Swimming pool heaters are necessary when you want to swim at night or swim during colder months. To some people, it’s only possible to make use of their swimming pool during the evenings. For instance in households where both partners are wage earners, an unheated pool could drop to uncomfortably low temperatures during the evening and night time. This is true even in hot climates such as in Florida.
In addition to helping to keep the pool water at a temperature that is comfortable, pool heaters can help to reduce the risk of damage to the plumbing that can be caused by freezing water expanding in pipes during winter months.
Whichever swimming pool heater you choose, the first thing you should do is buy and use a pool cover. These pool covers are designed to stop the loss from the pool surface, and can reduce your heating expenses by as much as half, as well as extending the swim season of your pool by as much as two months. When you consider how cheap pool covers are, I’m sure you’ll see why it would be crazy not to get one.
There are several different types of pool heaters for you to choose from, and you may want to choose a system which combines two different types. The simplest type of pool heater, and the one which is the cheapest to install, is the gas heater. These heaters use propane gas to generate heat and warm the pool. Advantages include fast heating times and low installation costs. However, they have the highest running cost of any swimming pool heater type, and it is not unusual to spend as much as $3000 a year on heating bills with this type of heater. Because these costs are prohibitively high, some people do not consider them a viable option. However, they are an effective supplemental system to a second heating system.
Another option to consider using in conjunction with a gas heater is the electric heat pump. This is an electricity powered system, which literally sucks the heat out of the air, using a process which is the the opposite of that which occurs in your refrigerator. The refridgerator sucks heat out of the food that is placed inside its pumps this heat out into the air. The pool heat pump takes heat from the air and compresses it. This heat is then passed directly into water which circulates through the system and goes back out to the pool. The running costs of this type of heater are far lower than a propane gas powered system, but the installation costs are considerably higher. It can take several years for the electric heat pump to make a saving when you consider the installation costs as well as running costs, but in the long run it is a lot cheaper than using a gas heater.
Another option, which is gaining in popularity, is solar pool heating. In this system, solar panels are used to collect solar energy from sunlight, and converted into heat which is directly circulated into the swimming pool. The solar panels are usually placed on the roof of your house, and are plumbed into the circulation system of your pool. These heaters are very environmentally friendly, and have zero running cost except for occasional maintenance, which may need to be performed. They run all year round, but obviously generate more heat during the hotter months than they do at colder times.
Solar heating is expensive to install, but pays for itself within 2 to 5 years. On its own, it may not be enough to keep your pool heated all year round, but when used in conjunction with a gas powered pool heater for the coldest months, it can provide you with a nicely warmed to call all year round.
Similar Swimming pool heating news:
- Swimming Pools Heaters photo cr
- Electric Pool Heaters Electric p
- propane gas pool heater A propane
- Heat Pumps, Pools, and Air Temperature Throughout
- Solar Heater For Pools photo cr