Hi,
I have installed a new pool and this is the findings of my research (As I am still to get pool heating for my pool)
There are 3 main types of heating:
Solar Heating
PRO:
This is not solar panels that make electricity. This is more like your garden hose that is left out in the sun on a hot day. You turn on the tap and get burnt by the "ALMOST" boiling hot water. They install black pipe on the roof, the cold pool water enters the pipe via a pump, the pump stops, the water heats, then the pump returns the hot water back to the pool and the cycle starts again. Better systems incorporate a temperature mechanism, so that you can set the pool temperature. Typical system price in 2017 $4,000
CON:
It only extends your swimming period. What that means is, you can start swimming sooner in the season, and swim later after the season. If it’s a cloudy day, it's worth ZIP/NADA/NOTHING!
Heat Pump
PRO:
This is the same as a home "Split system A/C" or ducted reverse cycle” It is very efficient, it is 5x more efficient than the cost of the electricity it uses. It is best for the everyday swimmer. Typical system price in 2017 $5,000
CON:
Although this system may cost more than the “SOLAR” heating and less than the “GAS” heating and it is independent of the sun. It requires a very long time to heat the water. For example, say you want to have the pool warm for a Saturday event/party. You had better turn it on the previous Monday. It takes 4-5 days to get the pool to temperature, so it’s a system you have on always, designed for the everyday swimmer.
GAS
PRO:
This is the King of the Jungle. You pick your kid up from school and they say, “Can I have a friend over today for a swim? Sure, I can go home and turn on the gas heater and within a couple of hours; it is nice and toasty warm. If money is not a worry, it is a no brainer. You simply get gas.
With gas, no matter what the temperature is outside, you can get your desired temp within 2-4 hours. BOOM! Typical system cost in 2017 $6,000
CON:
Now that BOOM comes at a price. Let me say for example: A normal domestic gas internal home heater chews approx. 20-40MJ of gas per hour. A Gas pool heater could be up to 400MJ of gas per hour. That is like 10 times more. In today’s price (2017) the cost of GAS is about $16-$32 for that evening swim. Some say that it’s not that bad, what can you do with a room full of kids for under $50.00? The movies would cost you more. Hmm, Sure, Whatever!
Summary:
So, I live in Adelaide, South Australia and my first reaction was to get GAS. My wife reminded me of the frugal “Tight Ar$e” man that I am, that I would not enjoy the pool knowing the hourly cost. So I have decided to install a Solar heating system, as I don’t think I would swim in the cold evening breeze anyway. I will upgrade my solar system kit a bit. In SA they recommend the pool matting to be 75% of the pool surface area, I am go to install 100% surface area coverage. I have a 3.3mx 8 m pool = 26.4m so I will be installing 27m of solar matting. It won’t be any benefit during the warmer days as it will be too hot to use the any heating anyway, however it will reach the desired temperature on the cooler outskirts days.
All comments/feedback appreciated.
Here is my story:
https://forum.homeone.com.au/viewtopic.php?f=65&t=73509
Cheers,
Andrew