There are plenty of kinds of heating systems for swimming pools on the market. However, which one is best for you? Ideally, you’ll need the water heated to the preferred temperature that uses as little energy as possible, and also efficiently as possible, so that it isn’t a drain on resources. This will depend on the size of your pool, how often it is used and by how many people, as well as whether your pool is outdoors or indoors, and what the ambient temperature will be. Here is a roundup of some of the pumps on the market that may suit your needs.

Heat Pumps

The preferred choice of pool heating system is a heat pump. This maximises efficiency with comfort. Heat pumps run on electricity and are very energy efficient, leading to a rise in their popularity. There are two kinds of pumps: air-source and water-source (geothermal). Water-source heat pumps operate independently of air temperature, which make them even more efficient. As well as their efficiency, they have a very good life span of at least 10 years. However, they are more expensive to purchase than the other kinds of heaters, albeit a worthwhile investment. Air-source heat pumps are also dependent on the ambient air temperature, which may not be suitable for outdoor pools.

Electric Resistance Heaters

Another kind of heating system that uses electricity is a resistance heater. When an electric current is applied to the resistor located inside the unit, the resistor heats as water flows over it. This causes the resistor to cool down, but also heats the water up. They can produce very warm water, very quickly, but because this kind of heater requires large amounts of electricity to operate, they are primarily reserved for small portable spas and therapy pools. They are cheap to purchase but expensive to run, so if you pool is large enough to swim in you should opt for another kind of heater.

Gas Heaters

A third option for heating your pool is to use a gas heater. These burn either natural gas or propane to create heat. The gas burns to heat a series of coils, then water is rushed over the coils and heats up. Due to their efficiency, gas heaters have often been the most widely-used swimming pool heating systems, but now heat pumps are more popular. These heaters are inexpensive to purchase, but can be expensive to operate because of the price gas. They do heat pools quickly, but unfortunately only have a lifespan of around five years, as compared with longer lasting electric heaters and pumps. Gas heaters are also not very energy efficient when compared with heat pumps.

Choosing the Right Heating System

If you have a small pool that needs very warm temperatures for therapeutic value, then an electric resistance heater is best. If your pool is larger, then you’ll want to at least upgrade to a gas heater. However, the most popular choice these days is a heat pump. Even though they cost more, the investment is worth it. They last longer, are much more energy efficient, and will heat your swimming pool up in a short time. The only drawback is that air-source pumps rely on the ambient air temperature, which is not ideal for outdoor pools where the weather is cold, but you can always opt for a water-source pump if you need to.