Between setup and operating costs, a pool heater costs between $300 and $5,000, with the average cost around $2,000.
Yes, you can add a pool heater to an existing pool. It is not uncommon for homeowners to have the desire to heat their backyard pools later in life. You can choose from gas/propane, solar or electric heat pumps that are suitable for heating your current pool.
The general installation can take a couple days. A pool heater is an electric heater with a solar blanket that is designed to work as a heat pump to keep your swimming pool in the 80 degrees. You can also use a solar blanket to keep the pool warmer than 80 degrees. You can get an electric heater with a heat pump on it.
You can significantly reduce swimming pool heating costs by installing a solar pool heater. They're cost competitive with both gas and heat pump pool heaters, and they have very low annual operating costs. Actually, solar pool heating is one of the most cost-effective use of solar energy in some climates.
ADDING A SPA TO EXISTING INGROUND POOL
If you have a in-ground gunite swimming pool, then yes, you should be able to add a spa to the existing pool. (If you have a vinyl liner, or a fiberglass pool you may not have this option.)
Most people like swimming in water with temperatures between 82° and 84°F. In the spring and fall in Kansas, swimming pool water may not reach that temperature without a heater. A heater is essential to setting and maintaining comfortable swimming pool water temperatures so everyone is happy in the pool!
So, how much electricity does a pool heat pump use? About 5 kilowatts per hour per 100,000 BTU heat pump. For a general 100,000 BTU pool heat pump, the power you`ll utilize is approximately 5,000 Watts per hour. Typically, the National average for power stands at 13 cents for every kilowatt-hour.
Cost of Running a Propane vs.
The size of your pool also matters, with larger pools costing more to heat than smaller ones. On average, however, a gas heater costs around $200 to $400 a month to run. Electric heat pumps cost less, coming in at about $100 to $200 a month.
Solar Heaters
The next cheapest way to heat a pool is through a solar heater. The cost of running a solar pool heater is essentially free, aside from occasional maintenance. The difference is that a solar heater is a lot more expensive to install – often even more expensive than a conventional heater.
Ultimately, the amount of energy that a heater puts into the pool is equal to the heat lost from the pool. Since you lose more heat energy from a hot pool than from a cool pool, the most efficient thing you can do is keep the temperature as low as possible for as long as possible.
The cost of adding a waterfall depends on size and materials, but an entry level ballpark figure would be between $5,000 and $10,000. Some extravagant waterfall systems can cost upwards of $30,000.
Hot Tub Installation Costs
According to Consumer Affairs, most hot tub models cost between $500 and $6,500, with a standard-sized unit costing $3,500 on average. In terms of labor cost, an in-ground hot tub costs $1,000 to $5,500 to install, depending on how elaborate the design is.
Right now, an unglazed solar system can heat a pool to 78-85 degrees Fahrenheit without much effort. Solar pool heating panels last about 20 years, so in that scenario you could be looking at about 17 years of cost savings.
If your pool has a total surface area of 400 square feet, 50% offset means you will need a total of 200 square feet of solar panels to heat it. As a reference; a single 4'x12. 5' solar panel has a surface area of 50 square feet, so a system with (4) 4'x12. 5' solar panels has a total surface area of 200 square feet.
If you are operating an Electric Pool Heat Pump it would take 2 days to reach 10 degrees and 5-6 hours of operation. If you are using solar heating it generally raises the pool water 2-4 degrees per day and cumulatively it reaches a 10-degree increase in 5-6 days and then maintains it.
You know those black trash bags? They can hold heat too. Fix one up to a hula hoop and if you want, cut one side of a pool noodle to add buoyancy and you've got yourself a super cheap pool heater.
A swimming pool tarp, for example, that's black on both sides is like a giant solar panel. Because a black tarp on a swimming pool's water surface traps solar heat energy, it will eventually turn cool, refreshing pool water into a tepid, warm bath.
Hard-Wired Electric Pool Heaters – The set up requires a licensed electrician to wire the heater into the home's electrical system, which may be required for a large pool. Electricity is usually the most convenient and ready available heating source for a pool.
On average, natural gas burns about 1 therm per 100,000 BTUs per hour (British Thermal Units). Meaning, an average pool heater between 300,000 and 400,000 BTUs will cost anywhere from $3.30 to $4.40 per hour to heat your pool.
Pool heat pumps are an efficient, environmentally friendly way to heat a pool. Heat pumps can save pool owners money in the long run as they typically have a much lower annual operating costs than gas heaters and with proper maintenance, can last up to 10 years or more.
We have found that turning the heater off at night allows the water to cool rapidly. The heater then has to burn at a higher rate in the morning to make up the lost heat. The higher you turn the burner the lower the heating efficiency and the greater the heat loss from the exhaust gases.