Heating solutions

The perfect pool is neither too hot nor too cold. A comfortable and enjoyable 77-85 degrees provides the optimal experience, but depending where you live and what your climate is, keeping a continuous temperature throughout the summer season, or even all year long, will likely require heating your pool.

A pool heater or a pool heat pump are the most common heating solutions that allow you to extend your swimming season. Both enable energy-efficient heating for every budget, and there are various factors to consider when determining which is the best heating solution for your pool.

Heat Pump vs. Gas Heat

Your pool professional can help you decide which is right for you— a gas heater or a heat pump. There are several factors that contribute to determining which pool heating option will work best for your specific pool.
  • What is the climate where you live?

  • How often do you plan to use your pool?

  • How big is your pool?

  • Average cost of gas/electricity in your area.

Choosing the Correct Gas Heater for Your Pool and/or Spa

If you and your pool professional have determined that a gas pool heater will work best for your needs, there are still a few more considerations to keep in mind when choosing the appropriate gas pool heater for your pool or spa. Remember, gas pool heaters are complex pieces of equipment. Determining the correct heater for your pool should be done by a licensed pool professional.

Three factors affect how long it takes to heat your pool:

heaters for pools
Size and features of pool or spa

The shape and size of your pool affect the time needed to heat your pool or spa and how much energy is required to do so. A British Thermal Unit (BTU) is the amount of energy required to raise one pound of water by one degree Fahrenheit. To determine how many BTUs are required to heat your pool, you must first figure out the volume of your pool, which a licensed pool professional can help with.

pool heater environment conditions
Environmental Conditions

Air temperature, wind, and a number of other environmental factors will figure in to how fast you can heat your pool water. Cooler air temperatures and increased wind have a significant impact on heat loss due to evaporation, necessitating a larger output of energy to heat your pool. It’s important to consider typical weather conditions when determining what size pool heater will work best for you.

pool heaters
Size of heater (BTUs)

Pool heaters are designed with varying levels of BTU output to work efficiently for given pool sizes and weather. Once you’ve factored in your pool’s heating requirements, as mentioned above, you can calculate the required BTUs needed to heat your pool or spa.