Want to extend your pool season?

When you’ve just bought a pool, doesn’t matter if it is inground or above ground, you want to be sure to enjoy it as often and for as long as possible! To extend the season, the best solution is a pool heater.

Before determining which pool heater is most suited to your inground or above ground pool, you must first identify your needs. Consider the following factors:

• Where the pool is located
• For how long you want to heat the pool
• How warm you want the pool temperature to be
• How external factors (wind, shade, etc.) might affect its performance

• Heat pump
  Designed to be highly energy-efficient, a heat pump extracts heat from the outside air and transfers it to the pool water, heating it with minimum energy consumption. That’s why heat pumps are generally less expensive to operate than other systems. A heat pump can heat a pool efficiently and consistently throughout the season, except when temperatures drop below 12⁰C.

Heat pumps are the most popular model of pool heater on the market. There are many types available at different prices:

• • Passive: A passive heat pump stops completely in order to defrost, so it doesn’t heat the water during this time. The lower the temperature, the longer it will need to defrost.
  • Reversible: It has an active defrost or hot gas defrost. It returns to heating mode quickly to continue heating your water.
  • Inverter: Also known as “variable speed”, this type of heat pump modulates its power according to demand. It can run at high speed in spring and simply start up at low speed in summer to maintain the desired temperature. It’s quieter and much more economical.
  • Natural gas pool heater

This heating system uses propane or natural gas to heat the pool water. A burner heats the water, which passes through a gas-fired heat exchanger. It’s generally very efficient at heating pool water quickly, even when the quantity of water is large. It’s the ideal system for heating a pool quickly and sporadically throughout the summer.  A gas water heater will also heat the pool in colder ambient temperatures, making it an ideal system for anyone wanting to extend their pool season.

That said, its operating costs are higher than that of other heating options as it requires a supply of natural gas or propane.

• • Solar pool heater
    Solar thermal panels can be installed on the roof of your home or close to the pool to harness the sun’s energy. Water circulates through these panels, where it is heated by the sun’s rays, then returned to the pool. Dependence on sunlight can make solar heating less effective on cloudy days. It’s environmentally friendly and economical in the long term, unlike gas or electric systems whose costs add up.

A solar cover is an effective way to preserve your water temperature. It offers many benefits, including:

• Limits water evaporation and spillage
• Cuts down on chemicals
• Conserves heat
• Lowers energy costs

A solar reel makes installing or removing a solar cover from the pool much easier. It’s a practical and convenient addition to your pool equipment!

If you have an inground pool or are planning to install one, you might also consider an automated cover. In addition to offering all the advantages of a solar cover, the automated cover is simple to use and increases the safety of your pool.

In conclusion, each pool heater type offers its own advantages. Your choice of equipment will depend on your purchasing and operating budget, geographical location and environmental convictions.

Consult your Sima expert for advice and information to choose the right model for you!

Happy pool season!