Views: 1 Author: Site Editor Publish Time: 2025-09-26 Origin: Site
Are you about to invest in pool ownership or you already have one in your home? One crucial thing to consider is the cost of heating the pool. Knowing the costs can help you make informed decisions, whether you’re looking to enjoy swimming all-year-long or simply enjoy a warm bath on a chilled evening.
There are several factors that affect pool heating cost, such as the type of pool heater, pool size, climate, desired water temperature, location, usage, and energy efficiency.
Let’s take a close look at how much does pool heating cost, what affects those costs, and how to minimize them.
One factor that significantly determines how much to heat a pool, is the type of pool heater you choose. They all have varying upfront, installation, and operation costs.
This type of pool heater makes use of electrical current to warm pool water. It operates by passing water over a heated coil or element. The water absorbs heat as it flows over the hot surface and deposits the heat into the pool when it returns there.
The initial purchase and installation cost of an electric resistance pool heater typically ranges from $1,000-$4,500, including labor. Actual cost is dependent on the heater’s size, brand, and local labor rates.
The cost of running an electrical resistance pool heater depends on your local electricity rates, pool size, desired temperature (e.g., 80–85oF), and usage. For example, the monthly cost estimate for a 15,000 to 20,000-gallon pool which is heated for 4-6 hours per day, is about $175-$600 due to high electricity consumption.
This involves the use of either natural gas or propane to heat pool water. Gas pool heaters generate heat by burning gas in a combustion chamber. The pool water is circulated by a pump and passed to the heater where heat is transferred to it, then it returns to the pool.
The upfront cost for gas pool heaters is in the range of $1,500–$4,500, plus $500–$2,000 for installation (including gas line setup if needed). Its operating cost is dependent on the type of gas you use. For natural gas, you will spend about $200–$500 per month or $3–$9 per hour depending on your pool size, how often you heat your pool, and gas rate in your local area. But if you make use of Propane, you are likely to spend between $120–$850 per month or $6–$18 per hour.
Therefore, the estimate for heating a 10,000–12,000-gallon pool for 8–14 hours is about $24–$98 for natural gas or $48–$252 for propane.
Solar pool heaters make use of solar panels to capture heat energy from the sun and use it to heat your pool. Basically, its effectiveness depends on climate and available sunlight. Pool water is pumped through a filter and then through solar collectors, where it is heated before it’s returned to the pool.
A solar pool heating system usually costs around $2,500–$9,500 plus $500–$2,000 for installation. The average cost of running solar pool heaters is about $10–$25 for a month or $1–$1.50 per day. This operation cost is mainly for powering the pump using electricity. In sunny regions like Florida, operating costs of solar pool heaters are minimal.
These are highly energy-efficient pool heaters which work like an air conditioner. They use a small amount of energy to extract heat from the surrounding air and transfer it to the pool water. The exciting thing about heat pump pool heaters is that they can also cool your pool when the weather is too hot.
Heat pump pool heaters costs about $2,000–$6,500 for the heating unit plus $500–$2,500 for installation. Averagely, the cost of operation is between $50–$300 per month or $2.50–$6.00 per day, for a 100,000 BTU heat pump running 8–10 hours at $0.13 per kWh.
In New York, for instance, the annual cost of heating a 1,000 square foot pool to an average temperature of 80°F using a heat pump is $975 without a pool cover, but it can drop to as low as $150 when combined with a cover.
To get a comprehensive answer to the question, “how much does it cost to heat a pool?”, you must consider other key factors that affect pool heating cost. They include:
Pool Size and Volume: The size of a pool affects the amount of heat energy needed to heat it. For example, a large pool (e.g., 20,000 gallons) has more water and more surface area for heat to escape, so it requires large pool heaters and more heat energy. This leads to higher pool heating cost.
Energy Efficiency of Pool Heater: The efficiency of the pool heater you choose directly impacts energy usage and operating costs. Gas or electric pool heaters consume more energy to maintain a desired temperature. Commercial pool heat pumps, on the other hand, provide an even and consistent heat with less effort once it reaches your desired temperature. This can save you up to $400 a year on energy bills.
Climate and Ambient Temperature: The cooler the ambient temperature, the more your pool loses heat, and the longer the time it takes to reach your ideal temperature. This means that your heater has to work harder and consume more energy. Hence, your pool heating cost will be higher in colder climates or environments than in warmer climates.
Frequency of Use: Your pool heating cost is significantly determined by how often you heat your pool. Heating the pool every day versus only on weekends or for special occasions, will affect the overall energy consumption and costs.
Desired Temperature: The pool temperature you desire might differ for various occasions and it has an impact on the eventual monthly or annual pool heating cost. The higher the temperature you set for your pool, the more energy the pool heater will need to reach and maintain it.
Local Utility Rates: Cost of energy (electricity or gas) varies by region and also affects how much you spend on heating your pool. For instance, a typical home using 855 kWh/month in Nevada pays $98, while it’s $350 in Hawaii – a difference of over $250.
Pool Location: The location of your pool influences the pool’s exposure to sun and wind which greatly affects heat gain and loss. A pool located in full sun and shielded from wind, will naturally capture more heat and require less energy to maintain a desired temperature. Conversely, one located in a shady, windy spot, will require higher heating cost.
Here are some practices that you can adopt to reduce the cost of heating your pool.
Use A Pool Cover: Evaporation from the surface of a pool is the largest source of heat loss. To minimize this, you can make use of a solar blanket or thermal pool cover. It reduces heat loss by up to 50–70%, significantly lowering costs across all heater types.
Choose The Right Pool Heater: Choosing the right type and size of pool heater impacts your heating cost. Heat pumps & solar heaters are the most cost-effective due to their lower running costs. Also, newer models of heat pump save energy consumption by reducing operating speed when desired pool temperature is achieved. Oversized heaters waste energy, while undersized ones overwork – both increasing pool heating cost.
Regular Maintenance of Pool Heater: You need to take good care of your pool heating system. Regular maintenance prevents efficiency losses and costly repairs. To prevent frequent wear and tear of the pool heater components due to overworking, it is advised that you heat your pool during the warmer hours of the day.
Set Desired Temperature: Knowing how to heat a swimming pool to a desired temperature and reducing its heat output afterward, can help minimize operation cost. Heat pumps, for example, have an in-built automated system that reduces its compressor speed once the pool water reaches a set-temperature.
The cost of heating your pool depends on several factors like type of pool heater, pool size, and usage. Understanding these factors will help you arrive at an estimate of how much does pool heating cost, most importantly, in your local area.
After considering these factors, you will discover that it is best to use a heat pump pool heater with a pool cover if you want to achieve maximum efficiency. This option is more eco-friendly, using 80% less fossil fuel & producing no direct emissions. Also, when purchased from a reputable pool heat pump manufacturer, heat pumps have a longer lifespan with lower operating & maintenance costs.
