Electric Pool Heaters
You’ve got a great swimming pool but wouldn’t it be nice if you could enjoy that swim no matter what the weather was doing outside? Whether you enjoy a casual swim, swim for therapy, or are a training athlete a warm pool is great. And solar doesn’t always work. Isn’t it time you have a look at electric pool heaters? A good heat pump will maintain your pool between 80 and 90 degrees no matter what the weather is doing outside. It will function best when the outside temperature is above 45 degrees. Wondering how it works? Well it’s actually simple. The heat is extracted from the air which then runs through a compressor and is transferred to your pool. You can expect your system to cost from $2000 to $4500 and the installation will cost you anywhere from a couple of hundred dollars and up depending on your pool and system. You can expect a 15 x30 pool to cost around $4000 installed. The manufacturer determines what the BTU output is going to be and there is actually no governing body. If you are going to compare units you need to make sure you are comparing same BTU’s. All heat pumps are assigned a COP rating which is usually between 3 and 6 meaning your efficiency is between 300 and 600%. The cost of operating your heater is very minimal because they are so energy efficient. For every 25 cents you spend on electricity you will get $1.50 worth of heat. That’s a pretty good investment. You can expect to spend between $200 and $600 for heating per year. Your heat pump is rated by BTU and horsepower output. A 3.5 HP at 75,000 BTU or a 6 HP at 125,000 BTU. You’ll find the heat pump by the pool pump and filter. You can expect your heater to last as little as 5 years or as much as 10 years, perhaps even more. The higher the quality of the unit the longer it will last. And of course the more it is used the sooner it is likely to wear out. Warranties range from 5 to 15 years. The old style electric pool heaters were not very energy efficient and it cost a substantial amount of money to run them each year. But the new heat pump systems are very affordable to operate and many would consider them the best choice on the market. Even gas heaters cost more to operate. Solar heaters may be cheaper to operate but they are only reliable if you can provide adequate sunlight to properly heat the water. If sunshine is something you are missing they generally aren’t your best option. Heat pump systems are so popular people are ripping out their existing systems and changing over. Word of advice. Get some price quotes before you start ripping up your existing system. Electric pool heaters are a great way to turn your short season pool into a long season pool. It’s also a great way to enjoy a comfy swim first thing in the morning or later in the evening while you stay warm and cozy. |
