Your Complete Guide: 5 Ways to Have a Heated Pool (With or Without a Heater)

How to Turn Your Summer Pool into a Heated Pool for Year-Round Swimming

As summer ends and autumn leaves start decorating our lawns, the change in seasons doesn’t have to end your swimming pool enjoyment. After all, you’ve invested money and time into your pool, so why should it just be a summer fling? Here’s the good news: it’s easy to turn your seasonal pool into a year-round heated pool. With the right tools, you can transform your summer-only pool into a heated pool to enjoy in the fall and winter months or on colder days in spring and summer.

In this comprehensive guide, we’ll show you how to have a comfortably warm heated pool for year-round use. From eco-friendly solar heating solutions to cutting-edge heat pumps, we’ve got you covered. Whether you’re a beginner or a seasoned pool owner, here are five heated pool methods that’ll make the most of your backyard oasis.

5 Ways to Heat Your Pool During Fall

1. Solar Pool Covers

Best For: Cost-Effective Heating

Are you wondering how to heat a swimming pool without breaking the bank? In addition to being eco-friendly, solar pool covers are a cost-effective option for pool owners concerned with how much it will cost to heat a pool. Solar pool covers or solar pool blankets function as a pool cover that absorbs sunlight. In addition to heating swimming pools with solar energy, solar pool covers prevent heat from escaping at night. They minimize heat loss and reduce water evaporation, effectively lowering your pool heating costs and water use. The downsides of solar pool covers are that they can be difficult to take on and off of pools and may require storage room when not in use.

2. Gas Pool Heaters

Best For: A Quick Heating Solution

If you’re concerned with how long it takes to heat a swimming pool, gas pool heaters might be the answer. Gas pool heaters are a great option for those who are willing to spend more money to keep their pool warm. Using either natural gas or propane, gas pool heaters are a great option for those seeking the best way to heat a pool quickly. While the pool heating cost with gas heater is more expensive, their speed and efficiency are unparalleled. These gas heaters can turn on and off to heat your pool quickly, even while swimmers are in the water. Again, these heaters can have an expensive price tag and come with high energy costs. If this is the option you want to go for, make sure you look for energy-efficient gas pool heaters.

3. Heat Pumps

Best For: An Efficient and Eco-Friendly

Heat pumps are a great answer to how to heat a pool without a heater, as they utilize ambient air. They are especially suited for those wondering how a swimming pool heat pump works. While the initial swimming pool heat pump installation cost might be higher, heat pumps are known for their low running costs and are an environmentally friendly solution for those considering how to warm up a swimming pool fast.

4. Solar Panels

Best For: A Renewable Energy Source

For homeowners interested in solar pool heating costs, solar panels provide a renewable way to power electric pool heaters. These panels provide a renewable energy source to power electric pool heaters, making them an eco-friendly choice. While the initial investment in solar panels can be substantial, the long-term benefits and savings they offer are considerable, especially for those concerned about the cost of heating a swimming pool. Solar rings, another solar pool heating option, function similarly to solar blankets. They can be purchased in quantities to cover the entire pool and easily attach to one another using small magnets. Compared to solar blankets, solar rings are more convenient to install, remove, and store. However, it’s important to note that most solar rings are not designed to heat the pool with swimmers in the water.

5. Liquid Solar Pool Covers

Best For: A Simple and Effective Method

Liquid solar pool covers are ideal for eco-conscious pool owners looking for a solar-powered way to heat a pool up in winter or fall. The liquid solar covers sit at the top of a pool’s surface and operate the same as a physical solar cover does. They sit as an invisible layer on the pool water’s surface acting as an insulator and relying on the sun’s energy to prevent heat loss and reduce evaporation. A liquid solar cover allows you to safely swim while it heats the pool, making it a practical choice. Applying the liquid is easy, and a small amount goes a long way. However, it’s essential to note that liquid solar pool covers provide temporary warmth, making them ideal for quick heating but not for maintaining year-round warmth. Despite their temporary nature, they are an eco-friendly choice, harnessing the sun’s energy to keep your pool comfortably warm.

Alternative Sanitation For Your Heated Pool

As you explore heated pool methods for year-round swimming, you should know if your chlorine-alternative pool sanitizer is effective in both hot and color water temperatures. If your pool only uses traditional chlorine or salt water (which is still chlorine-based), it’s highly recommended by industry professionals to also use a “chlorine alternative” sanitizer to protect you from harmful contaminants that chlorine and salt water pool systems can’t alone. When choosing a chlorine-alternative sanitizer, look for strong oxidation power, effectiveness in all water temperatures and durable weatherproof systems.

For example, Hydroxyl-Based AOP (advanced oxidation process) pool systems use a patented method for creating hydroxyl radicals, the most oxidative compounds available for recreational water treatment. Unlike ozone and ozone + UV AOP pool sanitation systems that have compromised performance in colder temperatures and large volumes of water – Hydroxyl-Based AOP pool sanitation does not use ozone and stands out as an effective temperature-resistant method. Hydroxyl-Based AOP’s hydroxyl radicals perform consistently across wide ranges of temperatures and pool, spa and water park sizes. Whichever heated pool method you use, Hydroxyl-Based AOP pool sanitation guarantees a clear, fresh-feeling and healthy swimming environment, regardless of the outside temperature.

Choosing the Best Heated Pool Method For You

Selecting the ideal heated pool method depends on your needs and resources you’re willing to invest in time, money and environmental impact. Each of these five heated pool methods offers unique advantages, from the convenience of electric heaters to the eco-friendliness of liquid solar covers. By assessing factors such as your budget, climate and desired swim season extension, you can make an informed choice. Whichever option you choose, your heated pool investment should ensure endless relaxation and fun – no matter the season.

_{Originally published on: September 12, 2017}