Swimming Pool Heater Information
Warming a pool with a heater can extend the swimming season by keeping the water comfortable. Swimming pool heaters are available for below-ground, above-ground and semi-above-ground pools and with a variety of power sources, including gas or propane, electric and solar. Does this Spark an idea?
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Selecting a Heater
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Selecting the proper heater for your pool depends on several factors, including the type of pool you have, the heater’s warming ability and the difficulty and cost of installation. Continuing operating and energy costs and ease of maintenance should also be considered. Different heaters work better with different pool types and sizes, so manufacturer compatibility and heater output should be checked. How much time you spend in your pool during swimming season, if you swim at night and the year-round climate of where you live also influence the type of heater that is best-suited to your pool.
Gas or Propone Heaters
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Gas or propane-powered swimming pool heaters are one of the more popular types of heaters for warming swimming pools because they warm water quickly and maintain a consistent water temperature more reliably than other types of heaters, according to Pool-Heaters.net. They also work on cloudy days or at night, unlike a solar heater. Gas or propane heaters require a connection to a gas or propane supply and proper ventilation if installed inside a building. Gas or propane burners can be ordered separately from the heater. Kits to convert a gas heater to propane are available but should be installed by a qualified fitter.
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Electric Heaters
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Swimming pool heaters powered by electricity are available in two main types: a heat pump, typically used to heat larger pools, and an electric heater, which works better on smaller pools, spas and above-ground pools of 5,000 gallons or less. Above-ground electric heaters that sit beside a pool are also available. Stainless steel and titanium are typical materials for electric pool heaters.
Heat pumps are popular with pool owners because their typically low operating costs make them generally cheaper to operate than gas heaters. Their low energy usage makes gas heaters environmentally friendly. Heat pumps need little maintenance, and the system’s refrigerant can last for years. Heat pumps take a long time to warm pool water and work best when the air temperature is close to the desired water temperature. The farther apart the two temperatures, the longer it takes for a heat pump to warm the pool. A gas or propane heater is much faster than a heat pump at warming pool water.
Solar Heaters
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Solar heaters are the most environmentally friendly option for heating a swimming pool, and installation is generally on par with traditional gas heaters or heat pumps. Solar heaters also have low yearly operating costs, making heating a pool with solar power is one of the most popular uses of solar energy. It is also the most cost-effective use of solar energy, according to the United States Department of Energy. Solar panels and mats and solar blankets are two kinds of effective solar-energy technology. Solar panels and mats circulate cold pool water through pipes in the panels. Sunlight warms the water as it passes through the pipes, and warm water goes back into the pool. Solar blankets cover a pool to retain heat in the pool water. They can help to raise the temperature of the pool water but not significantly. Solar heaters take longer to warm pool water than gas or electric heaters. Their effectiveness depends on geographic location, amount of sunlight each day and where the panels are located.
Maintenance
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Most pool heaters are made of non-corrosive materials and are designed to require little maintenance or servicing. Some parts of the system that should be checked and cleaned regularly include pipe work connecting the heater to the pool and the heater to the power source. If a heater is installed inside a building, proper ventilation should also be provided and maintained.
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