Central Florida doesn’t provide pool-friendly temperatures all year round. The sun shines hot enough to heat swimming pools in the summer months, but that is not the case in the winter months. To heat your swimming pool in winter, you need to install a high-quality and properly-sized pool heater. The cost of heating your pool in Florida during the winter months will depend on various factors.
The Type of Pool Heater
The amount you spend to keep your pool water hot throughout the year depends on the type of pool heater you have. Heat pump pool heaters are quite common in Florida homes and commercial properties. Heat pump heaters are energy efficient, durable and generate less pollution. Heat Pump Heaters have low operating costs, averaging between $50 and $150 per month. Heat pumps heat slower vs their gas counterpart and they can struggle to heat on the coldest winter days. Modern heat pumps use titanium heat exchangers which gives these heaters a very long life span.
Gas pool heaters are excellent for maintaining comfortable pool water temperatures all year. These pool heaters heat faster vs heat pumps and will heat easily on cold winter days. They run on either natural gas or propane and have a higher cost of operation. It will cost you $300 – $500 or more per month to heat a swimming pool with a gas pool heater. Lifespan of a gas pool heater is generally much shorter than a heat pump.
The last and essentially the most expensive option is the Electric Resistance Pool Heater. Electric resistance heaters operate quietly, have a limited environmental footprint, and cost less to buy and install. You will likely spend over $500 per month to heat your pool with this type of heater. We do not recommend resistance heaters if either a heat pump or gas heaters are an available option.
The Heater’s Co-efficiency of Performance
A pool heater’s co-efficiency of performance (COP) is essentially its efficiency rating. It is calculated by dividing the heater’s energy output by its energy input. Pool heaters with higher COP ratings are more efficient and consume less energy to heat your pool. To keep your pool heating costs low, choose a heater with large enough capacity and a high COP rating.
The Swimming Pool Temperature
Another factor that affects the costs of heating a swimming pool is your preferred swimming temperature. The swimming temperature you find comfortable for you and your loved ones will significantly affect how much you spend on heating bills. Keep in mind that the higher the swimming temperature, the more it will cost you to heat your pool. Even the most efficient and reliable swimming pool heater will cost you more to operate if you run it for more hours. Ultimately, if you set the swimming temperatures high, the heater will need to operate for more hours.
Shape and Size of the Swimming Pool
The final factor affecting the cost of heating a pool in your Florida home is the size and shape of your pool. Larger pools with nonstandard shapes will need a bigger, more powerful pool heater. Remember that the bigger the pool heater, the more energy consumed and the higher the heating costs. Do not forget that a pool with infinity edges takes longer to heat, affecting the pool heating costs.
Pool Blanket! Pool Blanket! Pool Blanket!
Last, but certainly not least, is the use of a pool blanket. Your pool is losing heat anytime the water temperature is above air temperature. Think about a hot cup of coffee in a ceramic mug, it doesn’t stay hot forever. The use of a pool blanket is a must to preserve as much heat as possible, reduce heater run time and keep your utility costs as low as possible. There are two types of pool blankets. The best option is a solar blanket which looks like a large piece of bubble wrap that sits on top of the water. It should be trimmed to fit the pool surface exactly. These blankets can be difficult to store and cumbersome to get on and off. They can also present a safety issue should someone, especially a child, fall into the pool unexpectedly and get tangled up in the blanket. The second option is liquid pool blanket, a non-toxic chemical, that is poured into the water. Although not as effective as the previous option the liquid works well. The liquid blanket is sometimes the first choice for people with small children and those who don’t want to deal with the large bulky blanket.
Factoring in all these factors will enable you to get the average cost of running your pool heater. If you find your pool heater is consuming more power and decide to have it checked, consult qualified technicians at Underwood AC LLC. You can also reach out to our technicians to size and install new pool heaters. We’re a family-owned and long-established team of HVAC technicians serving Kissimmee, FL., Davenport, FL., and the surrounding areas.
At Underwood AC LLC we’re focused on delivering top-tier pool repair, maintenance, and replacement services. Over the years, our fully licensed technicians have served hundreds of happy and returning clients. Our clients highly recommend us because of our high-quality services, reasonable pricing, prompt customer care team, free quotes, and emergency services. Give us a call today!
