees to your water temperature. However, they do have a much shorter lifespan compared to other types of heaters (around 5 years).