How to Build a Swimming Pool

Adding a pool heater to your swimming pool may increase your comfortable pool usage by several months depending on your climate and location. People in more northern areas may be able to double the amount of time they can enjoy the relaxation of their pool. With a variety of different pool heaters on the market it may be tough trying to decide which heater will suit your needs best. This article is intended to provide you with information on each type swimming pool heater so that you can make a conscientious decision before your purchase.

There are three basic types of pool heaters available for residential use:
1  The Solar Pool Heater

2  The Gas Pool Heater

3  The Pool Heat Pump

Solar Pool Heaters

uses free energy from the sun to heat the water in your swimming pool. After the initial investment solar pool heaters are the cheapest to operate. Power is still needed to operate the pump to move the water from the pool through the solar panels and return it to the swimming pool. One drawback of solar pool heaters is the size necessary to heat the pool. The solar panels need to have a collection area equal to that of the pool surface. Another disadvantage of solar pool heaters is the initial cost. Solar heaters are the most expensive type pool heater to install. Solar heaters won’t raise the water temperature rapidly and are mostly used to help maintain a constant water temperature. With careful setup, the solar pool heater can provide free warm water while the pool pump and filter are doing their job of sanitizing the pool.

Gas Pool Heaters

(either natural or propane) are the least expensive to purchase initially. Rising costs of fuel are making them more expensive to operate than some other choices now. Gas heaters are fairly efficient and will heat the pool water more quickly than the other type heaters available. A gas pool heater is probably the best choice if you only use the pool occasionally as opposed to every day use. Oil fired heaters are available and fall into the same class as other gas pool heaters.

Swimming Pool Heat Pumps

are rising in popularity. This type heater works similar to the heat pump used to heat and cool a home. New designs have made the heat pumps much more efficient than in recent years,but they still lack the btu output of gas heaters. Heat pumps won’t raise the water temperature rapidly and are more useful to maintain a constant temperature. A pool heat pump may be the best way to go if the pool is used on a daily basis and your desire is to maintain a constant water temperature.