One of the most common ways to extend the pool season is to heat your pool. This will increase the number of months that you can comfortably enjoy the water if you live in an area with a climate that changes with the seasons. If you decide to have a heated pool this can be accomplished in several different ways. The right method for you depends on what type of heating source or fuel is available in your area and your pool's location and set-up.
You can heat an above-ground pool using solar power; propane, natural gas or oil heaters; electric heaters; and heat pumps.
| Heating Method by Use and Cost | ||
|---|---|---|
| Heating Method | Average Cost | Best For |
| Inline Solar | $2,500–9,500 | Small Pools/Affordability/Sunny Areas |
| Solar Blanket/Bubble Cover | $2,500–9,500 | Small Pools/Affordability/Sunny Areas |
| Propane | $1,500–$6,000 | Large In-ground/Low Sun |
| Natural Gas | $1,500–$6,000 | Large In-ground/Low Sun |
| Oil Heater | $1,500–$6,000 | Large In-ground/Low Sun |
| Electric | $1,000–$6,000 | Small In-ground/Low Sun |
| Heat Pump | $2,500–$7,500 | Limited Resources Available/Low Sun |
Solar
Solar power is one of the cheapest ways to heat your pool. This includes “inline” attachments which replace a section of piping to make the water travel through a section of material designed to capture heat from the sun and also bubble covers, which perform the same function, but instead lay on top of the pool. Both of these ways to heat up a pool have their own pros and cons that must be understood before making the best choice for your pool.
The downside of solar is that since it relies on the sun, it is much slower to heat a pool and there is no way to control the pool temperature. Also, unless your pool gets an excessive amount of sun, this method is the slowest by far and how warm your pool gets will vary greatly on your pool's location.
The main difference between these two methods of solar heating is that the inline will heat the pool water as long as it is running, and it can be used while you are in the pool. The bubble cover, requiring surface area to gather heat from the sun can only be used when no one is in the pool because the cover needs to be on top of the water. The solar method works best if your pool receives an abundance of sun throughout the day.
Inline Systems
An inline system is a type of solar heating system that gets added to your existing pipe work to divert the pool water, so it runs through a material designed to absorb heat. This material acts as a heat exchanger and with its own warmth, warms the incoming water from the absorbed heat of the sun.
If you are surrounded by sun and have an area where the material can be placed, this is a great option to heat up a pool. However, this type of system will only work while the pumps are on, water is consistently flowing, and there is sufficient sunlight on the system itself.
Bubble Covers
A bubble cover is a popular option to heat your pool with sunlight while not in use. This type of cover works by simply floating on top of your pool, absorbing the incoming sunlight, and directly transferring it to the pool water.
While these can offer a much larger surface area to absorb sunlight, they are much larger and cumbersome than their inline siblings and can only be used when the pool is not in use.
Propane, Natural Gas, and Oil Heaters
Propane, natural gas, and oil are the more traditional methods to heat a pool, each with its own pros and cons. Usually these methods are used when your house uses one of these fuel sources or there is an existing tank onsite. This makes it easy to either install a fuel line from your house or from an existing tank nearby to your pool heater's location. While these are some of the more efficient and simplest heating devices to maintain they do have some drawbacks, namely the cost of the fuel can fluctuate and can make for a very expensive heating season.
Electric Heaters
Electric heaters are newer to the pool scene. Their efficiency has been improving since they first hit the market, and it is now a feasible way to heat your pool. These types of heaters have fewer moving parts, and have no igniter to fail or open flames to watch out for. Electricity is a good choice for heating a pool especially if your electricity rate is affordable and you already have an electric line close by your pool heater location, making installation and maintenance simple.
Heat Pump
A heat pump is another more recent option for heating a pool. A heat pump is like a reverse air conditioner: the heat pump grabs heat from the outside air and transfers it to the colder pool water. It is one of the more efficient ways to heat your pool and an easier install because it only needs a power line to operate. However, heat pumps generally require slightly more maintenance and upkeep than other methods due to the fact that a heat pump is more complex and involves the use of refrigerant at higher pressure, just like your standard home AC.
How to Choose an Above-Ground Pool Heater
As you can see, there are numerous ways to heat a pool but how do you determine which option is best for you? Some factors to consider is the surrounding area of your pool. Does it get a little or a lot of sun? Are you looking for a more budget-friendly option with low maintenance cost? Will you be using the pool a lot and what fuel types are available or desired for a heating device? These are all factors to consider when choosing the best method.
The best place to start narrowing down heating options is to look at the pool itself. Is it big or small and how much sunlight does it get? If the pool is smaller and awash in sunlight, a type of solar-based system could be right for you which will be the most affordable of the options provided.
If the pool is larger or does not get a lot of sun, then you may need to look at another method that either burns fuel or uses electricity depending on what is available. Most of the combustible fuel sources will perform similarly but cost will be affected by outside factors so it is important to take into consideration local market pricing when making a decision.
Of course, if not available, you can use an electric heat pump method to warm your pool but it may be more expensive and work slower than oil, propane, or natural gas.
FAQ
Can you heat an above-ground pool?
Yes, you can heat an above-ground pool but it is generally not recommended to use a method that involves a fuel source such as propane, natural gas, or oil because of the risk of excessive heat damaging the pool frame.
How should you heat an above-ground pool?
The best way to heat an above-ground pool depends on your situation, such as how much sunlight your pool receives and if you have a fuel source nearby. Installation costs will vary for each type and play an important factor when deciding.
No matter what method is chosen, you will increase the time you can use your pool each year, which is always a win.
What is the fastest way to heat pool water?
The fastest way to heat any pool is with a pool heater that uses a combustible fuel. This will ensure that the heat provided to the pool will remain constant and start immediately as long as the fuel source is provided.
How Much Does It Cost to Maintain a Pool?
The Spruce uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Mickelson, S. (n.d.). How Much Does a Pool Heater Cost to Install? [2024 Data]. Retrieved from Angi website: https://www.angi.com/articles/how-much-does-it-cost-install-swimming-pool-heater.htm
