Installing a pool is a large investment in your home. While it may be fun during the summer, many pools sit unused for much of the year because the water is too cold to swim in comfortably. A pool heater can extend the swimming season significantly, giving you more return on your investment.
How Gas Pool Heaters Work
Gas heaters are one of the most common ways to keep a swimming pool comfortable. A gas heater draws water into the system, through a filter and into the heater. The unit burns either propane or natural gas in a combustion chamber, where heat transfers to the water. When the water is warmed to the correct temperature, it is returned to the pool and more water is drawn in.
How Solar Pool Heaters Work
A solar pool heating system continually circulates water. A pump draws water through a filter, then diverts it to the solar collector. The solar collector is comprised of small tubes in a sunny place such as the roof of your house. The water is pumped through these tubes where it is warmed by the sun. At the end of the collector, the warm water drains back into the pool. During very hot weather, the system can be used to cool the pool temperature by circulating water at night.
Cost
There are three things to consider when comparing the cost of gas and solar powered pool heaters: initial investment, annual cost and life span.
As of 2010, a gas pool heater costs between $1,000 and $3,000, depending on the size and features you select. Solar pool heaters have a similar initial cost.
The annual cost to heat a pool depends upon your location. For example, fuel to heat a pool to 80 degrees F in Chicago, Illinois costs approximately $2,100 per year without a cover, according to the U.S. Department of Energy. With a cover, the fuel cost is $300. Solar pool heaters do not incur any fuel costs, since solar energy is free. Both styles of heaters use electricity to power the pumping system, so that cost is the same regardless of whether you use a gas or solar powered heater.
A properly maintained gas pool heater will last five years or more. A solar heater, which requires very little maintenance, will last up to 25 years.
Efficiency
It can be difficult to compare the efficiency of gas and solar pool heaters because the efficiency of solar and gas heaters are measured differently. Modern gas pool heaters run at 90 to 95 percent efficiency, meaning that for every dollar you spend on fuel, you get $0.90 to $0.95 of heated water. This measurement is not useful for comparing solar heaters, because the fuel--solar energy--is free. Instead, solar heaters are measured in British thermal unit, or Btu, per square foot per day.
Maintenance
One of the biggest benefits to a solar pool heater is the lack of maintenance. There are no moving parts or complex machinery involved, aside from the pump, so there is nothing to maintain.
A gas pool heater requires regular maintenance, just like your home's hot water heater. It is generally best to hire a licensed contractor or plumber to perform annual maintenance on the system.
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