heating Your Pool for people to enjoy using the pool year-round, you’ll likely need a pool heater to help maintain an optimal temperature of 84 degrees. Gas and electric are the two standard pool heater options, but there is much to consider when deciding which to choose. Read on to learn more about the factors to consider in determining the best way to heat a pool in Florida during winter.

The Difference Between Gas & Electric Pool Heaters

Gas heaters are powered by propane and are great for quick heat. Typically, it’ll only take about one hour for your pool to reach 84 degrees while it’ll take much longer with electricity. However, electric heaters require one-third of the amount of power to maintain a consistent water temperature. So, while you’ll lose about a degree an hour with a gas heater, you’ll only lose one degree every three hours with an electric heater. This means that an electric heater is three times more efficient.

Heating Your Pool Comparing Operating Costs

Gas heaters initially cost about 30% less than an electric heater would. Since it costs about $4 per gallon of propane, you could spend $250 – $600 to fill your tank, depending on its size. You may need to refill it once or twice a month when it’s cooler outside. This means you’d be spending at least $500 per month to warm the average 15-by-30-foot pool for several months of the year.

On the other hand, an electric heater will cost less over time than a gas heater. In fact, to heat the average 15-by-30-foot pool it’ll only cost $80–$120 per month. So, while an electric heater is more expensive initially, you’ll receive a return on investment within your first year of using it.

Another important factor to consider in estimating the cost of heating a pool in Florida is your approximate pool usage for each month of the year. If you must heat the pool on a regular basis, your best bet might be to go with the electric heater to avoid expensive propane refills.

Heating Your Pool and Taking Care of Your Heater

Another important consideration when you’re buying a new pool heater is how much you’ll pay to maintain it. Typically, electric heaters are more reliable because gas heaters must include various safety switches and circuits. Since they have more parts, there’s a greater likelihood that these parts could malfunction. Electric heaters are advantageous here because they’re simpler and thus maintenance is much easier.

Regardless of what type of heater your pool has, you must service it before turning it on for the season in the fall. This is especially important in Florida where temperatures are so humid – something that touches on outdoor mechanicals.

Making Your Decision

Whether a gas or electric pool heater is right for your pool depends on what you need. However, electricity is the more popular option simply because it costs less, is more efficient, and is easier to maintain. If you still need help sorting out the factors that determine the best way to heat a pool in Florida during winter, give the professionals at Pool Screens R Us a call.

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