Looking to heat things up, but want to know the best way? I may not be sure about heating up other things, but when it comes to your pool, here are the pros and cons for different heating options…

An electric heating system for your pool works pretty simply. Basically, it just uses electricity to transfer heat from the air into your pool; and as long as the temperature outside doesn’t dip below around 45 or 50 degrees Fahrenheit, you should be good to go. Electric pool heat pumps are less expensive to buy than solar pool heating systems. They will also heat your pool quickly, which is certainly handy, especially if you don’t use your pool all the time.

The downside to an electric heat pump for your pool is that – you guessed it – it is more expensive to operate than that wonderfully inexpensive heat you get directly from the sun. If you have a pool cover, you will fare a little better – in the hundreds every year, but if you don’t cover your pool, it could run you close to $1,000 a year in operating costs! Electric pool heat pumps don’t last as long as your solar variety either – probably only about half as long.

Okay, so for solar heating for your pool, your system may last 20 years as opposed to an electric pool heating pump’s 10; and your costs to run things are almost nil. However, although it will pay for itself in the long-run with lower operating and maintenance costs, your initial costs to buy and install a solar pool heating system are going to be higher. 

Solar pool heating – which is the process of using your pool pump to move your pool water through a collector mounted in direct view of and warmed by sun – will take longer than an electric pump to heat your pool water. In fact, if you use your pool year-round, you may actually want both solar and electric pool heating systems for optimal efficiency. But, of course, if you opt for only solar pool heat, you can rest assured it is the eco-friendlier choice!