subject: 4 Tips For Choosing The Right Heating System For Your Pool [print this page] When deciding which pool heating system to use for your pool there's a lot to consider. Your pools size and volume will come into consideration, as will the outside climate and, of course, your own personal preferences. Here's a few tips to help you choose:
1. Heat pumps.
Heat pumps are basically reverse cycle air conditioning for your swimming pool. Heat pumps operate by heat exchange, transferring heat from the air to the pool using a system almost identical to an air conditioner when operated in reverse cycle (heating) mode. Heat pumps are also very easy to install. They're compact, easy to site, and easy to fit to your filtration system.
Heat pumps are low cost, and they're not power guzzlers, with low kilowatt usage for the average size pool. In fact, using heat exchange technology means that 80% of the energy comes from the air and is free. Larger pools naturally require more power, but the actual power usage rarely exceeds 5Kw, even for big pools. Most domestic models simply plug in to a standard power point.
2. Gas heaters.
* Gas pool heaters vary in quality, and the general market wisdom is to go for top brands, even if they are a bit more expensive.
* Installing a gas system makes sense if you're on a gas supply, but installing gas for a pool as a standalone system may be a problem for some people.
Gas has some claims to being a good system for spas or short term heating requirements, and does work well in all environments, heating water more quickly than other systems.
The primary issues with gas are efficiency ratings and using gas instead of electrical systems.
3. Solar Heating Panels Expensive to set up but at no harm to the environment
A solar pool heater can be a very good idea as part of an integrated system. These systems are very environmentally friendly, with no significant carbon footprint at any stage of their production or operating lives. These systems may have a price tag which looks a bit daunting, but the savings in power costs and emissions are made throughout the course of the system's life.
The real outlay cost is at the installation stage. The heat pump works off the solar source, and the major issue is pool size and system requirements. It's a good idea to check out your options with solar pool heating, because you can get a very good idea of prices and system capabilities.
4. Non-powered pool coverings and how they can work with your heater.
Evaporation from the pool surface is the greatest single cause of heat loss. This is why pools in windy locations (where evaporation is higher) tend to be colder than pools in sheltered locations. Adding a pool cover to the water surface virtually eliminates evaporation and this form of heat loss. Most pool owners find that a pool cover can add 4-7 degrees Celsius to the average water temperature.
Pool covers really come into their own when used in conjunction with another heater (such as a heat pump or a gas heater). Because less heat is lost, the heater doesn't have to work as hard or long. A pool cover can reduce your heating costs by as much as 50%.
