Having a swimming pool at your property is one of the coolest things. You can dive into the pool anytime you want without having to travel all the way to a waterpark or leisure club. While you can take a dip in cool pool water during the summers, you've got to make arrangements for pool heating if you want to continue using your swimming pool during the winters.
When we talk about heated pools, there are 3 options; solar heated pool, electrically heated pool and a gas heated pool. As you can tell by the name, a solar pool uses the suns heat to warm the pool water running through tubing on the roof of your house, while electrically heated pool use electricity to heat the pool water via heat exchanger, whereas a gas pool uses a combustion system that uses natural gas or LPG fuel.
While all 3 types of heater are suited to heating the swimming pool water, you may want to know what the differences between them are and which of the options is more suitable for you. This blog post is all about solar, electric and gas heated pools.
How are Solar, Electric and Gas Pools Different?
The 3 heating systems differ from one another in various aspects and are suited to different usage situations. We've discussed some of the major areas in which they are different.
How Do They Work?
A solar heated pool has solar collector installed. This solar collector can come in various types, but in its simplest terms is a series of small tubes on the house roof that has the pool water circulating through it. The sun's solar energy heats the water in these tubes, so that it returns to the pool warm. This system requires a water pump for circulation which can be either dedicated to the heating system or simply use the filter pump. It also requires a solar controller which will sense the roof temperature and pool temperature to activate and de-activate the system as required.
The electric heaters work like an air conditioner. They have a heat exchanger which has the pool water running through it. The heater warms a liquid inside the heat exchanger using electricity which transfers to the pool water within the heat exchanger. The heater has a thermostat to regulate the water temperature to your chosen set point. It will also require a water pump for circulation which can be either dedicated to the heating system or simply use the filter pump.
In the case of a gas heater, the heater uses propane or natural gas. The gas is burnt in the combustion chamber, and the operation heats up the swimming pool's water. A gas pool gets heated up quickly as the heating process is transfering more energy in a short amout of time. The gas heaters are also controlled via thermostat and are typically installed inline with the filtration system. This means there is no need for extra plumbing or extra pump.
Operating Costs
The operating cost will depend on how the pool is heated. To have the pool set at 26 degrees for 8 months of the year, a gas heated pool is much higher than solar or electric heated pool. Solar heating is by far the cheapest heating system as the suns energy is free. It is however limited by how much sunshine is available, so you might not be able to reach 26 degrees for 8 months of the year. So if you have a lot of cloudy days, this might not be the best heating option.
Electric heating using power from the grid will be more expensive than using solar power (if you have solar panels) but is typically only a few dollars per day to keep the pool at the set temperature. It is a good heating option when you want to have a warm pool every day during spring, summer and autumn, and if you have solar panels, you might be able to run the heater at minimal cost by chosing the run time when you are making the most free electricity. It is slow to increase the temperature, but cost effective to keep it at that temperature.
The gas heaters are the most expensive to run if you are keeping the pool warm all the time. However, the gas heaters are very quick to raise the pool temperature, so there are a lot of pool owners who only heat the pool when they are going to use it. If you arent using the pool regularly and only run the gas heater once or twice a month, you might find it is actually a similar cost to run compared with the electric heaters when powered from the grid.
The installation cost of all three is fairly similar, however the cost of getting the gas service to the heater and the connection costs with potentially new gas meters, typically make the gas heaters the most expensive to install.
When Should Each of These Be Used?
If you live in a region where it's usually cold, and you use your swimming pool only a few times a month, you should invest in a gas heater because it heats up the pool water very quickly. A gas pool won't be too costly if it's used only sometimes. However, if you live in a hotter part of the country where your swimming pool is in use most part of the year, a solar or electrically heated pool might be a better option for you. If you have a spa with your pool, a gas heater is always recommended so that you can get your spa up to temperature in 20-30 minutes, rather than hours with electric heating and solar heating isnt capable of reaching a normal spa temperature, especially if it is night time!
All heaters have their own pros and cons. Make your decision based on your preferences, budget, and the frequency at which you use your swimming pool. Just ensure that you're working with the right pool professionals for your pool installation.