Is Pool Heating worth it? Why you need pool heating for your Sydney pool
Pool heating can bring a number of advantages to your swimming experience. Realistically the ambient temperature in Sydney is not sufficient enough to maintain your pool at a comfortable swimming temperature without some kind of pool heating.
The mean annual maximum temperature in Sydney is 20.8°C with the minimum at 13.8°C. FINA, which are the international swimming federation, recommends a pool temperature of 25-28°C for general swimming use.
The highest monthly maximum temperature is in January at 26°C with the lowest being in July at 16.4°C. Given this, even during summer, some type of pool heating might be beneficial to at least maintain a constant temperature. Water has a high specific heat capacity, meaning that it requires a large amount of energy to increase its temperature… Even by 1°C. This is one reason why on a hot day the ocean and bay water remain cool, but a seat belt buckle, for example, is scorching.
While pool heating is, to some extent, optional in summer, if you want to swim comfortably during other seasons then pool heating is a necessity. Sydney’s climate simply is not warm enough to maintain swimmable temperatures in personal pools.
Firstly, to determine if pool heating is worth it for you, it is best to look at the different pool heating products. Once you understand the different options you can analyse the costs associated and weight them up.
What are my pool heating options?
Previously we have detailed what type of swimming pool heaters are available on the market and some pros and cons of each. You can read more about that here. Here is a short summary:
There are three main categories of pool heating to consider: Pool gas heating, pool heat pumps and solar pool heating.
Pool gas heating
Pool gas heating is the most expensive heating option to run, however, it is not limited by the external temperature in any way and will heat your pool much faster than the other options. Gas heaters are by far the most reliable, effective and convenient way of heating your pool any time of year.
The cost depends on the size of your pool, but for an average sized Sydney swimming pool a gas heater costs between $5,000- $7,000 installed. Again, the cost of running the pool gas heater depends on your pool size, how often you make use of your warm pool, and whether you have a pool cover. To get a personalised obligation free quote for your pool’s gas heating in Sydney and surrounds please contact us today.
Pool heat pumps
Pool Heat Pumps are an intermediate option. They cost more than gas heaters to purchase initially, but the running costs are far cheaper, providing a higher return on investment down the track. They are very efficient in terms of electricity used to heat output and will extend your swimming to almost the entire year, making them a more eco-friendly option.
Solar Pool Heating
Solar Pool Heating is the least expensive of the options but is also the most limited. It relies on there being sun and a generally warm ambient temperature to heat your pool. Accordingly, Solar Pool Heating can only extend your swimming season out to Autumn and late Spring.
Pool covers
Finally, as we mentioned briefly, there are pool covers which are the cheapest way to give you some heating benefit, however, these are better at heat retention and cannot heat your pool to a comfortable temperature. They should be used to compliment your pool heating equipment instead of replacing it.
How do you want to use your pool?
To decide if pool heating is worth it, you need to decide what you want to use your pool for. Do you want to step out the back door on a hot day every now and then and relax in the soothing feeling of your pool? Or do you want to swim every night after work for exercise? Maybe you want to create year-long quality time in the pool with your family? Do you want to extend your swimming season from May to September to enjoy your pool over 3 school holiday periods? Or do you just want your pool to host your friends at summer pool parties? If your answer is to make use of your pool more than a few times in summer, you should consider investing in pool heating.
Cost Versus Benefits
The investment you make installing a swimming pool for your home isn’t small, so it is safe to assume that you want to make the most out of it. At Eclipse Pool Heating our range of Pool heat pumps and gas heaters are built with durability in mind. Our Madimack range comes with a 25 year warranty on the heat exchangers, so to decide if pool heating is worth it for you, it is best to weigh up the benefits of having a warm pool for your lifestyle and compare them with the cost of the product over its lifespan.
Summary
To make the best use out of your pool it needs to be at a swimmable temperature throughout the year. So yes, pool heating is often worth it. The type of heater you purchase should be something to consider thoroughly. You don’t want to end up with an inadequate heating system. Hopefully, this article has removed some doubt and put you in a better position than before you started reading.
If you want to know more about what types of pool heater installations we offer, feel free to peruse the pool heat pumps and pool gas heaters we have ready to install. Need to know more about what types of pool heaters we recommend for Sydney residents? Don’t hesitate to contact us today. At Eclipse Pool Heating we are always happy to help with any doubts you may be having about pool heating.