Above Ground Pool Heaters – Quick Buyer’s Guide
Posted: Monday, March 15, 2010
by Brenda Masten
SaveOnPoolSupplies
Investing in a pool heater is a good idea as it will add value to your swimming pool and it will also allow you to significantly extend your swimming season. With a heater keeping your pool water warm, you will be able to start swimming sooner and stop later. You will also be able to swim more days during the season as the pool will be comfortably warm even when the sun isn't shining. In other words, pool heaters allow you to enjoy comfortable water temperatures and to get the very most out of your swimming pool.
If you only use your swimming pool on weekends or when company is coming, you will likely be interested in rapid-heating pool heaters for above ground pools. If that's the case, then you should probably consider gas pool heaters. Gas pool heaters for above ground pools will heat your pool faster than any other type of heater. They will also raise and maintain your pool's temperature regardless of the weather conditions. Gas-powered pool heaters come in natural gas and propane models, and models with more BTUs will heat pool water faster.
If you would like to purchase a gas pool heater and prefer to stick with top brand names, Hayward and Pentair are excellent manufacturers to consider. Gas-powered above ground Hayward pool heaters include the Hayward Induced Draft Heater, which is available as natural gas and propane heaters. Induced Draft above ground Hayward pool heaters can be installed at elevations under 2000 feet above sea level and feature leak-resistant, one-piece copper heat exchangers. These above ground Hayward pool heaters deliver consistent heat even in windy weather and come with an electronic spark ignition for safe and simple operation.
Above ground Pentair heaters are also available and options include the Pentair Mini-Max. Mini-Max above ground Pentair heaters are compact units with 100,000 BTU's and provide incredible efficiency, with an efficiency rating of 82%. Such efficiency allows you to consume less energy and to save on energy costs. As with Hayward Induced Draft Heaters, Mini-Max above ground Pentair heaters feature an electronic spark ignition for simple, automatic control.
While natural gas and propane above ground swimming pool heaters are ideal for some pool owners, others may wish to consider different options. Such alternative options include electrically-powered heat pump pool heaters and solar above ground swimming pool heaters. Heat pump heaters utilize both electricity and solar energy to raise and maintain pool temperatures. More specifically, the heat pump is powered by electricity but extracts heat from the surrounding air, upgrades that heat with a compressor and then transfers the heat into the water. As long as the air temperature is at least 45F, heat pumps will continue to heat your pool, even if the sun is not shining.
Although heat pump pool heaters require only a minimal amount of electricity to operate, some pool owners may prefer a heater which relies completely on solar power. Solar pool heaters for above ground pools typically use solar panels or small solar domes to collect heat from the sun's rays. While solar above ground swimming pool heaters will take longer to heat your pool than gas pool heaters, they are an environmentally friendly heating option and are completely free to operate.
Considering the various characteristics of all of the above categories of above ground pool heaters, it's clear that each type has its own benefits and advantages. When trying to decide what type of heater you would like to purchase, keep the above factors in mind as well as the following comparisons.
While gas pool heaters will heat your pool the fastest, they will typically have the highest cost of operation. However, solar above ground swimming pool heaters must be placed in an area that receives direct sunlight and therefore may not be suitable for shady yards or geographical regions that receive little sunlight. As a result, there are a number of different factors to weigh and consider before purchasing pool heaters for above ground pools. Yet, simply by doing some basic research before you make your purchase, you will end up with a heater that will suit your needs and keep your pool comfortably warm.
Brenda Masten is an experienced pool owner. She explains why i nvesting in a pool heater is a good idea as it will add value to your swimming pool and it will also allow you to significantly extend your swimming season. Her quick buyers guide helps select right above ground pool heater for your swimming pool.
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