Investing in a heater is for your swimming pool pays dividends. It extends usage of your pool beyond the summer season. While many consider having a swimming pool as a form of leisure and fun during summer time, it can also be considered a lifestyle. It can also provide a good option for physical exercise for all ages as it is safe from joint and muscle injuries caused by heavy impact caused by activities like running and jumping.
It is important for a pool to have comfortable water temperature when in use. Keeping your pool water warm and comfortable for most parts of the year may not be possible without a heater.
There are three main types of pool heaters. Choosing the right type of heater for your pool depends on several factors such as your pool usage, pool design, available area, location and budget.
Solar heaters are energy efficient but very expensive and space consuming. Gas and oil heaters are the least expensive heaters but are not ideal for prolonged, regular use and rely on available fuel. Electric pool heaters are expensive but are energy efficient and long-lasting.
Solar heaters make use of energy from the sun for heating. This type of energy is collected by solar panels typically installed on the roof or other areas where the total solar panel area is equal to the pool surface area. While it is considered environment-friendly and an energy saving type of heater, it only works when there is energy collected from the sun. In northern climates, it may not be as effective as an electric pool heater. For most pool owners, a solar heater is not considered the first option due to its high initial cost compared to gas-fired and electric pool heaters.
The more popular type of heaters would probably be gas-fired or oil-fired heaters. This is due to the lower cost of installation of these types of heaters. Gas-fired heaters use natural gas or propane for fuel while oil-fired heaters use oil-based fuel. Gas and oil-fired heaters are ideal for quick heating. These are efficient options in heating pools for a short period of time and those that are not used on a regular basis.
Electric pool heaters are more expensive than other heating methods but these will work even in cooler climate where solar heat is insufficient. In areas where natural gas and heater oil are not available, an electric heater is your best option. Compared to solar heaters, an electric pool heater requires less space since it does not use space consuming solar panels the surface size of your swimming pool.
An electric pool heater has a heat exchanger that transfers heat from ambient air to your pool water using a compressor. This type of heater uses earth-friendly refrigerants to generate heat in the unit. Electric heaters are specially engineered to be energy efficient. In cooler regions, an electric heater will require more energy to heat pool water. In warmer regions, it requires less energy and works faster since the ambient air is already warm.
Now that you know the different kinds of pool heaters, which type do you think would suit your needs?
