No, you shouldn't leave your pool heater running all the time. Not only will it increase your electricity bill, but it will put unnecessary stress on your pool heater. Instead, you should run your pool heater to cycle when necessary during the day. That way, your pool will be warm throughout the day and night.
Not only will it be tough to keep the heat in your pool on colder nights but you will also spend a fortune trying to heat your swimming pool. So unless you have money to burn, it's best not to run your heater at night on an uncovered swimming pool.
The efficiency of the heater? Physicist: The correct answer is always to leave the heater off for as long as possible, as often as possible. The one and only gain from leaving a pool heater on is that it will be warm when you get in. The same is true of all heaters (pool, car, space, whatever).
Also, turn the temperature down or turn off the heater whenever the pool won't be used for several days. This will save energy and money. It's a myth that it takes more energy to heat a pool back up to a desired temperature than you save by lowering the temperature or turning off the heater.
A pool heat pump should not be left running all the time. For one, you are wasting electricity by keeping it on when your pool is already warm enough. Also, this will lead to an increase in energy costs month after month.
Conclusion. The best time to heat your pool is during the day at least several hours before you plan on using it. The risk of running your pool pump overnight is that the outdoor temperature might be too low for the pump to efficiently warm your swimming pool.
It is not advisable to heat your pool at night because of the time and energy it will consume. You're advised to heat your pool during the day for more efficiency, and if you can, buy a solar blanket to retain the temperature of your pool.
According to experts at the Energy Saving Trust, the idea it's cheaper to leave the heating on low all day is a myth. They're clear that having the heating on only when you need it is, in the long run, the best way to save energy, and therefore money.
A pool that is uncovered can lose up to 5 degrees F overnight; a good cover can cut that loss by half. Used at night or whenever your pool is not in use, the pool cover can help save fuel costs by cutting heat loss regardless of the type of heating you utilize.
While some homeowners have considered turning off their heat at night in an attempt to lower their heating bills, it generally is not recommended as a viable option. The fact is, turning your heat off at night creates more potential risk for your home and your family than it does savings on your energy bill.
Overheating Pump
The modern-day pool heaters are designed to shut off when pool heater running but not heating, causing overheating to the pump. This is the duty of the thermal overload switches.
There are millions of natural gas and propane swimming pool heaters in use across the USA and the world. You would be hard-pressed to find an incident with one of them that has caused them to explode while in use. That's despite the fact that these devices have been in use on swimming pools for several decades now.
Unless it gets considerably colder overnight, your home should retain much of the heat of the day without getting uncomfortably cold. When temperatures are above 60 degrees consistently, it's usually time to turn off your heating system for the season.
According to the U.S. Department of Energy, a family that sets back its thermostat by about 10 to 15 degrees for eight hours a day while sleeping or out of the house can save 5 to 15 percent a year on home heating costs.
The best answer would be to run your pool's filter system 12 hours a day, during sunlight hours when using solar to heat your swimming pool. The idea is to run all the water in your pool through the filter system at least once a day.
Carbon monoxide. Just like a car engine, gas pool heaters cause carbon monoxide poisoning if inhaled for too long, as demonstrated by this news story. To avoid this danger, make sure your pool heater is properly ventilated. If it's located indoors, it should be vented outside.
An electric heater transfers heat to the water using electric resistance coils, similar to how an electric stove works. Either of these pool heaters can produce smoke when turned on for the first time. The reason for this is the burner and fan need to burn off dust and other residue before they can be safe to use.
Each heater model has specific venting requirements to ensure proper combustion and prevent sooting. Manufacturers express venting requirements as square inches of net free air. A typical requirement is 1 square inch per 1,000 BTUs of input for an unobstructed opening.
The most common cause of a heater that cycles on and off could be inadequate water flow to a dirty filter or closed valve.
Hot, dry air can leave you dehydrated, and even reduces your ability to fight off infections. Leaving the central heating on all night can also leave you thirsty and with a dry mouth.
According to Energy.gov, the better way to save money on heating bills is to set back the temperature of your home at least 8 degrees for 8 hours or longer (while you sleep). In fact, you can save 1% on your heating bill for every degree that you lower the thermostat.
Turning off your water heater, like many other electrical appliances, can save you money each month on your bill. A small amount of heat escapes when the water heater is turned on, even though it's well insulated.
All pool heaters have high limit switches to avoid overheating. A faulty upper limit switch could shut off the heater, or the issue could be that the heater is genuinely overheating, perhaps from improper exhaust out of the top of the heater.
It depends on a few things to determine how long it takes a heat pump to heat a pool. However, overall a heat pump generally heats a pool after 24 to 72 hours by 20-degrees Fahrenheit. For smaller pools like a spa pool, the heat pump can heat a pool between 45 and 60 minutes.
For a complete shutdown, remove the door on the heater, turn the gas valve clockwise to OFF (Push down on the knob at PILOT and continue turning.) Then stop the flow of gas to the heater by turning off the manual shutoff valve located outside the heater.