Heaters

There are so many options when it comes to pool heaters, it's easy for a pool owner to get confused. We are here to help!

Heat pump-You can think of a heat pump as a "heat mover".  A heat pump "moves" warm air from outside into your pool. Because a heat pump does not create energy, and only moves it from one place to another, the system is extremely cost effective and operating costs are nearly zero.  However, a very efficient system does come with it's shortcomings. There needs to be a certain amount of heat in the air to heat the pool, so if the air is too cold the system may not adequately heat your pool.  This can become a problem, especially in Maryland, when most pools only require heating in April and May, or September and October when the night air can often drop into the low 40's. 

Natural gas or propane heater-This is probably the most popular style of heater in Maryland because of it's ability to quickly heat cold water, even when it is very cold outside. Creating energy does come at a high cost though. While the gas heater is generally cheaper than the heat pump initially, the cost to run it will be higher than the heat pump. If the heat pump doesn't give you your desired results though, the gas heater certainly will!

Solar-Like the heat pump, the solar heater takes energy from one place and transfers it to another. Solar heaters collect energy from the suns rays and transfers it to the pool. The more complex solar heaters employ panels or "solar collectors" that are installed on your roof or in your yard. Water will run through the collectors and come out warm on the other side. The operating cost of this is zero, but like the heat pump, there does need to be energy somewhere else for it to be efficient. On a cloudy day, or if your lot is covered with trees, the solar heater will not do much of anything. The other type of solar heater is the solar blanket. A solar blanket is a cover that sits over your pool and transfers energy from the sun directly to the pool. The cover will also prevent the pool from losing heat at night. Many pool owners use a solar blanket in conjunction with another heater to minimize their heat loss. 

Depending on your needs, any of these heaters might be the right choice for you. If you would like further information, please contact us. We would be happy to help you make the right choice!