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You can significantly reduce your swimming pool heating costs
by installing an energy-efficient pool heater and using in
conjunction with a
solar blanket.
Solar covers or solar blankets helps tremendously in keeping
the warmth in as well as reduce evaporation and so reducing
water costs and waste. In the following section we give a brief synopsis
and
suggestions of different pool heaters.
Gas
Swimming Pool Heaters
Gas-fired pool heaters are the most popular system
choice among pool enthusiasts. They may use either natural
gas or propane. The pump passes water through the heater
when it circulates the pool's water and the gas burns in the
heater's combustion chamber generating heat. Gas heaters are
most efficient when used for short periods of time and
ideally used for quickly heating pools. A good choice for
pools not used regularly. A big advantage of gas heaters
over heat pumps and solar pool heaters are that they can
maintain desired temperature regardless of the weather or
climate.
Remember that
proper installation and maintenance of your pool heater can
optimize your heater's efficiency. It is often best to have
a qualified pool professional install the heater and maybe
perform the maintenance or repair tasks. Heaters usually
need to be tuned to your pool annually and that scaling in
the burner or heat exchanger may decrease efficiency. Read
you heater's owner's manual for details. Our pool heater
experts at Aqua-pool-warehouse will be glad to help you
determine the correct heater for your needs.
Solar Swimming Pool Heaters
Installing a solar pool heater can significantly reduce
swimming pool heating costs. Solar pool heaters are quite
cost competitive with both gas and heat pump pool heaters.
They have very low annual operating costs and is actually
considered to be the most cost-effective use of solar energy
in many climates. The pool water is pumped through the
filter and then through the solar collector(s) to be heated.
Solar pool collectors are made of different materials.
They type you need often depends directly
on climate and use of the collector. If you intend to use
your pool when temperatures are above freezing, then you
will probably only need an unglazed collector system. These
do not include a glass covering (glazing) and are generally
made of heavy duty rubber or plastic treated with UV
inhibitors. Unglazed collectors are generally less expensive
than a glazed collector system which are generally made of
copper tubing and an aluminum plate with an iron tempered
glass covering. For most applications, unglazed collectors
are more cost effective than installing a glazed system.
Both glazed and unglazed collector systems should include
freeze protection if they will be used in colder conditions.
Solar pool heaters typically last longer than gas and heat
pump pool heaters. After installation, properly maintaining
your system will keep in running smoothly for 10-20 years.
Consult your owner's manual for maintenance requirements the
experts here at Aqua-pool-warehouse will be glad to further
assist you with your solar pool heater needs.
Heat Pump Swimming Pool Heaters
Heat pumps use electricity to capture heat and move it
from one place to another. They don't necessarily generate
heat themselves. Water passes through a filter and the heat
pump heater by the swimming pool pump. The heater has a fan
that draws in the outside air and directs it over the
evaporator coil. Liquid refrigerant within the evaporator
coil absorbs the heat from the outside air and becomes a
gas. The warm gas in the coil then passes through the
compressor which increase the heat, creating a very hot gas
that then passes through the condenser. The condenser
transfers the heat from the hot gas to cooler pool water
circulating through the heater.
Higher efficiency heat pump pool heaters
usually use scroll compressors versus the
reciprocal compressors of standard units. Heat pump pool
heaters work efficiently as long as the outside temperature
remains above the 45°F-50°F range. The cooler the outside
air the more energy it will need to maintain heat. Heat pump
pool heaters generally cost more than gas pool heaters but
they have much lower annual operating costs because of their
high efficiencies and with proper maintenance, heat pump
pool heaters may typically last longer than gas pool
heaters; you'll save more money in the long run. You'll
probably need to tune up the heater annually and with its
many moving parts, it may require periodic service by air
conditioning technicians. The experts at Aqua-pool-warehouse
will gladly help you select the right heat pump pool heater
for you.
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