Before investing in a heating option, you should consider the benefits and challenges that come with installing a heating solution in your pool. Will your pool and home get a lot of sunshine even in the cooler months? Are you wanting to be able to use your pool in every season? Will your pool be used for just relaxing in summer? Or will you be wanting to swim all year round?
Whether you are a long-term swimming pool owner or looking at installing a brand new pool, if you are considering a heating option for your pool, it is important to have an understanding of all your heating options. This is to ensure you get the most effective system for your swimming pool. For most people, swimming throughout winter isn’t an option as it is too cold. If you find that your pool isn’t being used in the cooler months, but you would like to continue swimming you may benefit from installing some heating in your pool. If you are only using your pool when the weather is warm and you won’t swim during winter, a heating system could be a bit of a waste. Especially considering it can be expensive to buy and install, and then the ongoing running costs. There are quite a few heating solutions available, including pool heaters (gas and solar) and heat (electric) pumps.
How big is your pool?
Firstly you will need to consider the size of your pool, because smaller pools don’t need as powerful heating equipment. Whereas bigger swimming pools will require more powerful systems to warm them up . You would hate to invest your money on a heating system, only to find out it’s not going to heat your swimming pool properly. Or even worse, you overspend, more money than you need, on a heating system that is more powerful than what you need. You can establish the type of heater which is most suitable, depending on the size of your swimming pool.
Pool Heaters (Solar and Gas)
For a long time, gas was the only (and very expensive) pool heating option, but since solar has evolved, it has proven to be an extremely popular option due to the cost-saving benefits.
Solar Heating System
A solar pump runs the water from your pool through a series of capillary tubes located on your roof, it passes through them getting heated along the way, the warm water is then sent back to your pool. This process achieves an even temperature in your pool. Whilst solar is a favoured heating option its downfall is that they are not very effective when there are a lot of clouds or minimal sun. This is an inconvenience if you want to use your pool and it hasn’t heated enough to do so.
Solar heating is probably the most popular heating option because they are energy efficient and cost-effective to run. Rather than using electricity or gas, they harness energy from the sun to heat your pool water. Solar heating systems are also eco friendly and can save you money on your energy bill.
Gas Heating System
Gas heating systems work by burning gas in a combustion chamber. Inside the combustion chamber is a series of copper coils that the pool water runs through and heats. Once it is heated it is then returned to the pool.
Some pool owners choose to have a solar system as your main heating option and have gas as a backup for when the weather isn’t ideal. A lot of pool owners have this set up, because a gas system is a big energy consumer and isn’t great for the environment, or your wallet. However, the biggest advantage to a gas heating system is that you can warm up your pool to a temperature that suits anytime you want to use your pool quickly. This makes them a good option for smaller pools and spas. It typically works the best out of all the heating systems as it doesn’t need heat from the sun or air to work.
Heat Pump (aka electric pool heaters)
Electric pool heaters extract the heat and humidity from the air to warm your pool, via a heat exchanger. They are usually more dependable than solar as they don’t rely purely on the sun to work. They can also collect heat at night time too.
The electric heating systems are another popular pool heating option. Whilst they aren’t as cost effective to run as solar, they aren’t as expensive as gas. Electric heating systems heat up the pool more quickly and more effectively than solar although they are not as environmentally friendly, and they are more expensive.
Before you start your heating journey, it is a good idea to invest in a pool cover as well. A cover significantly reduces the heat loss, and helps retain the warmth in your pool. Which means less heating time for the water to get to the desired temperature, plus it can save you money on your heating bills. Plus it protects from debris and cleaning too! Also the great thing about fibreglass pools is they insulate and retain heat more effectively than other pool types, and they heat up quicker too!
Hopefully you now have an idea of what pool heaters and heat pumps are, and which is the right one for your swimming pool. It is hard to navigate which heating option is the better option for you and your pool because there are too many varying factors. You can contact our highly skilled team here at The Fibreglass Pool company, we would love to help you, if you have any questions about pool heating or if you’re looking for a stunning pool for your home.
