Gas versus Electric Pool Heating
Propane Pool Heating
With springtime coming, it is also time to start getting the pool ready. Of course, for most pool owners, the water won’t be warm enough
to swim in until the end of May. But with a propane fueled pool heater, you could extend your swimming season early into the spring and late into the fall. A propane pool heater can get the water ready for your enjoyment when most others haven’t even uncovered their pools!
Propane vs. heat pumps
When pool owners make the decision to heat their pool, there are two options; gas fired or electric heat pumps. While heat pumps do have a high efficiency and may require less maintenance, there are significant advantages for a propane unit:
• Cost of operation – Unfortunately, New England has some of the highest electric rates in the country. Even with high efficiency, you need to carefully consider the cost to operate vs. gas on a seasonal basis.
• Capability – Heat pumps require warm, humid weather to transfer that energy from the air to the pool. Cool days and cold nights in spring and early fall hamper the ability of a heat pump to warm your pool when you want it the most.
• Temperature rise – Heat pumps raise temperatures through long run cycles, meaning slow recovery times. A properly sized gas heater
is able to get up to temperature much faster than a comparable heat pump.
• Electric Demand – How large is the overall electric service to your home? Multiple air conditioners, a pool heat pump, combined with
summer brownouts can possibly put a strain on your equipment.
Cost of Operation
This is of course the biggest factor when deciding to make the investment in a pool heater. Unfortunately, it is also one of the hardest costs to predict. There are numerous factors to consider including heater size, pool size, temperature setting, weather, solar cover use, and sun exposure. To at least offer a rough guide, the typical Osterman Propane pool heat customer uses 250 gallons during the season. Contact your local customer service center for our current pool heat pricing to get an idea of your cost for the season.
