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Which Heater is Best for My Pool?
Which Heater is Best for My Pool?
Do you ever just get the urge to take a dip in a warm pool? Usually, filling and heating your pool can be a military operation, relying on the weather to heat up the water, which can take hours. But what if it was already heated and you could just get straight in? Here is a quick guide to your options for heating your above ground pool:
Solar Pool Heaters
A cost efficient and eco-friendly way of heating your above ground pool is with solar pool heaters. Using thermal energy, automated sensors and flow control valves, the water from the pool is pumped through the filter to a solar collector (usually mounted on a roof). Heat that has been captured from the sun in the solar collectors is transferred to the water and then returned to the pool. However, as the solar collector relies on the sun, the pool will not be heated throughout the night or extended periods of cloudy weather. In comparison to the other heater types, solar heaters can also be slower to heat a pool.
Heat Pumps
Using electricity to capture the residual heat from the outside air, an electric heat pump converts this heat into a much higher temperature and then transfers it to the water – think of it like a reverse air conditioning unit.
These pumps use less energy than gas and electric resistance heaters and because they rely on outside air temperature rather than the sun, will work around the clock. They are seen as by far the most economical method of heating your above ground pool - however, consider whether you need to heat your pool around the clock, with the recent rise in energy bills.
Heat pumps do become less efficient in temperatures below 15 degrees Celsius as they are required to work harder, however they remain the best option for all round efficiency. Depending on the size of your there are plug and play heat pump options, as well as heat pumps designed for the summer season only, an extended summer season and an all year round solution. Please contact us for more details and to get a heat pump correctly sized for your pool.
Electric Pool Heaters
Heat is generated by electricity in these heaters rather than captured from the sun or ambient air temperature – think of it like a heating element in a kettle. Beneficial for small pools and lower in cost to buy than solar or heat pumps, these heaters are much smaller than an electric heat pump or an inverter, are easy to install and operate - just switch on and go! However, resistance heaters are not as energy efficient and will use a lot of electricity, especially if you would like your pool to be heated around the clock.
Electric Heat Inverter Pump
These work in a similar way to an Electric Heat Pump using electricity to capture the residual heat from the outside air, and convert this heat into a much higher temperature and then transfer it to the water. However, they work on a system where, rather than a simple on/off switch for the heating element, the Inverter will regulate the power required to maintain temperature in all weather conditions. This means, although initially more expensive to buy, the overall running costs are much lower.
We stock several types of heaters, and it is important to consider the differences between them and pick the right one for you and your pool. Call our experienced team on 01403 331604 or 01403 331649 who will be able to help you make the right choice for your pool.
"Which heater is best for my pool?" is one of the five questions you must ask before buying an above ground pool. Follow the links below to access the rest of the articles in this guide:
