To heat the water in swimming pools and outdoor whirlpools, and use them even on cooler days, let’s see which are the best swimming pool heaters to buy, from solar-powered models to electric ones, for large or small pools.
The beauty of having a swimming pool is also controlling the water’s temperature to always be to our liking. This is why a swimming pool heater should never be missing from our equipment.
A cool-water pool is nice in the summer, but bathing in cold water may not be inviting when the days aren’t great in the fall or spring.
If we have invested in a nice inground pool or a small aboveground pool for our children, installing a swimming pool heater allows us to use it longer throughout the year and enjoy all the benefits of a good swim.
The ideal temperature of the pool water is between 24 and 28 degrees. However, the temperature drops quickly in larger pools, not only for the quantity of water in general but for the greater surface area that disperses more heat.
If the thermometer outside shows 25 degrees, we may already feel the summer heat, but the pool water may already be too cold for our tastes.
If we have an outdoor hot tub instead of the pool and want the same temperature as the bathtub, we must consider going up to 36-38 degrees. To heat swimming pools and outdoor pools of any size, we must choose a good pool heater.
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How to choose a swimming pool heater
To choose the swimming pool heater, we must consider the pool’s size and the filtration system already present. We consider how often we use the pool during the summer to evaluate better, whether only on weekends or almost daily. This will help us decide how much we want to invest in the swimming pool heater.
Solar-energy panels and collectors
Solar energy is the most environmentally friendly way to heat pool water. It is also one of the cheapest because you can amortize the cost once you buy the panels in a few months.
Thanks to solar energy, we can use the sun’s heat in spring and autumn when the days are lovely, but the water temperature is too cold for swimming. The same goes for the not-so-excellent summer days.
Despite solar panels’ advantages, it will be difficult to harness solar energy in winter, especially in regions with the coldest temperatures. The solar-powered heating system connects to the filtration pump and uses its power to introduce water into the pool.
For this reason, it is advisable to check the compatibility with the pump, both regarding the flow rate indicated in liters per hour and pipes and fittings. The heating of domestic swimming pools using solar energy occurs mainly with two methods: solar panels and spiral collectors.
Solar panels
Solar panels that use thermal energy are available in different sizes. The largest are placed on the roof to exploit as much surface area as possible and offer greater heating power to serve large-volume underground pools.
The advantage of these panels is that they are modular, and if we realize we need more energy, we can add more. There are also smaller panels suitable for aboveground pools and children’s pools. These panels do not exceed one meter in length and connect directly to the pool. In addition, they are portable and lightweight panels that we can orient at will.
Materials
Among the materials used for the thermal panels, we find copper, steel, or aluminum to make the pipes and the structure that collects water. In this case, we have rigid panels suitable for installation in a fixed position.
Alternatively, we find thermal panels made of plastic and rubber materials. These panels’ advantage is that they are flexible and sometimes roll up, useful both in a fixed position, for example, on the roof and in a temporary position in the garden or by the pool.
For thermal panels to be efficient, the rubber must have a high resistance to high temperatures and UV rays without deforming. Among the most-used materials in this regard, we find EPDM synthetic rubber.
Spiral collectors
Spiral collectors are also available to exploit solar energy. These are UV-resistant rubber or resin hoses that heat the water inside them. The greater the hose length, the greater the hot water available. For this reason, to save space, the tubes are wound in a spiral or cone shape inside a transparent Plexiglas container. This type of collector is suitable for small aboveground pools.
Temperature
We can increase the temperature from 1 to 6 degrees with a solar pool heater depending on the heater model and the amount of water. By choosing the right panel or collector for the size of our pool, we can obtain a comfortable temperature, which, of course, cannot always be the same and cannot always be predictable because it depends on atmospheric agents.
Electric heater
The electric heater allows us to heat the pool in all seasons. The electric heater is equipped with a mechanical or digital thermostat to set the heating temperature. With a digital thermostat, we have interesting functions, such as temperature monitoring or automatic shutdown when the maximum limit set is reached.
As for the structure, the external electric heaters connect the filtration pump and the pool. The filtered water passes through the heater, which increases the temperature thanks to the electric resistance, then is introduced into the pool.
Among the electric models, we also find immersion heaters, like a bar or spiral, to be inserted directly into the water without connecting to any system. They are perfect for mini pools.
Temperature
With an electric heater, we can set the maximum temperature to 104°F for most heaters and up to 140°F for the more sophisticated ones. Of course, this will not be the final pool water temperature but a maximum water temperature in the heater.
We will feel the water temperature increase by 4-5 degrees inside the pool and up to 8-10 degrees in a whirlpool.
In this regard, we must distinguish heaters suitable for working only with cold-water pools from heaters also suitable for hot water used in whirlpools and spas that reach higher temperatures.
Also, some heaters models can cool the water and keep it constant, maintain the ideal temperature in small pools during the hottest days, or monitor the water of aquariums or artificial ponds to safeguard fish’s health and other aquatic animals.
Power
The electric power heaters are essential to choosing the one that best suits our pool. A heater that works with hot water flows and can reach 140°F will have power between 8 and 12 kW. These are heaters suitable for large swimming pools or thermal paths.
A heater that works only with cold water pools and can reach 104°F can have power between 1.5 – 3 kW, a range more accessible to domestic electrical systems. Smaller heaters can range from 100 to 3,000 watts, including immersion heaters.
Materials
Electric swimming pool heaters are made with a metal body, mainly steel, and aluminum. They are not designed to be submerged in water, but they must have a high degree of impermeability to withstand accidental splashes or jets of water. Immersion heaters are also made of metal but have plastic or rubber parts to float.
Heat pump
Another tool for heating swimming pool water is the heat pump. The heat pumps are available in various types, from the most versatile ones for small pools to the most performing models designed to heat large underground pools.
After the filtration pump receives already-filtered water, the heat pump is inserted into the circuit. It is equipped with a fan that sucks in the hot air outside. Then, thanks to an exchanger, it transfers the heat to the water and reintroduces the cooled air into the environment. Like the electric heater, the heat pump needs the energy to function.
Thanks to external heat, the pump’s electrical energy is much less than the heaters. Therefore, it is calculated that the pump can return the equivalent of 5 watts inefficiency for each watt absorbed by the system.
We must expect the power from a heat pump between 500 watts for medium-small pools (with 2,500-3,000 watts of efficiency) up to 3,000 watts for a large pool (approximately 1.5 kW of efficiency).
The heat pump is perfect when we don’t have enough space to install solar thermal panels. It also allows you to heat the water even on less sunny days.
It is not helpful when the outside temperature drops below 15 degrees and does not allow you to set the temperature. Like solar panels, it depends on the weather conditions outside.
Accessories
When buying a swimming pool heater, the supplied accessories are worth checking. Depending on the model chosen, we will have to connect the heater to our system without problems.
We need connectors, reducers, clamps, fittings, hoses, or electrical cables. The best heaters usually come with the kit with everything needed for connection.
This factor is essential to evaluate the price and compare it with other models that do not include accessories and save time that we should instead spend looking for suitable pieces and finding the right ones.
Ease of assembly and installation
In choosing the best swimming pool heater, we can also rely on the ease of assembly. Let’s buy large thermal panels that must be placed on the roof because we have no other space or because our space is not adequately exposed to the sun. We must ask for a technician’s intervention and our evaluation.
The same applies if we buy heat pumps or heat exchangers to be installed in our system. On the contrary, an electric heater attached to the filtration system could take a few minutes, even for the less experienced. Thus a portable solar thermal panel or a spiral collector requires little intervention.
The best swimming pool heaters to buy
Below are the best swimming pool heaters with their respective features and prices.
- 【Fast Heating 】: The immersion water heater is rated at 2000W and operates at 110-125V...
- 【Safety And Practicality】: This UL-recognized immersion portable hot tub heater is...
- 【Widely Used】: This immersion water heater can be used not just for swimming pools,...
- Polymer headers prevent rust stains on your pool or spa surface
- All-Copper-Fin-Tube Heat Exchanger; Made from a single piece of extruded copper
- Delivers uninterrupted heating performance regardless of falling leaves, wind, airborne...
- Solar heater mat uses solar technology to increase the temperature of the pool water by...
- Features an 11-square-foot surface to absorb the sun's rays to heat up above-ground pools;...
- Simple and economical to use, compatible with filter pumps with up to 1/3 HP or a pump...
- [A better way to extend the swimming season]: A warm pool for your kids, pets and the...
- [Save Money]: Base on heat pump technology, the EU50 heat pump absorbs energy from the air...
- [Ideal for Above Ground Pools]: The Pool heat pump EU50 is designed for above ground pools...
- [Extend Your Swim Season]: Designed specifically for heating aboveground swimming pools...
- [Save Money]: Base on heat pump technology, the PLC70 heat pump absorbs energy from the...
- [Ideal for Above Ground Pools] Max output 22462 BTU/hr, the Pool heat pump PLC70 is Ideal...
- Product Parameters: 240V 3000W (Must Use NEMA 6-15P 15A Outlet, This Heater is 12.5A...
- Fast Heating: The 3000W Heater Can Increase The Water Temperature Of A 30 Gallons Bathtub...
- High Quality Material: The Shell Of The Heater Is Made Of Stainless Steel 316L Material,...
- WARM YOUR POOL: take the chill off your pool to create a relaxing swimming environment by...
- EASY TO SET-UP & USE: the tactile on/off button, automatic temperature regulation and...
- ADD A TOUCH OF LUXURY: to your swimming experience, our pool heaters help create...
- BEST FOR: In-ground pools and spas with a surface area up to 400 ft. where natural gas is...
- PREMIUM PERFORMANCE: The Hayward Universal H-Series 150,000 BTU Natural Gas Heater...
- CORROSION PROTECTION: The Universal H-Series boasts exceptional protection against...
- POWERFUL 2000W HEATING: Powerful Pool heater is designed to deliver efficient fast heating...
- ACCURATE TEMPERATURE CONTROL: bucket heater equipped with LCD thermometer allows to...
- VERSATILE IMMERSION HEATER: Immersion water heater portable and submersible design makes...
- Built to withstand various weather conditions, perfect solution for environments requiring...
- Intermittent spark ignition pilot safety controls. Pilot only comes on when there is a...
- Space-age material means the heater won't retain residual heat after it is turned off,...
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