If you only use your pool during the summer, you could be missing out on months of outdoor fun. Installing a heater allows you to enjoy the water year-round. Even if you choose to close the pool during the winter, having a heater means you can reopen it earlier in the spring. According to the experts at Don Marcum’s Pool Care in Cincinnati, OH, propane heaters and heat pumps are the two most common ways to keep water warm. They offer this guide to help you choose the right one for your pool.

Propane Heaters

If you want to swim year-round, this is the best option. A propane pool heater works like a household furnace in that it burns fuel to heat copper-lined tubes. The water gets warmer as it flows through the tubes. This system is the quickest way to heat a swimming pool because it can raise the water temperature one to three degrees per hour.

The cost to run a propane heater varies due to factors like fuel prices, outside air temperature, and whether you cover the pool between uses. The colder the air temperature, the more fuel the heater will burn to reach your desired water temperature. This can increase your operating costs over time.

Heat Pumps

If you want to extend your swimming season by a few weeks or months, a heat pump is the most cost-effective way to do so. This equipment works like a reverse air conditioner, transferring heat from the outside air to the water. The pump pulls warm outside air into the machine, heats it further, then filters the water through a heat exchanger and back into your pool. This type of heater can raise the temperature of the pool one to three degrees per day, but requires air temperatures to be above 55° to work.

Heat pumps cost more than propane heaters upfront, but a propane unit can become more expensive in the long term due to fluctuating fuel prices. Like propane models, energy costs for heat pumps depend on outside air temperatures, wind conditions, and whether you use a pool cover to regulate the water temperature.

Installing a pool heater helps you enjoy your backyard longer, but it’s important to choose the type that suits your needs and budget. To speak with an expert about which heater is right for you, call Don Marcum’s Pool Care at (513) 561-7050. Their advice is backed by more than 50 years of experience caring for local pools. Visit their website for more information about their products and services.