Reasons to Heat Your Fiberglass Pool Before Spring

Even though some swimming pool owners may view a heated pool as a luxury, it can be an integral part of the health and usability of your pool throughout the spring and coming months. There are several reasons why it is important to heat your fiberglass pool each spring.

Your first question, however, may be “can my fiberglass swimming pool be heated?” Well, not only can a fiberglass pool from Leisure Pools® be heated, but it also tends to heat up faster and tends to retain the heat much longer than other types of swimming pools.

Basically, a pool heater keeps the pool water at a comfortable temperature. It does this by circulating it through a heating tank. This tank warms up the water and then delivers it back into the pool. Even during the cooler months, this allows you to control the temperate of the pool water.

Yes, a pool heater is similar to how a spa works, but you don’t turn up the heat as greatly as you would with a spa. (Can you imagine how much energy it would take to get the pool water as hot as the water in a spa?)

• Gas Pool Heaters: These heat up quickly but can be a bit more expensive to run.
• Propane Pool Heaters: Like gas heaters, these efficiently heat up, but will take a bigger bite out of your budget.
• Electric Heat Pump Heaters: While these offer lower up-front costs, over the long run they can be more expensive to operate and are not as energy efficient.
• Solar Pool Heaters: These long-lasting sources of green energy have no operating costs. However, the initial installation cost can be high, and they do require year-round heat.

First of all, you will want to determine what size of a heater your pool will require. Obviously, larger pools require more powerful heaters. As a rule of thumb, however, a standard-sized pool will typically require a pool heater with horsepower between 3.5 and 6 and with 75,000-125,000 Btu output.

Secondly, efficiency should also be at top of mind. The coefficient of performance, or COP, number will determine the pool heater’s efficiency. The typical range in this regard is 3.0 to 7.0.

Next, you will want to factor in the cost of a pool heater. There are various factors that can affect the cost, such as the size of the pool, the local climate, and the location. Further, the cost will also depend on what additional hookups you may already have in place and even whether or not you have a pool cover.

As a fiberglass pool industry leader, Leisure Pools® prides itself on incorporating the best raw materials, ongoing technology, and best in class quality control manufacturing processes that ensure your fiberglass swimming pool delivers the best in style, comfort, and longevity. A pool heater is an ideal complement to your pool.

Once you have installed your fiberglass pool heater, you will be on the receiving end of many wonderful benefits, especially if you begin heating your pool at the first sign of spring.

• Personal Comfort. Let’s face it. Even though the weather may be warming up, the water in the pool may still be quite cold. Without any type of heating system, you probably won’t be able to enjoy your pool as much as you would if it was warm and inviting. To enjoy a pleasant swimming experience early in the season, a pool heater is your best bet.
• Personal Health. More than just uncomfortable, a swim in cold water can be harmful to your health. It can cause your body temperature to drop which can, in turn, lead to hypothermia. Further, if you have certain medical conditions, jumping into a cold pool can cause a spike in your blood pressure and have adverse effects on your health. A heated pool will help you avoid these situations.

• Ease of Pool Maintenance. If the water in your fiberglass pool is too cold, the chemicals you use to clean and maintain it might not properly dissolve. This can cause the chemistry of your pool to become unbalanced. When you heat your pool, not only will the water stay healthier, balanced, and cleaner, it will also keep your filtration system running efficiently.
• An Extended Pool Season. We are all over this reason. If you begin to heat your pool in the spring, you can enjoy it for a longer period of time. This is ideal for those who live in areas where perhaps the summer season is short or if you simply don’t have a lot of time each day to spend in the pool.

Please be advised that the installation of a pool heater may require approval by your local municipality, as well as a connection to any existing power sources. Further, while there are some ambitious do-it-yourselfers when it comes to installing a pool heater, we recommend consulting with a professional to accomplish this task.

To learn more about Leisure Pools™ and its large dealer network, contact us today. Your well-deserved (and warm!) life of leisure is waiting for you.