How to Heat an Above-Ground Pool

Though they’re not necessary for swimming in the hot summer months, installing a pool heater is a great way to start your pool season earlier in the spring and extend it late into the fall. Additionally, having a heated pool makes going for swims at nighttime much more enjoyable!

You have a couple of different heating options if you have an above-ground pool. Continue reading to learn how to heat an above-ground pool.

Gas heater

This is the fastest heating option out there because it uses gas to heat your pool, just like an oven or a grill. Gas heaters are also fairly cheap to install if there aren’t any complications hooking the heater up to a gas line.

But before you go out and buy a gas heater, keep in mind that they have the highest monthly operating cost. In fact, they can be three times more expensive than other heating options.

Heat pump

Consider a pool heat pump for a healthy balance between heating speed and cheap operating costs. These devices extract heat from the outdoor air and convert it to energy to heat your pool. They’re a bit more expensive to purchase, but they’re about three times more cost effective to run each month.

Before heating an above-ground pool with a heat pump, you’ll also need to consider that they become less effective as it gets colder outside. On days where the temperature drops below 50 degrees, your heat pump might not be very effective at all.

Solar blankets or solar rings

Solar blankets and solar rings are simple covers that keep your pool warm by harnessing the sun’s rays. While they don’t heat up the water, they prevent heat loss and keep your pool temperature more comfortable when you dive in.

These covers are cheap to buy and actually save you money each year because they reduce water loss from evaporation by up to 70 percent. Even if you purchase one of the heaters discussed above, we recommend buying a solar blanket or rings to use as heating aids.

Buy your heater

Above-ground pool heaters and heat pumps are rated in British thermal units (BTUs), which measure how much energy it takes to heat one pound of water by one degree. A heater with a higher BTU will heat your pool faster and raise the temperature higher, but they’re typically more expensive.

Solar blankets and solar rings don’t have a BTU rating, since they’re unpowered. But you’ll still need to calculate your pool’s dimensions and know how much water your pool holds to ensure you purchase the right size blanket or rings.

Let us install your pool heater

Unless you’re going with a solar blanket or solar rings, you’ll need a professional to install your heater. And for that, look no further than A-1 Pools & Spas. In addition to knowing how to heat an above-ground pool, we’re experts at installing all types of pool heating systems. Contact us today to get an estimate for your new pool heater.

Categorised in: Pool Contractors