You can expect a gas or heat pump pool heater to last 8 to 11 years, with an average of 10 years. Regular usage and maintenance is key to a longer lifespan.
The life of your pool heater depends on the type of you have: Solar heaters last 10-20 years. Electric heaters usually run for 5-10 years. Gas heaters last for about 5 years.
If you have an inground spa with your pool, it means being able to quickly fire it up for hot, relaxing hydrotherapy after a long hard day. Today's pool heaters are engineered to provide many years of reliable, efficient performance. But like any piece of equipment, it will eventually wear down and need replacing.
These stop rapid heat loss from happening, keep pool water from evaporating and have the extra benefit of keeping your swimming pool cleaner. If you live in an area where the ambient temperature change from day to night is not huge, then it's ok to run your heater overnight too.
Night Air is Cooler
Sometime, the air temperature will drop even lower than the pool water. Since the pool water temperature will not change that much within one or two hours, the cooler air makes the water feel warmer than it was previously.
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.
Difficulty finding heaters is largely due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and stay-at home-orders, which Aleman said has also led to shortages of salt cells, replacement motors, smaller filters for above ground pools, and more. Meanwhile, he said, above ground pools are non-existent right now.
Tips for do-it-yourselfers
Number of gallons x 8.33 (pounds per gallon) x the temperature rise = the number of BTUs required to heat the vessel. For example, consider a 40-degree temperature rise in a 400-gallon spa — that is, 400 x 8.33 x 40 = 133,280 BTUs.
HotSpot titanium heat exchangers are designed to stand up to salt water and chlorine and can last over 30 years.
Some heaters wear out in three or four years, but Teledyne Laars / Jandy heaters normally last a lot longer. A product life of 10 to 12 years is not uncommon. Heater failure is usually the result of some outside cause—not normal usage—provided it has been properly maintained.
On warm summer days when the pool is up to temperature, the heat pump may not need to run at all. Whereas on cooler days, the heat pump may run for a few hours. In extremely cold weather (eg below +5c) the heat pump may need to run for 12 hours a day or more.
Between setup and operating costs, a pool heater costs between $300 and $5,000, with the average cost around $2,000.
Pool heat pumps do not need a lot of maintenance during winter months. Keep it free of debris; such as leaves or pine needles and occasionally ensure there are no rodents nesting inside or chewing on wires. If you do not plan on using your heater more than once a week, turn it off. This will save you money!
If you want to get as much time as possible out of your pool, however, a heater is a good investment. With a pool heater, you can easily be swimming May through mid-October, giving you a good five months of use out of your pool. That's literally double the amount of time you'd get without one.
Solar pool heaters are the most cost-effective option that uses the sun's energy to heat your swimming pool water. It uses solar collectors, filter, pump and flows control valve to heat the pool in a way that is very economical. In fact, it pays for itself within 3-5 years and incurs almost negligible operating costs.
Once COVID hit, everybody wanted a pool.” Healy said the combination of lower supply and increased demand has hit the pool industry hard. Many pool stores have not been able to get any chlorine from suppliers. However, Healy said Splash Pool Supply is still stocked with chlorine products — they're just more expensive.
The shortage is due to increased demand for pool supplies during the pandemic and a chemical fire at a BioLab facility in Louisiana after Hurricane Laura that knocked out one of the country's three main chlorine manufacturers.
According to the World Health Organization, water temperatures ranging from 78 to 86 degrees Fahrenheit are generally comfortable and safe for those engaging in moderate physical activity in a pool.
If you use your pool frequently, an electric heater is more reliable and the cost is a lot lower to operate. A low operation cost allows you to use your pool heater more without spending a ton. A heat pump is less expensive than a gas heater since it relies on air and the flow of gas.
As such, there's no universal rule about whether rain water makes swimming pool water warmer or cooler; it all depends on whether the rain is warmer or cooler than the pool. If the rain is cold, it may cool down your pool water.