That way they only run when the pool owner needs their water warm instead of having them run constantly. So the best time to start running a swimming pool heater is a few hours before a family normally uses their swimming pool.
Colder Climate
While you may not need it during the height of summer, spring can be pretty cool in northern climates. In that case, it's often best to get a pool heater if you want to start using the pool in April or May.
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.
Most pool heaters don't work as efficiently in temperatures below 50 degrees Fahrenheit (F). As the weather begins to warm up, people are mentally preparing for pool season.
Pool water temperatures typically run between 78 and 82 degrees. Any cooler than 78 and you may come out of the pool shivering. Any warmer than 82 and you may feel like you're taking a bath. So you could say that 78 degrees is the minimum swimming pool temperature and anything over 82 degrees could be too warm.
Below 50 Degrees
If you jump into water colder than 50 degrees without any protection, the coldness in the water will be painful and a huge shock to your system. You may go into shock and lose control of your breathing.
Typically it takes about half a day to heat most average size pools. However, here is a formula you can use for a more exact calculation based on your particular pool.
One of the reasons you aren't recommended to leave your pool heater turned on overnight is that it may cost a fortune to keep the pool heated for all those hours. Operating and energy costs may also increase especially on colder nights.
Turning off the heater is advisable if you will be out for a couple of days or if you only plan to swim during weekends. There's no advantage to have the heater turned on all week long. As mentioned, the climate affects the heating process.
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.
Simple. The warmer you heat your pool water, the more it will cost. Each degree rise in temperature equates to an approximate 15-18% increase in operation cost. While an 88°F pool is toasty, it will cost a lot more to maintain than a pool held at 85°F.
A pool that is uncovered can lose up to 5° 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.
If you're looking for a perfect pool temperature, not too hot, not too cold, 77 – 82 degrees (25 – 28°C) may be the way to go according to most recreational swimmers. In most cases, pools should be comfortable, and the average swimmer will agree with this.
As a general rule of thumb, it can take anywhere from 8-48 hours to increase the temperature of an average size pool (around 15,000-20,000 gallons) by 10-15 degrees Fahrenheit.
Between these organics and the living contaminants like algae, warm water has a higher chlorine demand than cold water. Chemical reactions generally work faster at higher temperatures. Water chemistry is no different. So chlorine will work better and faster, and as a result, chlorine will also get reduced faster.
The average life of a pool heater is between 15 and 25 years with regular usage and proper maintenance, but there are various factors that impact that projection.
Every degree you raise the temperatures increases energy costs dramatically; keep water warm, but not spa-warm. Lower the thermostat when the pool isn't being used – If you don't plan to use the pool for a few days, cover it and drop the thermostat to 70 degrees. For longer periods, shut the heater off.
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.
On average, this could take from 12-48 hours, but there are a series of factors that influence the time period it takes for a pool to heat up completely.
The average pool heater burns about 1 gallon per hour per 100,000 BTUs. Like I mentioned earlier, propane heaters are generally 400,000 BTU's. Therefore, you will be burn approximately 4 gallons of propane per hour.
While pools should be never above 95 degrees, anywhere in the 90-92 degree range creates a comfortable, yet therapeutically warm environment for older swimmers or infants and toddlers learning how to swim.
According to the National Center for Cold Water Safety, water temperatures below 70 degrees Fahrenheit should be treated with caution. Water temperatures between 50 and 60 degrees Fahrenheit makes it difficult to control your breathing, and anything lower than 40 degrees is painfully cold.
It can be tricky to determine the right pool temperature, but 74 degrees Fahrenheit is generally warm enough for swimming. If you're an elderly or younger person, aim for temperatures between 84 and 94 degrees Fahrenheit when swimming in a pool.