Gas pool heaters run on propane or
Pool Heaters
Heaters utilize natural gas, propane, or electricity to heat water returning back into your pool. They have a lower upfront cost and raise water temperatures quickly. Although heaters have a lower upfront cost than heat pumps, they do require the ongoing expense of propane or natural gas.
Gas pool heaters use either natural gas or propane. As the pump circulates the pool's water, the water drawn from the pool passes through a filter and then to the heater. The gas burns in the heater's combustion chamber, generating heat that transfers to the water that's returned to the pool.
Electric pool heat pump
Electric heaters (also referred to as heat pumps) heat the pool water by cycling it through a pump which takes the outside air and transfers the heat into the water via the refrigeration cycle. The warm water is then pumped back into the pool to meet desired water temperatures.
Pool heaters may use natural gas, propane, or electricity to heat the water being returned to your pool. With a lower upfront cost, pool heaters heat water temperatures fairly quickly, but they will incur the cost of additional energy or that of propane or natural gas expense.
Electric pool heaters are very common in the U.S. There's a wide selection to choose from, and some models are extremely energy efficient. There are two types of electric pool heaters: Plug-in Electric Pool Heaters – These are lightweight, portable, and easy to install as well as to store.
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.
Pool heaters can operate between 80-95 percent efficiency; if we conservatively estimate using 80 percent as an average, a 400,000 Btu heater will actually output only 320,000 BTU's per hour.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Electric heaters might cost between $175 and $600 per month to run, and electric pumps could cost around $120 to $200 per month.
If the pool is in continuous use, or if you want to use it spontaneously, it must be kept heated all the time, which raises the cost. Keeping an insulated or solar cover on the pool between uses minimizes the heat loss.
You have a 20,000-gallon pool and use a 125,000 BTU heater. Your water is currently 70 degrees F but you would like it to be a minimum of 80 degrees F. How long will it take before the pool water reaches 80 degrees F? 10 x 1.33= 13.34 hours of heating before the pool reaches 80 degrees F.
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.
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.
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.
Set your pool heater's thermostat to a temperature between 78°F and 82°F (26°C and 28°C) to keep the majority of swimmers comfortable. Maybe a little cooler if you're in an area with very hot summers, or a little warmer if you live in a milder climate.
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.
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.
Electric pool heaters and pool heat pumps both run with electricity. The difference is that a pool heat pump will not generate heat from a heating element (like an electric heater) but will harvest the heat from the air and transfer this heat to your pool water.
Heat Pumps can help save you money!
This is a much more efficient way to heat your pool's water. To cool your pool's water, the process is reversed. In cooling mode, heat pumps pull heat out of the water and put it back in the air, when Mother Nature decides to turn up her thermostat.