If you have been looking for the best quality pool heater to use in your pool you need not look any further. Whether you are looking for the best pool heaters for inground pools or above ground pools. With a simple visit to our website you will get a detailed list of the top notch quality pool heaters available in the market to date. That’s not all. There are also accurate and detailed reviews for all the products listed on the website…
Ratings For Different Types Of Pool Heaters
Electric Heat Pumps
With a market that is saturated with numerous pool heaters, we take the stress out of making that choice by giving you a useful and helpful buyers guide. If you can confidently say that you do not reside anywhere close to the equator, the truth of the matter is that you won’t have the luxury of using your pool all year round without the use of a water heater. If indeed you are lucky enough to live in a place that’s warm, the reality is that every pool often has to be kept at a bearable temperature if one is to swim in it. On the flip side, if you live in an area that is particularly cold, you will definitely have to use a pool heater so that you can have access to your pool for longer durations. Keeping a pool heated requires a lot of time, effort and energy. The whole process of purchasing a pool heater is complex. If you have a pool already and are prospecting for a pool heater, it is of paramount importance that you do a thorough research to know what kinds of pool heaters are available out there. Truth be told, there are things that you have to think about before making your final choice and we have gone over and above to break them down for you here. The most common types of pool heaters are electric, solar, natural gas and propane powered heaters. Every type of pool heater listed on our pool heater comparison chart has its own unique benefits. Your choice will be greatly influenced by your current location and the kind of pool you have. Read ahead to get deeper details on the listed types of pool heaters.
Get the advice of a professional Pool Installer
The two things that determine the choice of a pool heater are the size of your pool and your current location. If you live in a place that is generally warm most of the year like say Arizona, it would make sense to settle for a solar heater ( so long as you think about additional factors). On the other hand if you love in the Northern part of United States or Canada where there is minimal sunlight for most of the year, it would make sense to go with a propane or natural gas powered pool heater. Also if you have a really big pool, this obviously means that you will have to purchase a larger heater. When all is said and done, all you want is a heater that is efficient in that it saves you valuable time and energy and still be cost effective. Here is a quick breakdown: If you rarely use your pool, it would be a good idea to buy a pool heater that is powered by natural gas. Such heaters work fast and will heat your pool within the shortest time possible. If you do not have plans to use your pool when the temperatures are low like at below 45 degrees Fahrenheit, a good choice heater is an electric one as it is the most efficient in such conditions. If you live in an area with extremely high electricity costs, a good choice would be a propane heater. That said, these heaters are expensive to run and maintain. There is a lot more to read regarding size of the heater, its efficiency and cost on our review section on our website. It’s important that these additional factors are covered in detail as they just as important to know about before making your purchase for a pool heater.
Pool Heat Pump Buyers Guide
When considering purchasing a pool heat pump a few questions might arise…for instance:
- Are pool heat pumps energy efficient?
- What’s the difference between a pool heat pump and an electric pool heater?
- Why should I use a pool heat pump as opposed to other heating methods?
- How do pool heat pumps work?
Pool Heat Pumps Are Very Energy Efficient!
If you’d like an energy efficient method to heat your pool and appreciate swimming throughout the year, then the a pool heat pump is the ideal method of doing it.
The pool heat pump utilizes a little bit of electrical power to run. Rather than heating by using an electrical heating component they acquire heat from the exterior air. Even if it’s 50f outside there’s sufficient heat within the air to put in the swimming pool even though it seems cool to us. Quite simply, you’re actually shifting pre-existing warmth around in the air into the pool water, this particular heat is taken out from the air, targeted together with the compressor, after which moved into the pool water.
Due to their high energy efficiency, pool heat pumps are inexpensive to run. Usually, for every 20c of electrical input, you obtain $1.00 in value of heat.
Aside from being more affordable to operate than other types of heating, pool heat pumps provide other advantages such as: heat pumps do not contaminate the swimming pool vicinity with gases, they’re created for hassle free operation with screen computer codes which will help the home owner effortlessly diagnose their unit ahead of calling for support and therefore are made from materials that can’t be damaged by swimming pool chemicals. Pool heat pumps additionally generate minimal density heat that is safe and sound for kids and also the older people, as opposed to having a fire in your current backyard or perhaps a Five hundred lb propane gas tank alongside your house. They’re unparalleled for convenience and simplicity of use.
How do they work?
Heat pumps utilize electrical power to seize heat and transfer it from one spot to another. It doesn’t actually produce heat.
When the swimming pool pump circulates the water, water is sucked from the pool and goes through a filtration system and also through the pool heat pump. The pool heat pump heater includes a fan that pulls in the exterior air and guides it within the evaporator coil. Refrigerant inside the evaporator coil takes in the warmth from the external air which then converts it to a gas. The heated gas within the coil subsequently goes through the air compressor. The compressor boosts the heat, making a incredibly hot gas which then goes through the condenser. Heat is then transferred back to the cooler pool water moving within the heater. The warmed water then goes back to the swimming pool. The very hot gas, as it moves within the condenser coil, goes back to fluid form and returns to the evaporator, the place that the entire process commences again.
Exactly what is the distinction between a Heat Pump and an electrical pool Heater?
Electrical pool heaters and electrical pool heat pumps equally need electricity to operate.
The main difference is the fact that a heat pump won’t produce heat using a heating component (just like an electrical heater) but will gather the warmth in the atmosphere and move this heat into your pool water. A little bit of electrical power is required to operate the compressor along with other parts. This method is regarded as the economical method of warming up your swimming pool. It is Four to five times cheaper than the usual gas heater or even a straightforward electrical component heating unit. (Resembles the element upon an stove) Heat pump heaters are more expensive than propane heaters, however they normally have dramatically reduced yearly running expenses due to their greater efficiencies. Along with correct upkeep, heat pump pool heaters usually last a lot more than gas pool heating units. Consequently, it can save you more cash in the end.
Along with good installment and servicing, heat pump pool heaters may last Ten years. Electrical element pool heaters can also be known as tank-less heating units. They cost as much as Five to six times more to operate compared to a pool heat pump however are generally more affordable to purchase in the beginning and therefore are practical for spas since they don’t occupy a lot of space and may be put indoors. They cost excessively to operate to heat up a pool nevertheless. Many people make use of them for indoor swimming pools in cold temperatures along with a heat pump within the hotter season to obtain the best savings.
Types Of Pool Heaters
There are different kinds of swimming pool heaters, like electric, solar, propane, natural gas and so on. Each of them has their own advantage and disadvantage. The latest natural gas heaters are safe, easy to depend on, and highly efficient. Solar pool heaters have gained popularity over the last few years owing to the decrease in the cost of solar panels, and increase in their efficiency. Which one should you opt for? Let us get to discover the pros and cons of some pool heaters, so that you can decide which one would be the best for your needs.
The Solar Heater
If you reside in a state like New Mexico, Arizona or California then solar heaters can prove to be the most economical option for you. If you live in an area where sunlight is not really frequent, but you still want a solar heating system, then you will have to pair it with a gas or electric pump. A gas or electric heater will prove as a backup, and keep your pool warm even when there is hardly any sunlight.
A solar heater includes components like a filter, pump, and a solar collector. The solar collector uses the solar energy to heat the water, the filter cleans the water and thus only fresh water gets heated up in the pool, and the pump helps in moving the water. To make the solar system effective, the solar heating unit needs to be kept in a place where it gets direct sunlight. If you live in the southern hemisphere then your solar collector needs to face towards the north, and if you live in northern hemisphere then the solar collector needs to face towards the south to get proper sunlight. Make sure there are no objects in between like buildings or trees that would block the sunlight from reaching the panels. A solar panel can prove to be a little expensive initially as you need to buy the panels and bear the installation costs. However, once installed, the energy and maintenance cost will almost be nil, and thus over time, it will only prove to be economical.
Natural Gas Heater (or Propane)
While a solar heater works only when there is sunlight, something that is not in your control, a propane or natural gas heater works in all weather conditions. These types of heaters warm up a pool very easily. When the combustibles are burned it emits energy, and this heat is transferred by the heater into the pool water. They make a great cost-effective option owing to the fact that they are inexpensive to operate, and also because the cost of natural gas has reduced quite a lot in the last few years.
If you have a natural gas line connected to your home then a professional will easily be able to hook the system to your gas line. If, however, you do not have a natural gas line, then things can be a little difficult, and you need to take advice from a professional. If you live in a remote area then a propane tank would be ideal for you as the heating system can be connected to the stand-alone tank directly. Depending on your location, you can expect to spend about $500-$1000 each year on fuel to heat up a medium sized pool for few months. If you want to keep your pool warm even in cool conditions, then it can prove to be more expensive as more fuel will be required to keep the pool water consistently warm.
Electric Heat Pump
Electricity is usually the costliest source of energy. It is more expensive than solar energy and propane or natural gas. But the electric heat pumps are created in way that they heat water in a more efficient way, and uses less overall power compared to a natural gas heater. An electric heat pump attracts warmth from the surrounding air through a compressor. The compressor compacts heat and transfers it to the pool water. Even if the outside air is very cool, the electric heater can still find warm air and using it can heat the pump.
Electric pumps will generally need a standard 220V electric outlet, and you need to make sure that your pool is located close to an outlet. The unit needs to be on a level surface and should be at a striking distance from the air handler and pool filter. To heat a medium sized pool using your electricity heat pump, you can expect to pay $250-$500 as electricity costs.
Used Pool Heaters
Owing to the high costs, many people might consider opting for a used pool heater. Is this a good idea? Well, you need to know that heaters are comprised of various parts, and even if one of these parts is not working then it can lead to expensive repairs. So, you should opt for a used heater only if you have technical knowledge to inspect the heater properly, or you purchase it from a source that inspects and certifies the heater for you.
What Size Pool Heater Should I Buy?
If you are considering buying a pool heater, you will probably have asked yourself “what size pool heater should i buy?” Well, this all depends on how many gallons water you have in your pool and also whether you have an inground or an above ground swimming pool.
Here are the frequently asked questions with the answers:
Q: What size pool heater for 20 000 gallons? A: A pool heater with the power of around 200 BTU.
Q: What size pool heater for 12000 – 10000 gallon pool? A: A pool heater with a BTU of around 150 BTU
Q: What size pool heater do i need for above ground pool? A: Pool heating times can vary a little from the types of heaters available for sale. However using Hayward’s H100 model for eg, you can anticipate the following temperature increase in an 8 hour time span: Please refer to the table below (it all depends how fast you want to heat your pool up)
Average Temperature Increase Over 8 Hours (For A 100 BTU Pool Heater)
Q: What size pool heater for a 20×40 pool? A: All pool heaters will heat your pool, but it usually the time in which it takes to heat the pool that determines the model you buy. For a 20 x 40 pool we recommend at least a 400 BTU pool heater. For more information on BTU and various other pool heaters, please see our comparison chart.
Q: What size pool heater for 30000 gallons? A: A 300 BTU pool heater.