In-Ground Pool Heating Options

Inground pool heating options

In-ground pool owners looking for a way to keep the water nice and toasty during these chilly fall days have the choice of either heat pumps, solar heaters and gas pool heaters.

Heat Your Pool With the Ambient Air Temperature

Pool heat pumps: Warm the water in your pool with or without sun and for half the cost of natural gas or propane. A heat pump uses electricity to operate, to draw in warm air and convert it to warm water. Heat pumps themselves do not actually generate any heat on their own. They work like an air conditioner in reverse (and they kind of look like one, too). Your existing pool pump circulates water through the heat pump to absorb the heat taken from the ambient outside air.

Heat pumps work most effectively as long Heat pumps for pools - Image by Solar Direct, click to visit websiteas the temperature outside remains above 50 degrees Fahrenheit. Because of this, it might not be the best route to go if you live in a northern snowbelt region.

For the rest of the country, however, heat pumps can easily add a 20 degree increase in your pool water temperature! The advantage of using a heat pump is that they are highly efficient, have no emissions and are reliable. They operate cheaply, but the cooler it is outside the more energy it will use.

Electric Heat Pumps

Pro: Pool heat pumps maintain a constant temperature in your swimming pool, whether it is 6 a.m. or 11 p.m. at night. An electric heat pump is a great option if you or others plan on swimming on a daily basis. When using an electric heat pump to heat your swimming pool the operating costs will be typically be 2/3 less expensive than a gas-fired pool heater. They are also very reliable, have a digital interface, and are simple to operate and program.

Cons: The cost to purchase an electric heat pump is much more expensive than a gas-fired pool heater. When you first turn on the heat pump it might take four or five days for you to reach your desired pool water temperature. The heat up time is much slower compared with a gas-fired pool heater. Once you reach the desired temperature you can inexpensively maintain the temperature in your swimming pool. Most heat pumps will not heat your swimming pool during outside temperatures below 50 degrees. You will need a licensed electrician to install enough amps to power a heat pump.

Initially, heat pump pool heaters cost more than gas pool heaters, but they have much lower annual operating costs because of higher efficiency. Heat pumps are a great option for pool owners in areas such as Texas and California, with low nitrogen oxides/environmental mandates. In Florida, they are the most popular in-ground pool heating option.

Heat pumps must be installed outdoors, and they are wired for a 220-volt electric hookup, requiring a 30-60 amp breaker.

electrical-symbol-by-ocalCost to Buy: Pool heat pumps cost around $2,000 for aboveground models (50-75K BTU) and about $3,500 for in-ground models (95-150K BTU).

Cost to Install: The cost to install a pool heat pump, where none has existed before, can be expensive if the main home breaker panel is located far away from the heat pump. Prices range from $500-$2,500. First you need a suitable concrete base to place the heater next to the pool filter. Then a buried electric line is run from the home breaker panel to a subpanel for the heat pump, which requires a 30-50 amp breaker. An electrician must do the power connection to the heater for safety. Plumbing involves cutting the pipe after the filter and routing the water in and out of the heater. In-ground pool heat pumps also require bonding or a pigtail connection to the bare #8 copper wire that connects the other pool equipment.

Cost to Run: Pool heat pumps operate on electricity, used to rotate the fan and operate the compressor. In colder weather they must work harder and run longer to maintain heat, and they won’t work at all in outside temperatures below 50 degrees F. However, they are still very inexpensive to operate, usually just a few dollars per day. In the shoulder months (colder months), they may cost up to $200 per month to run, but during pool season, costs for an average in-ground pool are under $100 per month. Your mileage may vary; the average cost to run a gas heater depends on several factors, chief among them is whether a pool cover is used, but also outside air temperature, wind speeds, rain and the size or surface area of your pool.

Cost to Repair: Pool heat pumps are, in my experience, more reliable than gas pool heaters, requiring fewer repairs over time, but as with any appliance placed outdoors, problems can occur. Capacitors and circuit boards or compressors can fail. Like a household A/C unit, and like a gas pool heater, heat pump lifespans range from 10-15 years, although some may last longer with good upkeep.

Heat Your Pool With the Power of the Sun

Solar pool heaters: If you’re looking for some extra warmth without the added cost of natural gas or propane, a solar heating system may be right for you. To determine whether this heating method will be effective for your pool, check your pool against these three best practices.

1. Works best with panels facing a southerly direction.Cool pic- Solar panel showing sun shining through

2. The area you intend to lay the panels should have unobstructed sun for at least six hours per day.

3. Needs an area at least half the size of your pool’s surface area, located close to your pump.

Solar Heating Panels

Pro: One advantage of solar pool heaters is that solar is the least expensive way to heat a pool. After the initial purchase of the solar heating panels you receive free heat from the sun. If you have a southern exposed area large enough to install at least 50 percent of the pool surface area in solar panels, and it’s close to the filter system, you can effectively use solar pool heating. Installation costs for solar heating panels are usually the least expensive pool heating option.

Con: When using solar heating panels the temperature of the water can increase slowly in the shoulder seasons. The water may only warm 1 degree per day with an average temperature increase of about 8 degrees for the week, but larger solar arrays or more effective sun exposure gains much more. Normally you can only get the pool water temperature as warm or a few degrees warmer than the air temperature outside. Solar panels do not absorb much ambient heat, and if the sun isn’t shining for several days, an uncovered pool can lose a lot of heat.

For best results on in-ground solar pool heaters, use a solar controller to maximize heat absorption. With the use of two temperature sensors (one measures the panel temperature and the other measures water temperature), the controller can maintain your desired temperature dial setting.

The way a solar pool heater works is the solar panels absorb the sun’s heat throughout the day (think of how hot asphalt gets during summertime) and disperses that heat directly to your water by pumping the pool water slowly through the panels. For an in-ground pool, these panels can be installed on a roof or on a rack.

With a solar pool heater, you can easily gain a 15-degree increase in your pool water temperature. The more panels you have, the greater the heat. The only downside is that you may not get much heat during cloudy or rainy days, and there is no guarantee of heat. For a complete solar system, the cost is on par with the cost of a gas pool heater. However, all the heat after the installation is free since you do not have to spend additional money on electricity or gas. In the long run, solar is the most economical way to heat your in-ground pool.

solar-heater for poolsCost to Buy: Solar pool heaters for aboveground pools average $700 for a good setup, and for in-ground pools, $2,000 will buy you a decent system.

Cost to Install: Most solar systems are DIY installed in 1-2 days, or over a weekend. If you were to hire a handyman to install the system, it may cost $500 for aboveground panels mounted on a wood rack, and $1,200 for an in-ground system mounted on a nearby roof. A southern exposure works best, with 6-8 hours of unobstructed daily sun. Supplies needed include plumbing pipe and fittings to connect the solar panels to the pool return line, and a three-way valve to divert water to the solar panels. A solar controller is recommended for best results, which allows you to set a thermostat, and it will automatically divert water to the solar panels, only when conditions are right.

Cost to Run: Free! Well, you do have to operate your pool pump to push the water through the solar panels, but maybe you were doing that anyway. And if you use the solar controller, highly recommended for in-ground solar systems, there are a few pennies spent to power the wall-mounted controller unit.

Cost to Fix: Not many repairs are needed for a solar system; they are fairly mechanical and are almost trouble free. Ironically, the thing that does in most solar pool heaters is the sun. After 10-15 years, the plastics used in PE solar panels will break down, and leaks can occur, which can be repaired. If you use a solar controller, sensors and valve actuators may also develop problems as they age.

Heat Your Pool With Gas

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Gas pool heaters: There are many different models of heaters that specifically work with either natural gas or propane gas.  In order to determine what gas model is best for you, ask yourself these four questions:

  1. Will it be installed with natural gas or propane? (Propane cannot be installed indoors!)
  2. Do you prefer an electronic spark or millivolt ignition? Electronic spark uses electricity to spark and light the burner tray when needed, while millivolt systems use a constant pilot light to light the burner tray when needed.
  3. Do you have an attached spa?
  4. What size is your pool, in gallons?

Gas Heaters

Pro: The main advantage of using gas pool heaters is that gas will increase the temperature much quicker than a solar heating panel or an electric heat pump. A gas heater is a great option for someone who wants to do spot heating, or intermittent heating. For those who have a vacation home and want to heat their pool quickly, a gas heater is the best option. Gas pool heaters are the only four-season pool heater. There are no concerns with outside temperature nor the amount of sunshine; it does not matter when heating with a gas heater.

Con: If heating your pool with liquid propane, you need to have a propane tank installed and propane gas delivered to your home. A lot of customers do not like the look of the propane tank, and burial can be expensive. The operating cost is typically much more expensive when heating with propane gas than with natural gas. To heat the pool with either gas heater is definitely the most expensive way to go. Gas heaters tend to need cleaning and servicing more often than other types of pool heaters. They are also a potentially dangerous appliance to have installed, because of the CO emissions and the hazards of using gas.

The advantage to a gas-powered heater is that you are guaranteed heat no matter what the weather is like. Considering the cost of gas, you may spend a lot on gas, depending on how you use the gas heater. The initial price range for a gas-powered heater is less than a heat pump, and usually more than a solar pool heater.

You will get the largest temperature increase with a gas-powered heater, as much as an additional 30 degrees F. It is recommended that a professional come out and install your gas heater for you. Installation can be quite complex, with plumbing, gas and electric involved.

gas-symbol-by-ocalCost to Buy: Gas pool heaters, propane or natural, cost $1,500-$2,000 for in-ground pools, and $800 to $1,200 for aboveground pool heaters.

Cost to Install: The cost to install a gas heater, where none has existed before, can be expensive if the gas meter or propane tanks are located far away. Prices range from $500-$2,500. First you need a suitable concrete base to place the heater, next to the pool filter. Then a buried gas line is run from the gas meter to the pool heater, or from the propane tanks to the heater. Gas meters may need to be upsized to handle the higher gas demand. Gas contractors must do the gas connection to the heater for safety. Plumbing involves cutting the pipe after the filter and routing the water in and out of the heater. Digital or electronic gas heaters also need a power supply, usually provided by the pump timeclock or GFCI outlet. In-ground pool gas heaters also require bonding or a pigtail connection to the bare #8 copper wire that connects the other pool equipment.

Cost to Run: Although natural gas prices have plunged in recent years (while propane costs have increased slightly), the cost to run a gas heater is the highest among all three ways to heat a pool. In the shoulder months, or the months on either end of the season, the cost to maintain 80 degrees could be $500 per month, with $250 per month during pool season. Your mileage may vary; the average cost to run a gas heater depends on several factors, chief among is whether a pool cover is used, but also on outside air temperature, wind speeds, rain and the size or surface area of your pool.

Cost to Repair: Of all the three ways to heat a pool, gas pool heaters are the most temperamental. They usually run for 5-6 years without missing a beat, but as components begin to wear, they will usually need heater parts in their advanced years, or may become unreliable. Most gas pool heater owners may face one or two bills in the $400-$800 range before replacing the heater in the 10-15 year range.

pool-heater-cost-comparison-chart

Sometimes buying a heating system for your pool can be confusing when there are so many different options available, each with their own pros and cons. If you have any questions on what heating method would be best for your pool, give us a call anytime at 1-800-288-7946.

sabrina-3
Sabrina Potirala
InTheSwim Staff Blogger