How Should You Heat Your Pool?

You want to swim all year round even when the weather gets colder. All you need now is to work out the best way to heat your pool. If you don’t yet know the basic difference of how different heating systems work, reading our Introduction to Heating would be a great place to start.

Which heating option is right for you will depend on the size litres of the pool, how long you are willing to wait, your budget and your preferred energy source. Often, your property location comes into play as well – the ambient temperature and amount of sunlight your pool get each day and if you have a good quality pool cover installed will influence your choice.

If you’re looking for the cheapest way to heat up a pool, then the answer will almost always be a solar pool cover or a minimum 400-micron pool blanket. After the initial purchase, there’s no ongoing energy cost, just an effort on your part to pull the blanket off and back on again after each swim. Remember though, this relies on the radiant sun and in most locations will only potentially add 1 to 2 months extra to your swimming season. 

If you’re looking for something a little less hands-on – and more reliable, temperature-wise – then you should consider either a gas pool heater, an electric heat pump or a solar system. Each one has its own pros and cons, which we’ll investigate below. Pairing any of the options below with a pool blanket will help to entrap the heat and make your pool heating even more efficient. 

Solar pool heating

Solar pool heating is a popular option in Australia. Benefits of solar heating include:

• Low annual operating costs
• Environmentally friendly
• Effective in most areas of Australia
• The system requires little maintenance and has a long lifespan

Drawbacks include:

• On rainy days and at night there’s no heat generated
• Will extend the season by 8 weeks
• Prone to be ripped up by birds 
• Often will require an extra pump installed for the solar

Gas pool heaters

Gas pool heaters are a good option for smaller to medium pools. These heaters use a Natural or ULPG gas source to warm up the water before it is passed back into the pool. Benefits of gas heating include:

• Heats water fast
• Reasonable price to install
• Effective no matter what the outside temperature
• Pool blankets are not as important when initially heating up the pool
• All Year Heating 
• The maximum temperature is 40 C
• Copper or Cupronickel heat exchangers - Poor water chemistry will damage the heat exchanger

Drawbacks include:

• Costly to run
• Requires a gas line 
• The lifespan of about five years
• Can be noisy when operating
• Requires larger amounts of water flow 

Electric heat pump

Electric pool heaters work on the same principle as a reverse-cycle air conditioner. Operating in tandem with your pool pump or separate circulation pump, they draw in warm air from outside to heat the water. Benefits of an electric heat pump include:

• Efficient to run (as long as it’s warm outside!)
• Low operating costs
• Heat pumps are the best option for all-size swimming pools
• All Year Heating 
• Pool blankets will reduce operating energy costs by up to 50%
• Titanium heat exchangers - Longer warranties against corrosion on heat exchangers
• Longer lifespan of about 10 years
• Quiet operation 
• Operates on lower water flow

Drawbacks include:

• Much slower to heat the pool than gas
• More expensive initial outlay than gas
• Some appliances have a maximum temperature of 35 C
• Relies on the warm air, so not as efficient on cold days or at nights
• Depending on the size kW heat pump you go for, you will need a large direct electrical supply from your switchboard. 

Without a doubt, gas heaters are the fastest way to bring your pool up to a comfortable swimming temperature. A gas heater can raise the temperature of a 50,000-litre pool by around 12 degrees in a day or so. Bear in mind that in most parts of Australia, and uncovered, the unheated pool will usually be around 18-20^oC, so depending on your preferred temperature, you might not need to run the gas heater for so long since running a gas heater for prolonged periods can be quite expensive. A heat pump will get your pool to the same temperature, but over a longer period—in the above scenario, you’d probably need to switch it on a day earlier. However, because it works in a similar way to a reverse cycle air-conditioning unit, as long as the outside temperature doesn’t drop too low in your area during winter, a heat pump would be a great solution for keeping the pool warm all year round.

It’s a good idea to think beyond the initial purchase price of a pool heating system and consider its ongoing running costs and lifespan, too. Decide if you want to just extend the swimming season or if you are serious about swimming all year round. As a general rule, if you are going to heat your pool all year round at a consistent temperature then an inverter heat pump is a far more efficient and sustainable way to heat your pool. The inverter technology not only lowers the unit’s speed as it attains the preferred temperature but significantly saves on energy, but it’s also quieter to run and faster to heat up compared to its standard counterparts. Certain smart inverter heat pumps can even provide you control over energy consumption and usage through your smart devices, allowing you to monitor and set your pool’s temperature even when you’re away from home!

Need help to choose?

Ultimately, the best choice for your pool is what suits you and your situation best. If you need help choosing the best heating option, reach out to your local pool professional by using our dealer locator.