Heating your swimming pool enables you to improve your comfort level and extend your swimming season beyond the summer months. Yet choosing a swimming pool heater in Perth can be a daunting task, with each type offering its own benefits and drawbacks. Following are the three main types of pool heaters available for purchase.
Heat Pumps
Heat pump pool heaters use electricity to transfer heat to your pool water similar to the way a reverse cycle air conditioner works. The heater contains a fan that draws air over an evaporator coil containing a liquid refrigerant. The liquid refrigerant absorbs heat from the air and turns it into a warm gas. The gas then passes through a compressor into a condenser, which transfers its heat to your pool water.
Reliable and economical to run, heat pumps operate efficiently even when temperatures are low. Compared to gas-fired heaters, they use just a fraction of the energy to produce the same amount of heat. They can be expensive to purchase up front, but they are associated with low operating costs so can pay for themselves over a couple of years of operation.
Solar Heaters
Solar pool heaters use energy from the sun. They pump your pool water through a series of solar collectors, which consist of an array of tubes. The water collects in the tubes which are located on a roof space. The sun heats the tubes (collectors) and the heated water inside the collectors is then pumped back into the pool.
Environmentally-friendly and inexpensive to operate, solar heaters provide a fast return on investment. However, they cannot operate at night and run less efficiently in cloudy or cold weather.
Gas-Fired Heaters
Gas-fired pool heaters use natural gas or propane. They burn gas inside a combustion chamber, which contains copper coils. As the gas burns, water is drawn from your pool and passed through the coils. Heat is then transferred from the coils to the water.
A popular option for pool heating in Perth, gas-fired heaters are quick and efficient. However, their high operating costs mean they are best suited to heating small pools or larger pools that are not used regularly.
A swimming pool heater is a big investment, and you should maximize the return on your investment by ensuring it is properly installed and maintained. It is advisable to have a pool expert install your heater and perform complex maintenance or repair tasks. With proper installation and maintenance, your heater should last several years.
Sources:
(Gas Swimming Pool Heaters, energy.gov)
(Solar Swimming Pool Heaters, energy.gov)
(What is the Best Type of Heater for a Swimming Pool?, aquacal.com)
(Heat Pump Swimming Pool Heaters, energy.gov)
(Pool Heating, waterco.com.au)