Heater for in ground pool?

Question

I am looking at getting a heater for my in ground pool. the pool has roughly 21,000 gallons. Can you tell me which is better, Electric, Gas or Solar?

Thanks,

Answer 1

That will all depend on utility prices in your area and how much sunlight, your location gets on average.
In most areas of north america, electrical prices are , per BTU higher than gas or propane. If this is the case in your area, forget an electric heater. They can cost a forune to run as you'll be looking at a 50 KW unit likely. They tend to be a slow heat as well.
Downside: The heating elements are fairly delicate to water chemistry being off. It doesn't take mush to ruin them and they are expensive to replace
That leaves propane or gas. Both types are fairly efficient. An average sized pool (18X36) will need a 250, 000 BTU heater. This is a quick heat. Generally from 54 degree water in spring, you'll get it to 82 in a day and a half.
Downside: Cost of the fuel, seasonal burner tray cleaning by a gas guy.
Solar is a green alternative and I actually like it, but it's very dependant on your geographic location. Here (Toronto) we rarely install solar heat as the pools only method of heating. It's usually installed with gas or propane and used during the mid summer months to keep the pool up to temperature. Gas being used to get the temp up in spring and to keep it up during fall. This way lessens your heating bill quite a bit. Solar is a slow heat.
Downside: Can be expensive per square foot, you need a place for the panels and winterizing them can be a chore,
There is one other method of pool heat out there now and 3 years ago I was the first service tech in Ontario to install one. Wood burning. Yep...wood. This particular customer had all his bases covered. He had Propane, solar and wood heat for his 20X40 north of Toronto.

Answer 2

ive never heard of using water hoses as a solar heater but be carefull that you dont put all the pressure on the water hoses i dont think they would be able to handle it. so you would have to make a by-pass in the return plumbing that would send some to the pool directly and some to the water hoses. but i dont recommend buying a solar from a company they're way over rated and they probably wont warm it more than 10 degrees if that. depending if you have gas ran at your house thats the way i would go, if not they do make propane pool heaters as well. dont use electric they do work but you'll regret it when your electric bill comes in. but you will love your gas or propane heater come the end of the summer when everyone else isnt swimming and you still can in late october. i've known people to run their pool on a heater all winter long. dont recommend it unless you can afford it. with the price of gas goin up propane would be the better choice if you can put it, depends on where you live. will be costly at first to buy the tank and everything but propane is cheaper than gas, at least where im located

Answer 3

If you must have a heater I prefer Gas to Electric. Just be certain to have it properly winterized unless you keep it running all winter long. Personally, where I live I used mine once in early spring to take the chill off and then not at all until late fall and that was only to keep using it until the first snows came in November. A solar blanket, although cumbersome, proved to preform very well for any normal heating needs and runs much cheaper.

Answer 4

Go solar. Once you pay for the product, you don't have to pay for a heating supply!