To heat the water in swimming pools and outdoor whirlpools, and use them even on cooler days, let’s see which are the best swimming pool heaters to buy, from solar-powered models to electric ones, for large or small pools.
The beauty of having a swimming pool is also controlling the water’s temperature to always be to our liking. This is why a swimming pool heater should never be missing from our equipment.
A cool-water pool is nice in the summer, but bathing in cold water may not be inviting when the days aren’t great in the fall or spring.
If we have invested in a nice inground pool or a small aboveground pool for our children, installing a swimming pool heater allows us to use it longer throughout the year and enjoy all the benefits of a good swim.
The ideal temperature of the pool water is between 24 and 28 degrees. However, the temperature drops quickly in larger pools, not only for the quantity of water in general but for the greater surface area that disperses more heat.
If the thermometer outside shows 25 degrees, we may already feel the summer heat, but the pool water may already be too cold for our tastes.
If we have an outdoor hot tub instead of the pool and want the same temperature as the bathtub, we must consider going up to 36-38 degrees. To heat swimming pools and outdoor pools of any size, we must choose a good pool heater.
Table of Contents
How to choose a swimming pool heater
To choose the swimming pool heater, we must consider the pool’s size and the filtration system already present. We consider how often we use the pool during the summer to evaluate better, whether only on weekends or almost daily. This will help us decide how much we want to invest in the swimming pool heater.
Solar-energy panels and collectors
Solar energy is the most environmentally friendly way to heat pool water. It is also one of the cheapest because you can amortize the cost once you buy the panels in a few months.
Thanks to solar energy, we can use the sun’s heat in spring and autumn when the days are lovely, but the water temperature is too cold for swimming. The same goes for the not-so-excellent summer days.
Despite solar panels’ advantages, it will be difficult to harness solar energy in winter, especially in regions with the coldest temperatures. The solar-powered heating system connects to the filtration pump and uses its power to introduce water into the pool.
For this reason, it is advisable to check the compatibility with the pump, both regarding the flow rate indicated in liters per hour and pipes and fittings. The heating of domestic swimming pools using solar energy occurs mainly with two methods: solar panels and spiral collectors.
Solar panels
Solar panels that use thermal energy are available in different sizes. The largest are placed on the roof to exploit as much surface area as possible and offer greater heating power to serve large-volume underground pools.
The advantage of these panels is that they are modular, and if we realize we need more energy, we can add more. There are also smaller panels suitable for aboveground pools and children’s pools. These panels do not exceed one meter in length and connect directly to the pool. In addition, they are portable and lightweight panels that we can orient at will.
Materials
Among the materials used for the thermal panels, we find copper, steel, or aluminum to make the pipes and the structure that collects water. In this case, we have rigid panels suitable for installation in a fixed position.
Alternatively, we find thermal panels made of plastic and rubber materials. These panels’ advantage is that they are flexible and sometimes roll up, useful both in a fixed position, for example, on the roof and in a temporary position in the garden or by the pool.
For thermal panels to be efficient, the rubber must have a high resistance to high temperatures and UV rays without deforming. Among the most-used materials in this regard, we find EPDM synthetic rubber.
Spiral collectors
Spiral collectors are also available to exploit solar energy. These are UV-resistant rubber or resin hoses that heat the water inside them. The greater the hose length, the greater the hot water available. For this reason, to save space, the tubes are wound in a spiral or cone shape inside a transparent Plexiglas container. This type of collector is suitable for small aboveground pools.
Temperature
We can increase the temperature from 1 to 6 degrees with a solar pool heater depending on the heater model and the amount of water. By choosing the right panel or collector for the size of our pool, we can obtain a comfortable temperature, which, of course, cannot always be the same and cannot always be predictable because it depends on atmospheric agents.
Electric heater
The electric heater allows us to heat the pool in all seasons. The electric heater is equipped with a mechanical or digital thermostat to set the heating temperature. With a digital thermostat, we have interesting functions, such as temperature monitoring or automatic shutdown when the maximum limit set is reached.
As for the structure, the external electric heaters connect the filtration pump and the pool. The filtered water passes through the heater, which increases the temperature thanks to the electric resistance, then is introduced into the pool.
Among the electric models, we also find immersion heaters, like a bar or spiral, to be inserted directly into the water without connecting to any system. They are perfect for mini pools.
Temperature
With an electric heater, we can set the maximum temperature to 104°F for most heaters and up to 140°F for the more sophisticated ones. Of course, this will not be the final pool water temperature but a maximum water temperature in the heater.
We will feel the water temperature increase by 4-5 degrees inside the pool and up to 8-10 degrees in a whirlpool.
In this regard, we must distinguish heaters suitable for working only with cold-water pools from heaters also suitable for hot water used in whirlpools and spas that reach higher temperatures.
Also, some heaters models can cool the water and keep it constant, maintain the ideal temperature in small pools during the hottest days, or monitor the water of aquariums or artificial ponds to safeguard fish’s health and other aquatic animals.
Power
The electric power heaters are essential to choosing the one that best suits our pool. A heater that works with hot water flows and can reach 140°F will have power between 8 and 12 kW. These are heaters suitable for large swimming pools or thermal paths.
A heater that works only with cold water pools and can reach 104°F can have power between 1.5 – 3 kW, a range more accessible to domestic electrical systems. Smaller heaters can range from 100 to 3,000 watts, including immersion heaters.
Materials
Electric swimming pool heaters are made with a metal body, mainly steel, and aluminum. They are not designed to be submerged in water, but they must have a high degree of impermeability to withstand accidental splashes or jets of water. Immersion heaters are also made of metal but have plastic or rubber parts to float.
Heat pump
Another tool for heating swimming pool water is the heat pump. The heat pumps are available in various types, from the most versatile ones for small pools to the most performing models designed to heat large underground pools.
After the filtration pump receives already-filtered water, the heat pump is inserted into the circuit. It is equipped with a fan that sucks in the hot air outside. Then, thanks to an exchanger, it transfers the heat to the water and reintroduces the cooled air into the environment. Like the electric heater, the heat pump needs the energy to function.
Thanks to external heat, the pump’s electrical energy is much less than the heaters. Therefore, it is calculated that the pump can return the equivalent of 5 watts inefficiency for each watt absorbed by the system.
We must expect the power from a heat pump between 500 watts for medium-small pools (with 2,500-3,000 watts of efficiency) up to 3,000 watts for a large pool (approximately 1.5 kW of efficiency).
The heat pump is perfect when we don’t have enough space to install solar thermal panels. It also allows you to heat the water even on less sunny days.
It is not helpful when the outside temperature drops below 15 degrees and does not allow you to set the temperature. Like solar panels, it depends on the weather conditions outside.
Accessories
When buying a swimming pool heater, the supplied accessories are worth checking. Depending on the model chosen, we will have to connect the heater to our system without problems.
We need connectors, reducers, clamps, fittings, hoses, or electrical cables. The best heaters usually come with the kit with everything needed for connection.
This factor is essential to evaluate the price and compare it with other models that do not include accessories and save time that we should instead spend looking for suitable pieces and finding the right ones.
Ease of assembly and installation
In choosing the best swimming pool heater, we can also rely on the ease of assembly. Let’s buy large thermal panels that must be placed on the roof because we have no other space or because our space is not adequately exposed to the sun. We must ask for a technician’s intervention and our evaluation.
The same applies if we buy heat pumps or heat exchangers to be installed in our system. On the contrary, an electric heater attached to the filtration system could take a few minutes, even for the less experienced. Thus a portable solar thermal panel or a spiral collector requires little intervention.
The best swimming pool heaters to buy
Below are the best swimming pool heaters with their respective features and prices.
- Impressive performance: Pool heater pump with a high-power compressor, titanium heat...
- Multi-Season use and WiFi control: Electric pool heater has both heating and cooling mode,...
- Engineering research and development: Limited electrical input, achieving a COP of 4.3,...
- Extend Your Swimming Season: The TURBRO Manatee series pool heat pump warms pools of up to...
- Cost-Saving Choice: High efficiency with a titanium heat exchanger; heating capacity of...
- For Above-Ground Pools: Compact design and portable for inflatable pools, frame pools,...
- Get a blast of heat: The 5000 gallon pool heater whopping 16000 BTU output, maintaining...
- WiFi and timer setting: Enjoy a year-round perfect swimming temperature with our above...
- High efficiency: COP up to 4.3, our pool heater pump expertly draw in heat from the air,...
- 【Fast Heating 】: The immersion water heater is rated at 2000W and operates at 110-125V...
- 【Safety And Practicality】: This UL-recognized immersion portable hot tub heater is...
- 【Widely Used】: The immersion water heater can be used not just for small inflatable...
- Above Ground Pool Electric Heater: Transform your pool into a cozy spot with this pool...
- Energy-Saving Technology: Our smart inverter technology allows the heat pump to...
- Effortless Remote Control: The WiFi control unit allows for seamless remote access. A few...
- CLEAN AND GREEN: The FH270 is powered by clean electricity, reducing the harmful...
- COMPATIBLE WITH: In ground pools up to 15,000 gallons and above ground pools up to 27 foot...
- HIGH EFFICIENCY: Utilizing high-pressure differential compressors and titanium heat...
- Versatile Heating Solution: Our submersible water heater is perfect for a variety of...
- Rapid and Long-Lasting Heating: Our immersion water heater delivers efficient and reliable...
- Safe and Durable Heating: Made from high-quality 304 stainless steel, this pool heater for...
- [Self-Heating]: When the water temperature reaches the preset temperature, the pool heater...
- [Dry Burning Prevention]: The swimming pool heater is equipped with a pressure switch to...
- [High Temperature Protection]: The hot tub heater has a high temperature protection...
- 1.Note:Since pool heat pumps are machines that utilize electric heat technology, please...
- 2..Extend Your Pool Season: Nothing beats a warm swimming pool for your kids, pets and the...
- 3.65000 Btu/Hr heating capacity, 18KW,Suitable for pools up to 10000 gallons in coastal...
- TOUCH DIGITAL DISPLAY: This Is Not A Plug and Play Pool Heater Device. Before Use, You...
- AUTOMATIC CIRCULATION HEATING: Above Ground Pool Heater The Pool Heater Will Cycle On and...
- PREMIUM QUALITY MATERIAL: This Hot Tub Water Heate Comes Thermostat is Made of High...
Product prices and availability are subject to change. Therefore, any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply to purchasing any products.