The mercury’s dropped so it’s time to “put away” the pool until spring, right?  Wrong!  With some pool heating and a pool blanket, you can extend your swimming season to year round, meaning that you can swim in even the coldest months.  Here’s everything you need to know. For more information on anything in this article, speak with your local pool heating supplier or pool blankets supplier.

Pool Heating Options

By far, the easiest way to be able to keep using your pool in winter is to invest in a pool heating system.  You have three main options to choose from depending on your circumstances – solar pool heating, gas pool heating, or electric pool heating.  Solar pool heating is by far the most economical as it uses free energy from the sun!  The system is easily installed with a solar collector located on a nearby roof and plumbed to the pool. The water is then pumped through the collector to be heated and the warmed water is returned to the pool.

Gas pool heating is an energy efficient option and it’s the most reliable as you don’t need sun to get heat! The gas powered heater heats the pool very quickly but it can be expensive depending on the price of gas in your area.  Installation will see the heater being located near the pool filters and other equipment, and connected to both your pool’s plumbing and mains gas.

The electric heating most commonly used in pools nowadays is the electric heat pump, which is often the most economical option after solar pool heating.  It works in the same way as your reverse cycle air conditioner does – by taking heat out of the surrounding air and transferring it to the water.  As electricity is required, a heat pump is located near the pool equipment and wired into the mains electricity as well as the pool’s plumbing.

Add a Pool Blanket

If you don’t have a pool blanket already, you should definitely think about getting one!  They’ll reduce the amount of heating that you’ll need to do as they cover the pool and trap the heat in, so that less of it is lost.  As well, you get the further benefits of reduced evaporation and reduced chemical use, making your overall pool running costs cheaper.