What is the Best Heater for an Above Ground Pool

Just like with an inground pool, you can start using your above ground pool earlier in the year and keep it open longer in cold areas if you have a good heater.

A good heater will allow you to keep the water at the same comfortable swimming temperature all season long. Heaters for above ground pools are rated by BTUs, which measure heat energy. To put it simply, it takes one BTU to raise a pound of water by one degree Fahrenheit. Above ground pool heaters have lower BTU ratings compared to inground ones due to the smaller pool size.

There are several well-known above ground heater brands on the market including Pentair, Hayward, and Raypak. These manufacturers sell numerous types of compact heaters which are relatively easy to install. The size and power of the units vary and this will affect the heating time of the pool water. If you'd like to heat the pool quicker you can use a model with a higher BTU rating, such as an inground pool heater.

Basically, an inground heater can heat an above ground pool, and the higher the BTU rating, the faster it heats up. Faster heating means less energy used, but a more powerful heater is pricier than a less powerful one. The type of heater being used will also affect the energy costs as you'll find there are electric, propane, natural gas, solar heaters and heat pumps on the market. And let's face it, the cost of gas and electricity etc. can usually be as unpredictable as the weather in Canada.

Heat pumps are kinda underrated because they use electricity to pull in warm air from outside, heating water through a cool refrigeration process. They're not super fast like regular heaters, but they're cheaper in the long haul. Just remember, they're not as good when it's freezing outside, so they're better for warmer spots.

When it comes to solar heating, you'll need to lay out the initial installation costs of the system and the panels. But after that, you'll be using the free heat of the sun to keep your pool warm and there isn't much cost involved other than maintenance issues. Of course, if the sun isn't shining, it's going to be quite hard to heat your pool as you can't just turn on a switch like you can with a conventional pool heating system. Solar panels can be installed on a nearby roof or a rack and even on the ground. A flex hose is used to connect them to the filter system and the water is heated when it travels through the panels.

Have questions about choosing the right pool heater for your swimming pool?  Discount Pool Supply has a wide selection of swimming pool heaters and we offer free shipping across Canada for all of our pool heaters.  Contact us today to speak to one of our pool professionals.