Which heater to choose for your swimming pool?

What heating for the swimming pool?

When deciding to heat the pool water, it is better to have clear ideas about the different possibilities that are available. You have to ask yourself the right questions so that the solution is compatible with the technical constraints of the pool, that it best meets your expectations, that it falls within the limit of your budget, in short, that it meets a maximum defined criteria.

What questions should you ask yourself when choosing your heating method?

Knowing how to choose the right heating mode for your pool depends on the characteristics of the pool.

If the pool is outdoor, you must ask yourself the following questions:

• What is the climate of the region? Windy, sunny, temperate, subject to frost...?
• In a mountainous region, at what altitude is the swimming pool placed?
• How exposed is the pool to wind and sun?
• Is the pool inground or above ground?
• How much water to heat?
• Is the swimming pool covered with a cover at night or when it is windy?
• Is there enough space to install a device near the swimming pool or in the technical room?

If the pool is indoors, the question of the volume of water to be heated remains, as well as the space available in the room or in the room to install the device. Is the building traditional "hard" or is it a low or high shelter? Is it a veranda? What materials is it made of? Is the swimming pool covered by a tarpaulin, a safety cover...?

What are your expectations for pool heating?

• Do you want an environmentally friendly pool heater because you are committed to ecology?
• Do you rather want a spot heater that you use when the weather is gloomy or to advance and extend the period of bathing?
• Want to enjoy hot water all year round?
• How often do you swim? All year round, on weekends, on sunny days…?
• What temperature do you want to get?
• Do you agree to see the heater close to the pool area?
• What is your budget? It is important to match the budget with the type of pool to be heated. For an above-ground pool, for example, a solar kit can do the trick! Are you looking for an economical device to buy or use?
• Where is the swimming pool? If it is located in a second home, the heat pump, which slowly rises in temperature, by 1 or 2 degrees per day, will hardly allow you to bathe in hot water if you only stay for the weekend.

What pool heaters are available?

Four heaters are offered to heat the pool water. The heat pump is close to the swimming pool (whether indoors or outdoors), the solar panels are outdoors. The heater and the exchanger are installed in the technical room.

The heat pump is rather chosen for main residences. It adapts to all volumes of water, uses clean and inexhaustible energy, it is an economical material to use.

Solar collectors are used for all types of swimming pools. The larger the pool volume, the greater the panel surface area. They settle on a roof, on the ground but close enough to the swimming pool. Ecological and economical in use, the sun is a clean and abundant energy.

The heater is particularly recommended for a second home because it has a high efficiency and quickly heats the water of the indoor swimming pool or exterior.

The exchanger can heat the water of all types of swimming pool. It is a heating system linked to the boiler of the main house. If the boiler is efficient and economical, the heating of the swimming pool will be too.

See the table below for a summary of the characteristics of the different pool heating modes.