Views: 5 Author: Site Editor Publish Time: 2025-11-28 Origin: Site
Winter brings chilly temperatures, but that doesn’t mean your pool has to be out of use. With the right pool heating solution, you can extend your swimming season to even the coldest of winters.
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Alt Text: Cold Pool in Winter
In this article, we’ll explore the cheapest and most effective ways of heating swimming pool in winter. With this, you can enjoy the benefits of a warm and inviting pool 365 days a year.
Choosing the best way to heat pool in winter is crucial for keeping your pool’s water temperature at an appropriate level, particularly in winter. There are various heating systems, each with its own operation technique, efficiency, and economic implication. They include:
A pool heat pump warms swimming-pool water by moving heat from outside air into the water, instead of generating it via combustion or electric heating.
It draws heat from the environment, passes it over an evaporator coil with refrigerant, and uses a compressor/condenser cycle to transfer that heat into the pool water. Because it’s transferring heat rather than producing it, pool heat pumps are more energy-efficient than traditional pool heaters. With one unit of electricity, it can yield 3-7 units of heat (i.e. it has a ‘Coefficient of Performance’ of 3.0-7.0).
Once installed, the operating costs of a domestic or commercial pool heat pump tend to be far lower than gas or electric-resistance pool heaters, making it the most economical option in the long-run. Additionally, the heat pump is more durable (often lasting 10-15 years with regular maintenance), and environmentally friendly because it doesn’t burn fossil fuels.
A gas pool heater (also called a natural gas or propane pool heater) is a very common above-ground pool heater for winter. It works by burning gas and transferring the heat to pool water. The gas is burned in a combustion chamber and passed through a heat exchanger (usually copper or steel coils). As pool water circulates through the heat exchanger, it heats up and returns to the pool.
A gas pool heater heats the pool quickly and consistently because it generates its own heat (regardless of outside temperature). This makes it particularly useful if you want rapid pool heating or on-demand warmth. However, burning of gas is usually expensive, releases emissions (CO2, NOx, etc.), and is less energy-efficient. Only 80-85% of the heat generated ends up in the pool, the rest is lost.
Electric pool heaters use electricity to directly heat water. They are able to convert nearly 100% of the expended energy into heat, making them more efficient than combustion-based heaters.
When you turn the heater on, a high-amperage electric current passes through several high-power electric heating elements (usually made of incoloy or titanium). This causes them to glow red-hot and reach temperatures of several hundred degrees. As the pool water flows directly over and around these glowing elements, heat is transferred instantly and almost 100% efficiently to the water.
Electric pool heaters are capable of heating outdoor pool in winter regardless of sunshine or weather conditions. But using electricity can be quite expensive. Larger pools often struggle to heat quickly or maintain optimum temperature without high electricity consumption.
A solar pool heater uses energy from the sun to warm your swimming pool water. It’s one of the most cost-effective and eco-friendly ways of heating above-ground pool in winter.
It pumps pool water through a series of small tubes or channels located inside solar collectors (panels). These panels are commonly mounted on a south-facing roof, rock, or ground frame, where they have adequate access to sunlight. When the sun heats the surface of the panels, the water inside the tubes warms up and returns to the pool.
Solar pool heaters can heat large pools cheaply with no emissions or noise, but they are not instant heaters. They gradually raise the pool’s temperature and they work best in sunny climates.
In winter, pools lose heat quickly – through evaporation, wind, and low air temperature. So, apart from heating your pool, you must also learn how to keep pool warm in winter. Here are some effective and practical tips:
Use a Pool Cover: A high-quality pool cover can cut heat loss by up to 70%. So, always use a thermal blanket, liquid solar cover, or automatic cover to conceal your pool when not in use, especially at night.
Install Windbreaks: Wind is the biggest thief of heat, so endeavor to install windbreaks, such as fences, hedges, or even temporary polycarbonate panels around the pool.
Heat During Warmer Hours: Run your pool heating during the warmest hours of the day, typically between noon and 4 p.m. By doing this, the water can pick up free solar and air warmth instead of cold night air.
Control Pool Temperature: To reduce energy consumption, set a desired water temperature and install a pool heater with smart control features e.g. inverter pool heat pump. Wondering, are inverter pool heat pumps worthy? Yes, it can automatically reduce its heat output when the desired temperature is almost attained.
Keeping your pool warm in winter is entirely achievable, and a heat pump remains one of the smartest choices. It offers excellent energy efficiency, low operating costs, and reliable performance even when temperature drops.
All you need to do is to purchase a quality heat pump from a reputable pool heat pump manufacturer, and pair it with simple support measures like pool covers and wind barriers.
Here are some common questions about how to heat a pool in the winter season.
Yes, swimming in winter is good if you do it in a heated pool. It boosts your immunity & mood, helps you to burn more calories, improves blood circulation & cardiovascular health, and strengthens your mental health.
To achieve all-round comfort in winter, it is best to set your pool to 84oF (29oC). It is not overly hot, so you won't overheat. Swimming at that temperature also keeps you warm when you step out of the pool into the chilly winter air.
In winter, heating an average 15,000-20,000-gallon pool from cold temperature (50-60oF) to 84oF normally takes 1-3 days, depending on the type of pool heater you use. But when you cover the pool, it gets heated faster.
Considering the rapid heat loss that happens when temperature drops, how much to heat a pool in the winter season is quite different from other seasons. However, the cheapest way to heat a pool in winter is to use a pool heat pump, combined with a solar pool cover & adequate windbreak.
