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Proper pool heating can significantly extend the swimming season, enabling pool and spa owners to spend more time with the family and make the most of their investment. Modern heater systems allow pool owners to get the maximum enjoyment from their pool by creating the most desirable water temperature regardless of the season.
While most pool water hovers around the 18-20 degree Celsius mark, it takes a designated heating system to bump it up to where most pool owners like it most – a balmy 25-26 degrees. Installing the right pool heater can extend a swimming season by up to four months, thus increasing the return on a pool owner's investment.
Choosing the most appropriate pool heater is determined by a number of criteria, including:
- Geographic location
- Size and depth of the pool
- How often the pool will be used
- How much flexibility and control pool owners require
There are four main types of ways to heat pool water, all offering different features that appeal to different conditions and budgets.
Gas
Gas heaters are considered the most accommodating as they can be switched on and off to suit the circumstances. They're also easy to operate thanks to an automated timing device. Gas offers a quick heat up time, although with convenience comes cost. Selecting the right size gas heater depends on three key factors:
- The size of the pool / amount of water to be heated
- The average ambient temperature
- The owner's preferred swimming temperature
Most people want to be able to heat their spa quickly and to a much higher temperature than their pool, so a gas heater should be selected with this in mind. Many offer dual control, which allows pool owners to set separate temperatures for their pool and spa.
Electric
Like gas, electric pool / spa heaters can be regulated to suit your needs or can be operated by a thermostatically controlled, automatic timing device. The great thing about electric heating systems is that they are not weather dependent and can be operated throughout the year.
To save on energy bills and ongoing running costs, pool owners often use electric heaters in conjunction with solar systems. Waterco's electric heaters are made from marine grade, corrosion resistant stainless steel and feature a high limit temperature control to prevent overheating. Compact designs prevent them for taking up too much space, which is a bonus for properties with limited space.
Heat Pump
The emergence of heat pumps has been the key trend in pool heating over the past five to ten years.
Heat pumps work like a reverse cycle air conditioner by extracting heat from the atmosphere, which is then transferred to the pool water. A highly efficient, low cost option, heat pumps come in a number of different sizes ranging from 2kW to 200kW output. And compared with gas heaters, with heat pumps you can save up to 80 per cent over LPG and 50 per cent over natural gas.
Solar
Undoubtedly the most environmentally friendly option of all, solar heating seizes the sun's natural energy via a series of tubes (known as the collector), which is usually located on the roof of the house or shed.
The amount of heat absorbed and the subsequent increase in temperature depends on three key criteria:
- The size or area for the collector and the number of tubes per square metre
- The location of the collector
- The quality of the control system
Ultimately, the major influence on the effectiveness of any solar system is its exposure to the sun. While you cannot control when the sun will shine or for how long, solar controllers allow you to operate the solar pump only when heat can be harnessed. This ensures that maximum heat gain is achieved.
Cover it up
Pool or solar covers act as a blanket over the water, trapping warmth and helping save on heating costs. Less evaporation also means less money spent on water and chemical bills. Swimming pool covers cut back on the effort and expense required to maintain a pool by preventing leaves and debris from polluting the water, subsequently keeping it cleaner for longer.
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