While adding a pool heater requires an upfront investment, it helps you maximize your investment by being able to use your pool for much more of the year. 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.
It's true – when the weather is beautiful outside it's not essential that you need a pool heater, but if you want to keep using your pool all year round then a pool heater is ideal. Of course, in some states this is not possible to keep swimming in the winter because the weather is just too cold.
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.
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.
As for equipment pad size, generally you would want a 4 x 8 ft pad size. That would fit a pump, filter, heater, salt system and whatever else you may be using. If you are not using a heater or heat pump the pad could be smaller, say 3 x 5 ft.
The heater is best located level with the surface of the pool — or as close to level as possible — because manufacturers pre-set their pressure switches for heater installations that are typically 3 feet above or below the pool's surface.
A pool water heater is a permanently installed and effective heater that can work with some types of above ground pools. It is the most expensive option but can easily raise water temperature by 30 degrees or more.
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.
Pools up to 15,000 gallons should look at the Pentair 125K BTU or higher, and 20,000 gallon above ground pools should look at the Raypak 150K BTU.
It normally takes from 8 to 12 hours to cycle all of the water in your pool so you can expect an overall temperature rise of 5 to 15 degree F after several days of sunny weather.
This heater must be installed at least five feet from the wall of an above-ground pool. The heater shall not be installed with the top of the vent assembly within 10 feet below or to either side of any opening into the building. It sounds like it wants the window ('opening into the building') at least 10 feet away?
Heaters or heat pumps cannot be enclosed. Pool heaters need proper air supply and exhaust venting. If enclosed around the sides, be sure the top is open to clear sky, or follow manufacturer instructions for proper venting.
Do not install a gas pool heater under a deck. You must vent the heater if it's being installed in a pool house. Install the heater within 15' of equipment for optimal heating.
Stay close to the pool
Our projects typically average a distance of 20–40 feet from the pool to the equipment, but as stated earlier, much longer runs are sometimes required.
The room should be sized so that there is at least 6 feet of clear space around all the equipment and not less than 3 feet between individual components for ease of maintenance. Extra space should be planned as well for replacement of larger items such as filters and heaters.
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.
Heat pump pool heaters work efficiently as long as the outside temperature remains above the 45ºF–50ºF range. The cooler the outside air they draw in, the less efficient they are, resulting in higher energy bills. However, since most people use outdoor pools during warm and mild weather, this usually isn't an issue.
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).
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.
Conclusion. Solar rings not only keep your pool water warm but also reduce the amount of dirt and debris that might end up in your pool. With solar rings, you won't have to worry about any chemicals or electricity to maintain the temperature of your pool.
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.