One of the big events of every summer for swimming pool owners is the day the pool water is finally warm enough to swim in. Though the water warms during the day, it cools again at night. It may take a month or more before the water is warm enough for a pleasant dip. But what if you could lengthen your swimming season by several weeks, or even several months? The good news is: you can, by installing a swimming pool heater.

Swimming pool heaters raise the water temperature during the transitional spring and autumn months and in areas with cool summers. Above ground pools are especially susceptible to heat loss because they do not have the insulation and warmth provided by the earth that surrounds an in-ground pool. The exposed sides of an above ground pool give up a lot of heat..

If a swimming pool heater fits your situation, there are three main types from which to choose.

Natural gas / propane pool heaters are most popular because of their fuel efficiency. Most models can be ordered for either natural gas or propane. One of the most popular and efficient gas heaters is the Jandy LXi Low NOx heater. Gas heaters provide the fastest heating (hours rather than days), have up to a 95% efficiency rating and are thermostatically controlled so the unit only comes on when the water temperature falls below the set level. Whether installing a gas heater yourself or hiring a professional to do it, make sure all plumbing connections are leak free and that all wiring and pipes are covered for the safety of your family and guests.

Electric pool heaters, usually heat pumps, extract the heat from the air, compress it and use the resulting heat to raise the temperature of your pool’s water. An excellent example of a well-made, efficient heat pump is the AquaPro Pro 600. It works like your home air conditioner in reverse. Because it draws heat from the air, a heat pump requires an air temperature of 50 degrees Farenheit or above. Heat pumps are usually more expensive to operate than gas, so it is often used in combination with a solar pool heater. The solar heater heats the water during the daytime and the heat pump maintains the heat gains at night.

The third basic type of swimming pool heater, that is growing in popularity, is the solar heating system. Solar heaters use your pool’s existing pump and plumbing to circulate the pool water to a an array of solar panels that concentrate the sun’s light and heat the water as it flows through. Solar pool heating systems can be very cost effective to operate, but have a much higher installation cost. This higher cost can be recovered in only a few years through lower energy costs as compared to other pool heating systems. Solar heater installations can require a lot of space, either on the ground, in slanted racks or on a roof. Plan ahead to make sure you have enough space. The usual recommendation is that the solar array should have an area equal to the surface area of the swimming pool. One side benefit of a solar pool heating system is in areas with very hot summers, the system can be run at night to cool an overheated pool. An Enersol Solar pool heater is an easy-to-install product for in ground pools. Enersol is a long-established, reputable manufacturer that offers one of the longest warranties in the industry.

With or without a swimming pool heater, you should definitely have a solar pool cover or solar blanket. Solar covers resemble bubble wrap. They contain layers of thin, durable plastic separated by bubbles of air. A solar cover floats on top of the pool. During the daytime, it conducts sunlight into the water to heat it. By night, just like a blanket, the air bubbles prevent the accumulated heat from escaping. This can greatly enhance the effectiveness of any other swimming pool heating system by retaining the heat gained during the day. As an added benefit, it will also reduce water and chemical evaporation and prevents dirt and debris from entering the pool while it’s covered, reducing maintenance and stress on your filtration system.

A solar reel makes putting a solar cover on and taking it off much simpler. The reel can be permanently attached to an above ground pool’s side rails.

You have a number of pool heater solutions from which to choose. Most pool equipment manufacturers have introduced new models that are more durable, friendly to the environment and to your budget and more energy efficient than ever before. Selecting the right pool heater will be a matter of evaluating the availability and price of energy sources (gas, electric or solar), the size of your pool and the number of degrees you need to raise the water temperature. So extend your “summer” swim season into spring and fall. Get a swimming pool heater today.

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This entry was posted on Friday, July 30th, 2010 at 5:23 am and is filed under swimming pools. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.