Are Electric Pool Heaters Any Good?

An electric pool heater, also referred to as a heat pump, is one of the most common pool heating options that will keep your pool warm during the cold season. Electric pool heaters bring water into a heating container, then pump the now warmed water back into the pool. This continuous exchange of cold and warm maintains your pool perfectly heated, even when the weather is cold. There are two kinds of electric heaters or heat pumps.

What are Water-Source Heat Pumps?

A water-source heat pump transmits heat from a water source into your pool. The source water then passes through an evaporator coil that contains Freon, making it to become warm Freon gas.

The warm Freon gas passes through a compressor, which compresses it into hot Freon gas. This hot Freon gas then passes via a condenser through which the pool water exits and enters. The pool water goes through the coil, heats up, and then goes back into the pool.

What are Air-Source Heat Pumps?

Air-source heat pumps do not produce heat. Instead, they use power to capture heat from the air and then move that heat from one place to another. The way these heat pumps work is nearly equal to the electric heat pump found in many homes and the same to water-source heat pumps.

The unit stores liquid refrigerant within coils, which transform from liquid into gas when heat pulled from the air passes over the coils. The coolant then passes over a compressor and moves to the condenser to heat the pool water.

Advantages of Electric Heaters

Initial Cost: Electric pool heaters are far cheap than their gas or solar counterparts when it comes to both unit price and installation. Nevertheless, the use of an electric heater can cost more than other heating systems, so it may be a good idea to moderate the use of your electric heater to save money.

Reliability: The most consistent pool heater you can have is an electric one. Solar pool heaters are dependent on the amount of sun they can receive, and extreme temperatures can impact gas heaters. Electric heat pumps do not have these issues and can be run any time of the year, irrespective of the conditions.

Versatility: A lot of electric heat pumps also enable you to cool the water, a valuable feature in areas with extremely hot temperatures, where the summer sun usually heats pool water to temperatures similar to a hot tub.

Disadvantages of Electric Heaters

Cost of Operation: While some manufacturers may tout the “dollar a day” cost to run a heat pump, the fine print proves that the temperatures at that cost are not closely warm enough for many bathers. So, $365 to operate a heat pump might seem like a great cost, but that could easily be the cost for one month’s operation during the cold season. This is because they take heat from the air and, when it’s very cold, there isn’t a lot of heat for them to find (although they do work at temperatures as low as 25 degrees Fahrenheit). When it comes down to it, electric heaters cost more run when they are most necessary, so expect to spend a lot during the winter.

Efficiency: Electric heaters can take more hours to heat your pool and generally only heat the water by a few degrees per hour. If you run it only during the day, it will have to start over every day to make up for the heat lost during the night. But unless you are willing, able, and prepared to pay for the additional costs, it does not make monetary sense to run an electric heat pump overnight.

Bottom Line

A correctly installed and maintained electric pool heater can last twice as long as a gas heater. If you stay in an area that doesn’t experience frigid temperatures, electric heaters are likely your best choice. Though your area experiences prolonged, extreme winters, an electric heater would likely prove too inefficient and costly to operate during the coldest months.

Always consult an expert for the installation of your heater and your annual maintenance on the heating unit. While many heating units are made with material meant to withstand the elements and conditions of a pool, it is significant to ensure you have them checked to prevent any issues down the road.

To guarantee the water in your pool or hot tub stays balanced, consider pHin. It continually monitors your water and tells your smartphone what you should do to keep the water in your pool and hot tub healthy. Use it with your own chemicals for flexibility or get our single-dose, pre-measured chemicals brought to your door.

Resources and References:

• How Pool Heaters Work