When the weather starts to warm, most pool owners can’t wait for swimming season to begin. In many parts of the country, however, pool season is short and sweet, with water temperatures that never really reach a comfortable level. If this sounds familiar to you, there are several options for heating your pool water quickly and efficiently so that you can get more enjoyment out of your inground or above ground pool.

  1. Gas Pool Heater

    • If you are looking for the heating method that will warm pool water the quickest, a gas pool heater is the answer. Gas pool heaters can warm water by 1 - 3 degrees per hour, and they do not rely on outside air temperature, so they are a popular choice in colder climates. Of course, gas water heaters do require access to a natural gas line or propane tank and are less energy efficient than electric heat pumps. Especially if you have a large pool or live in a cool climate, a gas pool heater is hard to beat for fast pool heating.
  2. Pool Heat Pump

    • A heat pump is an energy-efficient and eco-friendly type of pool heating system that uses heat from the surrounding air to warm the water in your swimming pool. Heat pumps run on electricity, but they require very little of it, and work best when the air temperature is warmer than 60 degrees. While heat pumps cost more up front that some other types of pool heaters, pool heating costs associated with heat pumps are very low.
  3. Solar Pool Heater

    • Solar pool heaters are the most environmentally friendly type of swimming pool heater available. Using solar panels, solar heaters collect energy from the sun and use it to increase the pool temperature. While they do not heat water as quickly as a heat pump or gas heater, they cost nothing after the initial purchase, as they run off of your existing pool pump, and quality systems can last up to twenty years. For even better results, use a solar water heater in combination with a heat pump.
  4. Solar Pool Cover

    • A solar cover, or solar blanket, is a wildly popular choice for pool heating, as it not only uses solar energy to increase the water temperature, it also acts as a protective cover on the surface of the water, reducing evaporation, which is the main cause of heat loss in a pool. They can be used along with a pool heater. Doheny’s Solar Covers with Clear-Tek microbubbles increase your pool’s solar absorption by 25%. They are inexpensive, and they can easily be cut by pool owners to fit the size and shape of non-standard swimming pools.
  5. Solar Rings

    • Solar rings work similarly to solar covers, but they are smaller and easier to handle and store. Each solar ring is only five feet wide, so users purchase multiple units depending on the size of their pool. Ideally, 70 - 80% of the pool’s surface should be covered by the solar rings. Not only do solar rings use solar heat to warm the pool, they also help with chemical and heat retention, and can be used in tandem with pool heaters. Also available in 5 foot x 5 foot Solar Sun Squares.
  6. Black Hose

    • This is a useful hack that uses a black garden hose for solar heating with very little work or investment. Purchase a black hose that is between 150-300 feet long and connect it to your pool pump’s return via a faucet connection. You may need to have this connection installed if you do not have one. Run the hose to a place out of the way where it will get maximum direct sunlight. Many people choose the roof of their house or a shed. Wrap the hose into a flat coil formation and run the end of it back down so that feeds directly into your pool. As the water passes through the hose, it is heated and returned to your pool.

If you find that you don’t use your pool as often as you would like because it is just too cold, there are many different options available to get the warm pool water that you want. Depending on your budget and the type of pool that you have, heating your pool with gas, electricity, or free heat from the sun is easy with pool heaters and covers from Doheny’s. Check out our selection of high quality pool supplies online at doheny.com. If you have any questions, call our friendly pool experts at 800-574-7665.