If you’re looking to open your swimming pool earlier in the spring and keep it open later in the fall and winter, pool heaters and pool heat pumps are important to your extended swimming plan.
With competitive price and timely delivery, Nancent sincerely hope to be your supplier and partner.
But what is the difference between a swimming pool heater and a pool heat pump? What do pool heaters cost? Which option is more effective for certain ownership situations? To help you make an educated decision before purchase, we’ll help you understand the main features of a pool heater vs. a pool heat pump.
Swimming pool heaters are the most popular option for heating pools. 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 require the ongoing expense of propane, natural gas, or electricity. The ongoing operational cost of pool heaters typically exceeds the expense of running a heat pump.
Depending on the type of fuel used (propane or natural gas) and the geographic location of your pool, the cost to heat your pool can range from about $3.00 to $9.00 per hour. Natural gas heaters typically cost a few dollars less per hour vs. propane heaters. Depending on where you live, natural gas can also cost up to 85% less than propane gas. On the flip side, propane might be the most readily available fuel source in your region.
BONUS TIP: Propane and natural gas pool heaters are two of the most common types of heaters, and do a stellar job of keeping your pool toasty. But is one better than the other? Check out this article and see which one is right for you.
An electric pool heater, also known as a heat pump, is another great option if propane or natural gas won't work for your pool. Electric heaters are unique in that they're 100% efficient, compared to propane or gas heaters, which are usually only around 84% efficient. However, these electric units are often smaller and may yield a lower BTU output than their traditional gas or propane counterparts. Because of this, they may not be able to heat the pool as quickly as larger heaters, so they are typically only reserved for smaller indoor and outdoor pools or for spas and hot tubs.
Electric heaters are a reliable way to heat any pool, but they will significantly increase your monthly electric bill, especially for larger outdoor units. Electric heaters consume significant electricity, and often require at least a 60 amp circuit breaker with wiring to carry 240 volts. Larger models may require higher amperage circuit breakers and 3-phase power.
Heat pumps are becoming increasingly popular for pool owners. They use the ambient air surrounding the unit to heat your pool. The air passes over an evaporator coil, and the heated refrigerant transfers the heat to the water before returning back into your pool. This process does not require natural gas or propane resources, lowering utility costs. Heat pumps cost about $0.63 an hour to run on electricity; a fraction of the cost of propane or natural gas pool heaters.
Although running costs are low, heat pumps do have a slight disadvantage. Since heat pumps use the surrounding (ambient) air around the unit, they only work well when temperatures are higher than 50 degrees Fahrenheit. When temperatures drop below 50 degrees, heat pumps lose the ability to efficiently heat your pool water.
To learn more about how heat pumps work, be sure to read our detailed article, How Do Pool Heat Pumps Work?
Both heaters and heat pumps are a great solution for pool owners looking for effective ways to heat their pool water. The main deciding factors between a pool heater vs. a heat pump will be your location, budget, and heating needs. If you live in a colder climate and want to enjoy the longest pool season as possible, you should probably lean towards a natural gas, propane, or electric pool heater. However, if you want something that will save you money in the long run, and you live in a climate that does not drop below 50 degrees often, a heat pump may be the way to go.
The backyard pool has been a part of many Australian’s family lives, something that isn’t surprising considering the hot summers we have. But the sun is not always shining, and depending where in the country you are situated, winter comes each year.
Whether you are pondering which system to go for, or if it is even worth the set-up cost, let’s take a look at what the different heating options are to maintain a comfortable and stable water temperature.
The options you can choose from
Want more information on Spa Pool Heat Pump? Feel free to contact us.
In a nutshell, there are four types of heating systems you can choose from: solar pool heating, electric elements, heat pumps and gas heating.
Solar pool heating has found popularity due to its energy efficiency. Using sunlight to directly transfer heat, the water in your pool is circulated through, most commonly, a collector on the roof. Further attraction lies in the minimal operating costs of this particular system, as it essentially only requires a set-up of the infrastructure and works through impact of sunlight from there on – albeit with the need for a boost pump to circulate the pool water to your roof.
Importance is put on the quality of materials used for this heating system, as well as the size of the collector, which should be at least 80 per cent of the swimming pool capacity to ensure optimum results. However, despite the very durable and low-cost nature of solar heating, it is also dependant on stable weather conditions and regular sunshine, which is not guaranteed year-round.
Electric element heating on the other hand warms the water through directly transferring heat from the element to the water. This option, despite being very compact and low in installation cost, does incur higher running cost than other heating systems. Element use may also be restricted under the Australian Building Code.
The electric heat pump is a more efficient use of electricity as it transfers the warmth of the air into the water. Coming at a lower annual cost than gas heaters, these systems absorb the heat from the air at a relative output rate of approximately 5:1. This inherently makes electric heat pumps popular for those pool users wanting to use their swimming oasis year-round.
Finally, gas heating is one of the most flexible solutions due to its capability to heat the water up very quickly by using either natural gas or propane. Ease of maintenance of these systems has led to its popularity amongst pool owners.
Pool heating could add desired value to your property.The good as well as the bad
Generally speaking, investing in a pool heating system is predominantly favoured because of the comfort and convenience it offers. Warmer water equates to an extended swimming season, a holiday ambiance at home and quality family time.
However, it can also add value to your property. CoreLogic data indicates that at 6.1 per cent, Australian properties are at their slowest appreciation rate since . Investing in quality pool heating systems, if done right, can increase the value of your home.
On the flip-side of things, if you don’t choose a high-quality heating option, your energy costs might soar. Additionally, maintenance of some systems can be both time and cost intensive.
What this means for you
As it is important to carefully consider all the options available before installing a pool heating system, thinking about your specific needs is a good starting point. Whether you want to have the comfort of year-round pool time or prefer to have a quick burst of warmth when you are actively using the water, choosing the right heating can make a big difference in your lifestyle.
To talk about how you can benefit from our pool heating systems, get in touch with our team at Rheem today.
If you are looking for more details, kindly visit Water Chiller for Cold Tub.