Is It Cheaper To Leave a Pool Heater On All the Time?

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As the days get colder, the temptation to turn on the pool heater might become too great to resist. The air develops a crisp chill, and you’ll find yourself thinking about warm summer days with your toes resting in the water. It’s tempting to just turn on the heater and let it run constantly. 

It is not cheaper to leave a pool heater on all the time. Pool heaters use a lot of energy. If you account for that, you’ll probably want to turn your pool heater on only when temperatures drop significantly, or you need to use the pool. 

Pool heaters keep the water in swimming pools from freezing in cold weather. They can also be used to maintain a comfortable temperature for swimmers. If you’re unsure whether to always leave your heater on, check out the information below.

you shouldn't leave your pool heater running all the time

Why You Shouldn’t Leave Your Pool Heater Running

When thinking about turning on the pool heater, many wonder whether it will be cheaper to leave it on continuously or only when needed.

Leaving your pool heater on all the time isn’t as cost-effective as it seems — it’s more expensive in the long term due to the extra energy it uses.

Your pool heater heats a pool of water to a comfortable temperature for swimming, but it uses electricity to do this. If you always leave your heater on, it will continuously use electricity.

You might not think that regularly using your pool’s heater will be a significant energy drain. Still, the same principle applies to homes with in-ground pools as to those with other appliances: If you activate the heater and the pool isn’t in use, you’re still wasting money and energy.

The main cost of a pool heater is its electricity usage, which can add up to hundreds of dollars per month if you keep it on all year long.

To save money, you should also consider using a solar cover in winter instead of keeping the heater running all day. A solar cover will help keep your heat from escaping into the air overnight, so you wouldn’t have to run your heater as much during these colder times of the year.

Tips To Efficiently Heat Your Pool

Nothing beats a dip in your swimming pool on those long summer days. You can cool off, relax in the water, or play with friends and family.

However, you might live in a climate that gets cold in the winter and be dreading the day when you have to close up your pool for the season. But fear not! You can do things to keep your pool warm during the winter months so that you can swim all year round.

Heating your pool is not as difficult as it sounds, and some tricks will make this process easier for you and your wallet. Below are some tips for heating your pool effectively without breaking the bank:

  • Solar Pool Cover: A solar pool cover is precisely what it sounds like – a heavy-duty plastic sheet placed over your pool to trap heat. It works by forming an insulation layer between the air and water in the pool. This helps slow down the rate of evaporation to trap heat.
  • Solar Sun Rings: Sun rings are round-shaped mobile discs that work like magnifying glasses on a sunny day – they focus the heat from the sun’s rays on sections of your swimming pool’s water. While not as effective as a solar pool cover, they still warm your pool without wasting energy and money heating up water.
  • Liquid Pool Cover: A liquid pool cover is a thin, transparent layer of liquid that will sit on top of your pool. It keeps heat in your pool by preventing evaporation, keeping the water warm for extended periods. Liquid pool covers – are inexpensive and can help save energy.

With so many options available to help keep your pool warm, there’s no reason to run your finances into the ground by leaving your pool heater year-round.

Some, like liquid covers, might require maintenance and reapplication, but most will make your life easier by eliminating the need for an extra person or appliance. 

Consider a Solar Powered Pool Heater

It would be great to have a heated pool all year round, but that’s not possible because of the high energy cost. So what’s the cheapest way to heat your pool? A solar-powered pool heater, which works by converting sunlight into heat.

More and more environmentally conscious homeowners are investing in solar-powered pool heaters. They’re nothing new, but they’re becoming popular as an alternative to the more conventional methods of heating pools (like gas or electrical). 

Solar power is almost always cheaper than other kinds of energy production. This is especially true for heating pools, where solar power is significantly more efficient.

As a result, many people use a solar power pool heater to save money on heating costs. These systems capture the sun’s rays and then transfer that heat into your pool. The result is cheaper heating bills and an eco-friendly installation that doesn’t rely on fossil fuels or emissions.

In fact, most solar power systems are made specifically for pools. This means they can be installed in a single day. You also don’t have any moving parts that will break down over time. 

They’re also straightforward to use – just turn on your pump as usual and let the sun do the rest. It’s a simple process that can save you hundreds of dollars annually.

Proper maintenance can increase your heater’s efficiency. Sometimes, a heater that hasn’t received attention backfires and stops working. I’ve written a comprehensive guide on the causes and fixes of a heater backfiring. [XX Things That Can Cause a Pool Heater to Backfire]

running a pool heater all the time can be very costly

Final Thoughts

Many variables impact your heating costs, but generally, it’s cheaper to manually turn your pool heater on and off.

The costs associated with leaving a pool heater on all the time will add up pretty quickly. 

The great news is there are efficient and budget-friendly tips and tricks to keep your pool at the right temperature.

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