When fall is approaching, its usually time to start winterizing the pool. Its a sad, sad day for many pool owners. However, it doesn’t have to be. You can continue using your pool a little longer with a pool heater. Many agree it can be a great investment as it allows you to get way more use out of your pool throughout the year.
Image | Name | Rating | Price |
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Hayward Titanium 50K BTU | 4.0 | Check | |
Hayward 400K BTU Propane | 4.1 | Check | |
Hayward 200K BTU Nat Gas | 4.1 | Check | |
Blue Wave Solar Blanket | 4.1 | Check | |
GAME SolarPro Solar | 3.4 | Check |
An above ground pool heater is an easier way to warm up your above ground swimming pool so that you are able to get inside of it sooner. It is a lot faster to heat it after the winter or when you have to refill it. It is also able to keep you swimming further into the cool weather months, when most people are winterizing their swimming pool until the following year.
Some pool heaters are easier to use, most are cost effective, and all of them are able to heat up your swimming pool much easier than relying on the sun’s rays to warm it. Perhaps the best way to see the pros of having a pool heater is to learn about the different types and what they are able to do for you.
The Hayward Universal H-Series Pool Heater, available in natural gas or propane style, saves energy and resists erosion. It works by constantly moving air through a combustion chamber and then releases heat into the pool. It is effective regardless of what the temperature outside may be. There is an easy to read LED control panel that tells you what the water temperature is and warns you of potential problems that it may be having. This is sure to keep your pool just the right temperature so you can enjoy your above ground pool all year and not just in the summer months! Many reviewers agree that this was the best purchase they made for their pool.
This is one of the more economical solar pool heaters you could buy for your above ground pool and is an alternative to a heat pump, like the Hayward (although not as efficient). It is not as big and bulky as other solar panels and there are two sizes available. This heater can increase the pool temperature up to 5 degrees in 3-8 days depending on the size of your pool and the amount of direct sunlight that it receives. You can also add other solar heaters to the original one to increase the heat that it provides and it won’t break the bank.
Another great Hayward option for a heat pump is the Hayward Titanium HeatPro. It is quiet and resists corrosion, even near coastal areas. It has an easy to read LED control panel that gives you valuable information about the temperature. It also has a temperature lockout feature and an electronic frost control. This heater is electric and has a BTU rating of 50,000 to make it very efficient at heating above ground pools. A worthy investment!
There are a few different types of pool heaters available for you to consider. Each one has pros and cons over the others.
This type of pool heater is the least popular and common. To use it, you burn firewood inside of a chamber and the heated water flows through a pipe which heats up the rest of the pool. You will have to refill the wood often to keep the temperature coming up. This one takes the most effort of all other types of pool cleaners and it is perhaps best for other types of pools.
This heater works regardless of the air temperature around the above ground swimming pool. It is portable so you can use the gas bottle in other areas when you do not need it by the pool. Perhaps even your gas grill could share a bottle. It works quickly. The downside is the overall price of gas may get expensive over time because not all are fuel efficient.
If the temperature outside is above 45 degrees, most electric pool heaters will work well. They are ideal in areas where solar is not a viable option for one reason or another. However, they can be expensive to use because they run off of a 220 volt outlet. This is a major downside for many people who want to warm their pool.
These pool heaters need warmth to work. They use no power that you must pay for, but they are sometimes very expensive to install depending on the type that you choose. They do need direct sun to be efficient and if you live in a cooler climate area, it will not be as effective as other types of pool heating.
For more information about the types of above ground pool heating systems available, you should read through the top three above ground pool heater reviews. This will show you what others have chosen and perhaps point you in the right direction on buying an above ground pool heat pump.