Heating a pool can be expensive, especially when using a traditional gas or electric pool heater. However, there are several ways to warm up your pool without spending a lot on heating costs. With some clever solutions, you can extend your swimming season and enjoy comfortable water temperatures without breaking the bank.
Use Solar Power
One of the most effective and environmentally friendly options is to harness the power of the sun. Solar pool heating is a smart way to utilize the sun’s thermal energy to heat your pool water.
Solar heating systems use solar collectors installed on the roof or on the ground near the pool. These collectors absorb heat from sunlight and transfer it to the pool water. This simple process raises the water temperature for a comfortable swim, even during cooler weather.
Solar pool heating can raise temperatures by up to 15°F (8°C), which can extend the swimming season by 2-4 months. Initial installation costs more than some other options, but the system pays for itself through 5-10 years of energy savings. With solar power, you�ll slash your heating bills and reduce your carbon footprint.
Benefits of Solar Pool Heating
- Environmentally sustainable
- Free energy source after installation
- Significantly lower heating bills
- Low maintenance
- Long lifespan of 15-20 years
Cost of Solar Pool Heating
A solar heating system for an average 20,000 gallon pool costs $3,000 to $4,000 installed. However, this investment pays dividends through years of free heating. With rising energy prices, solar heating gets cheaper and cheaper compared to conventional pool heating sources.
Use a Liquid Solar Cover
An easy and inexpensive way to capture free solar heat is by using a liquid solar cover. These products form a thin chemical layer on the pool�s surface and help retain heat from the sun�s rays.
Liquid solar covers are applied by simply spraying the solution across the entire water surface. This layer helps prevent evaporation, reducing heat and water loss. It also insulates the pool to retain warmth from the daytime sun.
A liquid solar cover can increase water temperatures by 6-10°F (3-6°C). They are very affordable at just $20 to $50 per gallon container. Reapplication is needed every 2-4 weeks.
Benefits of Liquid Solar Covers
- Inexpensive way to raise pool temperature
- Easy spray-on application
- Reduces evaporation and heat loss
- Lasts 2-4 weeks per application
Use a Solar Blanket
Another simple solar-powered option is to use a solar pool cover. These covers float on the surface and capture heat from sunlight during the day. They also form a barrier that reduces evaporation and prevents heat loss.
Solar blankets are usually made of polyethylene bubbles or foam sheets. The material absorbs and retains heat, creating a greenhouse effect. This raises the water temperature while also conserving chemicals.
A solar blanket can increase your pool�s temperature by 8-10°F (4-6°C). They are inexpensive at $20 to $50 for a typical in-ground pool. Solar blankets are reusable for 2-3 years when stored properly after the season.
Benefits of Solar Blankets
- Traps heat from the sun�s rays
- Prevents evaporation and reduces heat loss
- Low cost investment
- Reusable for multiple seasons
Insulate Your Pool
Insulating your pool will significantly reduce heat loss and help maintain comfortable water temperatures. This allows you to retain heat from the ambient air and sunlight for a lower cost than heating from scratch.
Pool insulation also provides faster heating when you do use your heater. By slowing heat loss, it allows your current system to raise temps more efficiently. This saves energy and money.
Pool insulation types include:
- Foam boards – rigid panels placed behind pool walls
- Bubbles or sheets – floating covers that insulate the surface
- Blankets – solid covers stretched over the pool surface
Expect a well-insulated pool to lose only 3-4°F (2°C) per day, compared to 1°F (0.5°C) per hour without insulation. The initial cost can be $500 to $1,500 depending on your pool and insulation needs.
Benefits of Pool Insulation
- Reduces heat loss by up to 50-70%
- Maintains temperatures longer
- Saves on heating energy use
- Improves heater efficiency
- Lowers pool heating bills
Use a Pool Cover
Pool covers provide an easy way to retain heat and reduce heating costs. While solar covers specifically capture thermal energy, regular covers simply form a protective barrier over your pool�s surface.
This physical cover prevents evaporation, retaining warm water on cooler nights. It also insulates the pool from wind chill and cold air temperatures that sap heat.
Pool covers are typically made of vinyl, mesh, or plastic, and attach to your pool deck with anchors or reels. Manually pulling a solid cover on and off takes some effort, so motorized options are popular for convenience.
Expect a pool cover to reduce heating costs by 30-50%. Prices range from $200 for a manual cover up to $2,000 for an automated system.
Benefits of Pool Covers
- Retains heat by preventing evaporation
- Insulates from wind and cool air temps
- Significantly lowers heating costs
- Available as manual or automated covers
Use a Heat Pump
Heat pumps provide an energy-efficient way to heat your pool without the high operating costs of gas or electric heaters. They extract free ambient heat from the air and transfer it to the pool water.
There are two types of pool heat pumps:
- Air-source heat pumps – Remove heat from outdoor air and pump it into the pool. Work best in hot climates.
- Geothermal heat pumps – Extract heat from underground using buried pipes. Work best with high water tables.
While not as cost-effective as solar heating, heat pumps can increase temperatures by up to 10°F (6°C) for an operating cost of $0.13 to $0.27 per kWh. Geothermal options cost more upfront but have lower operating costs.
Benefits of Pool Heat Pumps
- Energy efficient and low operating costs
- Raise temperatures up to 10°F (6°C)
- Low maintenance required
- Long lifespan up to 10 years
Cost of Pool Heat Pumps
Heat pump costs range from $2,500 to $5,000 installed. Geothermal systems cost $5,000 to $8,000. While expensive upfront, their efficiency leads to a short payback period from energy savings.
Use a Hybrid Heater
Hybrid or combo pool heaters combine a heat pump with a gas heater to harness both technologies. This allows you to utilize the energy efficiency of a heat pump along with the fast heating capability of gas.
The heat pump captures free ambient thermal energy from the air or ground. When you need to ramp up heating quickly, the gas burner kicks in to rapidly raise temperatures.
Using gas only when needed prevents energy waste. The hybrid system uses up to 80% less gas compared to a standard gas heater. This greatly lowers heating costs while maintaining fast temperature increases when required.
Benefits of Hybrid Pool Heaters
- Uses free thermal energy from a heat pump
- Has fast heating ability of gas heater
- Up to 80% less gas use than gas heaters
- Lowers operating costs significantly
Cost of Hybrid Pool Heaters
The upfront cost of a hybrid heater is $3,500 to $4,500 installed. You�ll recoup some of this price over time through lower heating bills. Hybrid heaters can pay for themselves within 1-3 years.
Use a Wood Burning Stove
An unconventional but low-cost heating option is to use a wood burning stove. These stoves burn wood to produce heat that you can transfer to the pool water.
A wood burning pool heater consists of a stove connected to a water tank heat exchanger. As the stove burns wood, it heats water flowing through the exchanger coils. This warmed water is then pumped through your pool system, raising the temperature.
This process directly converts wood fuel into pool heating. Popular types of wood include pellets, chips, and cords. A wood stove can raise your pool�s temperature by up to 10°F (6°C) for $100 to $300 per season depending on fuel costs.
Benefits of Wood Burning Pool Heaters
- Burns inexpensive wood fuel
- Can increase temperature up to 10°F (6°C)
- Low heating costs of $100 to $300 per season
- Simple heating for remote pools
Cost of Wood Burning Pool Heaters
You can purchase a wood burning pool stove for $2,000 to $5,000. Bulk discounts on wood fuel will determine ongoing heating costs. The system can pay for itself rapidly if you have access to cheap or free wood.
Let Sunlight Directly Heat Water
You can directly harness the sun�s thermal energy by heating pool water in dark-colored containers. When exposed to full sunlight, the dark color will absorb heat that transfers directly to the water.
To implement this, fill large black buckets, tank bags, or trash cans with pool water. Add them around the edge of your pool where they will receive maximum sunlight. The sun�s rays will heat the water in these vessels throughout the day.
For better heat transfer, paint the containers black or cover them with black plastic sheeting. Stirring the water occasionally also helps collect heat. Replace this warmed water with your pool�s cooler water 2-3 times per day.
With this simple solar heating technique, you can increase your pool�s temperature by up to 5°F (3°C) for free. Use 10-20 buckets or containers for the best results.
Benefits of Direct Solar Water Heating
- Completely free way to collect solar energy
- Uses basic supplies like buckets and bags
- Can raise temperatures by up to 5°F (3°C)
- Simple manual process
Add a Pond Dye or Paint
Adding a dark pond dye or paint to your pool water will capture additional heat from sunlight. These products tint the water a dark blue color that absorms more solar thermal energy.
The dye or paint changes the light refraction to collect and retain heat. This raises the water temperature while also inhibiting algae growth. Most products are non-toxic and safe for pools and spas when used as directed.
Pond dyes and paints can increase your pool�s temp by 3-5°F (2-3°C). Prices range from $30 to $50 per quart, treating up to 25,000 gallons. Reapply as needed when color starts fading.
Benefits of Pool Dye and Paint
- Dark color absorbs more heat from sunlight
- Can raise temperature 3-5°F (2-3°C)
- Also controls algae growth
- Non-toxic and safe when used properly
Change Your Pump Timer
Run your pool pump during the warmest and sunniest parts of the day to circulate and heat water. Adjust your pump timer to align with peak sunlight hours.
Many pool pumps run overnight to conserve energy when rates are lower. However, this misses out on valuable daytime heating.
Set your pump timer to cycle water during peak sun exposure instead. This could be 8am to 4pm or 10am to 6pm depending on your climate and season.
Pumping water while the sun is out will transfer more free solar heat into the pool. Time it right to maximize this benefit.
Benefits of Adjusting Pump Timer
- Circulates water during sunniest hours
- Transfers more free solar heat into pool
- Can raise temperature 2-3°F (1-2°C)
- No equipment required
Conclusion
Heating your pool is easy and affordable with the power of the sun. Solar heating options like covers, blankets and collectors provide the most temperature increase. Other creative solutions like solar water bags, dyes, and insulation also help capture free heat.
Consider harnessing the sun�s thermal energy before resorting to an expensive conventional heater. With some clever DIY approaches, you can slash your heating costs and extend your swimming season.