Wishing it were warmer months all year round because you want to get inside the pool? As winters arrive in Australia, homeowners may think of covering and winterizing their pools as the water is way too cold for swimming. Wait! Have you thought about heating your pool? Installing a heating system in your pool can make it usable at any time of the year.
Heating your pool is a sure-fire way to extend the swimming season all through the year and enjoy your poolside activities even during winter. A heated pool and fire pit by the pool can make your winter pool parties so much fun. If you are thinking if your fibreglass pool can be heated, the answer is ‘Yes’!
Is it a good idea to heat a fibreglass Pool?
Heating a fibreglass pool has major benefits. Fibreglass is a good insulating material. These pools heat up quickly and also retain heat for a longer period compared to concrete pools. That saves your energy bills and gets your pool ready for use fast during the cooler months.
Why should I heat my pool?
In Australia or anywhere else in the world, installing a heating system in the pool can make it usable throughout the year. Even in warmer climates, the pool water can get cold at night even during mid-summer. Having a heating system in place, you can have a comfortable swim whenever you wish.
If you are thinking, the strong sun will be enough to keep your pool heated all through the day, you might have been mistaken. The sun heats the upper layers or the surface of the water in your pool. Run a pool water temperature check to see it for yourself.
Heating a pool also offers health benefits. You can experience a spa-like relaxing effect when you dip in a heated pool. When you have invested so much money and time in installing and maintaining a fibreglass pool in your home why not use it to the fullest?
If you have a fibreglass lap pool and enjoy swimming as a part of your workout, you surely do not want to miss that just because the water is unbearably cold. Heating a fibreglass pool is no big deal. You have several heating options available for indoor as well as outdoor fibreglass pools.
What heating options are available for my fibreglass pool?
Your fibreglass pool can be heated in three different ways. The options are solar heating, electric heating, and gas heating. Each heating system has its advantages and disadvantages. Continue reading to see what are some benefits each heating system offers.
Solar Heating
Solar power is clean energy and is the most environmentally friendly option. It is also the most preferred and cost-effective solution for heating your fibreglass pool. There are no energy bills or electricity to be used as it utilises the energy from a free source – The Sun. Solar heating can save you money as it does not involve electricity or fuel, like the other heating counterparts.
If you are wondering how solar pool heating works, it is a simple process. Your pool is heated by solar power via a solar pump. The pump runs on low energy, approximately only 1 kW in an hour. Cool water from your pool moves to the hot roof that’s exposed to the sun, via a series of solar absorber capillary tubes. Once the water reaches the roof it gets how and is returned to the pool. This cycle ensures the water is heated continuously and keeps the temperature of pool water consistent.
The downside of this heating system is obvious. The absence of the sun on a cloudy day or at night makes solar heating inefficient. Solar heating is ideal for places that get a lot of sunshine all through the year.
Solar heating systems can be expensive to install but are low on maintenance. They are hassle-free and need minimal servicing. Solar pool heaters generate and utilise clean, renewable, and reliable energy from a natural source. These heaters do not contribute to generating carbon dioxide and nitrogen oxides that are significant contributors to air pollution and global climate change.
Electric Heating
Homeowners often choose to go with electric heat pumps as they are relatively inexpensive like solar heaters. They run on low energy. These heaters reuse energy by gathering heat from the surrounding air. The heat is then delivered to the pool water through a heat exchanger. The heat exchanger has gas that is heated. Which in turn passes the heat to the water. As the water circulates, the entire pool water gets heated thoroughly.
Although the initial cost of electric heaters may be more than gas heaters, the annual operating cost is way less compared to their gas counterparts. Choose an electric heater depending on your pool size to maximise efficiency.
Proper installation, size, and maintenance of an electric pool heater can optimise its efficiency. If you want to go with this choice, the best option is to allow a qualified pool professional to take a look at your pool and guide you. Let a professional install the heater, maintain it, and take up any repair tasks.
Gas Heating
A gas heater runs either on natural gas or liquid propane. There are copper coils inside a combustion chamber that get heated. When water passes through these heated copper coils it gets warm before it is returned to the swimming pool.
Gas heaters are the most expensive of the three methods of heating a pool. However, it is the most reliable as it does not depend on the sun or warm air to heat the pool water. These heaters can be used any time of the year to increase the temperature of your pool water. The process is quick but gas heaters tend to wear out faster than solar and electric heaters. Gas heaters also give out harmful gases and contribute to air pollution.
Pool covers can help maintain a higher water temperature
Pool covers are of great help when it comes to maintaining a warmer pool. Covering your pool with tarpaulin or an automatic pool covering system can prevent your pool from cooling down quickly. In that case, you need to run your heating system for a shorter duration and optimise the heating process.
What suits you best depends on various factors like
- The size of your pool
- Your budget
- How frequently your pool is used
- The temperature in your area
- What time of the year do you plan to use the heater
Every pool heating system has its pros and cons. Give it a thought before selecting a heating system for your fibreglass pool. Consult your pool installer to get a heating system in place while you construct the pool. You can also install a heating system anytime later when you wish.
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