How much does it cost to heat my swimming pool is one of the questions we get asked many times is how much will it cost to heat my swimming pool. We wish we had a simple answer that we could give out but we do not, there are so many variables that it is impossible to give a definitive answer so we will try explain why it is so difficult to work out the cost of heating a swimming pool and make a comparison of the different methods of pool heating. Read the rest of this entry »

Just a few thoughts on how to try and reduce these huge bills we all seem to be getting and
of course trying to lower our carbon foot print

Conserve energy through the use of a pool solar cover. A “pool solar cover” or “pool solar blanket” is a floating swimming pool cover which insulates the surface of the pool water. The majority of the heat which escapes from swimming pool water is lost through the surface of the pool, and a solar blanket drastically reduces heat loss. As a result the swimming pool heater is required to run much less often and for shorter periods of time, for a significant savings in energy costs.

1. Run the pool heater according to how often the pool is used. Gas burning pool heaters can warm swimming pool water relatively quickly. Depending on how often you use your swimming pool, it may be much more efficient to only run your pool heater when needed. For example, if you tend to only swim on Saturaday and Sunday it is not necessary to run your pool heater all week long to maintain the pool water temperature. Turn your gas pool heater on Friday night, and depending on the sizing of the heater, you will have nice warm water by Saturday morning. Turn the heater off again Sunday evening for a drastic reduction in gas costs.
2. Again, run the pool heater according to how often the pool is used. If you like to swim one or two times during the week and on the weekends, it is much more efficient and cost effective to keep your swimming pool heater running continuously. Your swimming pool may lose all heat and drop to your outside air temperature in one night. Your pool heater will burn much less gas maintaining an even water temperature all week, instead of working to bring the pool back up to temperature 2-3 times each week.
3. Use an alternative heat source which does not burn fossil fuels. One alternative is a “pool heat pump”. A heat pump utilizes the same process used in an air conditioner, except the process is reversed and warmth drawn from the outside air is used to heat the pool water. Electricity is required to power the heat pump, however the amount of electricity and the cost is insignificant compared to the cost of fossil fuels.
4. Another alternative to high priced fossil fuel is free heat from the sun. Solar pool heating panels collect heat from the sun to warm pool water. Solar heating panels have no operating cost, are very easy for a home owner to install and are typically very durable in all climates. The only drawback is that if the sun doesn’t shine, your pool isn’t heated. Solar pool heating panels are an excellent solution in warmer states, with a lot of sunny days throughout the year.

How do air source heat pumps work?
An air source heat pump extracts heat from the outside air in the same way that a fridge
extracts heat from its inside. It can extract heat from the air even when the outside temperature is as low as minus 15° C.

There are two main types:

• An air-to-water system uses the heat to warm water. Heat pumps heat water to a lower
   temperature than a standard boiler system would, so they are more suitable for underfloor heating
   systems than radiator systems.

• An air-to-air system produces warm air which is circulated by fans to heat your swimming pool.
  The efficiency of air source heat pump systems is measured by a coefficient of performance (CoP) -
  the amount of heat they produce compared to the amount of electricity needed to run them.

The benefits of air source heat pumps

• Reduce your fuel bills: air source heat pumps run on electricity, so there’s no need to pay for gas, oil or solid fuels to heat your home.
• Cut down on wasted electricity: heating your swimming pool with an air source heat pump is much more efficient than using oil or gas.
• Save space: an air source heat pump system is compact, and requires no storage space for fuel.