Pool Designer Tip: Choosing the Best Pool Heater
Now that your pool designer has delivered the dream outdoor oasis, it’s no wonder you want to use it year-round for entertaining and family enjoyment. Whether you live in a climate that enjoys relatively balmy weather or you have to contend with freezing winter temperatures, you could keep your pool heated throughout the year, provided you have the right pool heater in place for the job.
If you’re like most homeowners, though, you probably don’t have the faintest idea how to go about choosing the product that will best compliment the glorious vision your pool designer constructed in your yard. The good news is, you don’t have to be an expert to figure it out. Here are a few tips for choosing the best heater for your luxury pool.
Consult with Your Pool Designer
One of the best ways to pick the perfect pool heater for your setup is to consult with your pool designer, ideally during the design process. The main reason for this is so that you can select a heater that has the proper capacity for your pool size.
Just as air conditioning units must be the proper size to keep your home interior cool throughout the summer months, your pool heater must provide for your pool capacity. Both are rated by BTUs (British thermal units). Generally speaking, pool heaters could range from just under 100,000 BTU to over 400,000.
What does this mean? Higher BTU means higher output, which relates to capacity for heating. An Olympic sized pool will require greater output than a smaller pool, for example. It’s important that you choose the right size unit for your particular pool. Having one that’s too big for your setup could be just as detrimental as having one that’s too small.
An experienced pool designer should be able to help you select the appropriate size heater for your pool, ensuring adequate heating and optimal efficiency so that you can enjoy your gorgeous pool well into fall or even all year long.
Ask your Pool Service
If you moved into a home that already has a pool and there is no heater or it isn’t working properly, you can ask your pool service provider for help. This is another professional that should be able to calculate your needs based on the capacity of your pool. You can also go right to the source and consult with a retailer.
Gas Heaters, Solar Heaters, and Heat Pumps
Since you want to make an informed decision, you should know that there are three main types of pool heaters to choose from. Gas heaters are the most common and they generally rely on natural gas or liquid propane to heat your pool. The main draw is that these heaters can increase water temperature relatively quickly.
Another option is solar pool heaters that use solar panels to heat your pool. This option is ideal for anyone interested in reducing emissions and doing their part for the planet, but you will definitely need a lot of direct sunlight in order to keep your pool heated.
Finally, you could opt for a heat pump that draws in outside air and heats it in order to heat the pool water. This option is relatively eco-friendly and causes no emissions, which makes it a great alternative to solar heaters in areas that don’t get a lot of sun.
Again, it’s probably best to consult with a professional pool designer like Pacific Pool and Spa or pool servicer provider to ensure that you get the right pool heater to suit your needs.
