Last summer, I and my wife were in a bad situation. We had just bought a house with a pool in with it, but the previous owners never set up an electric heater to heat the water. So we were stuck without a way to swim in the pool until we spent all kinds of money on gas heaters that can take forever to get hot enough for swimming.

You know that you want to buy an electric pool heater, but it’s hard to decide which one is right for you.

When we set out to find the best electric pool heaters on the market today, we were shocked by how many options there are. We’ve spent hours reading customer reviews and comparing prices.

Thankfully, I was able to get a temporary electric pool heater from the dealer for free at least. But that raised a question in my head – is it cheaper to use an electric pool heater rather than gas? In the end, I found five good options for you and your family this summer, any of which will save you money on heating costs.

When you start to think about buying an electric pool heater, there are a lot of different factors that need to be taken into account.

For instance, how much do you plan on using the heater?

Do you have enough extra space around your pool to install a heater?

What kind of electricity supply do you have?

How will the weather affect your decisions?

All these things and more need to be addressed before purchasing a new heater. That’s why we’ve put together this guide – so keep reading for our top five best choices for electric pool heaters!

Hayward W3H150FDN Universal H-Series 150,000 BTU Natural Gas Pool and Spa Heater for In-Ground Pools and Spas

Hayward W3H150FDN Universal H-Series 150,000 BTU Natural Gas Pool and Spa Heater for In-Ground Pools and Spas This is an excellent quality heater from a great manufacturer that will heat any in-ground pool you decide to install it in.

You can use this heater with gas or propane, but be aware that you’ll have to buy the fuel separately! The control unit has built-in diagnostics if anything goes wrong.

The Hayward W3H150F pool heater is a natural gas, a high-efficiency heater that’s best for pools with surface areas up to 400 ft. where natural gas is available.

This 150,000 BTU unit warms your pool quickly and efficiently. It features a compact design and low environmental impact for easy installation and maintenance.

The Hayward W3H150F has a low energy factor of .93 so you can rest assured that it will not contribute to greenhouse gases or global warming.

Hayward’s W3H150FDN is the perfect solution for your pool. This heater will heat your swimming pool to a comfortable temperature so you can enjoy the water all year long.

Feature to Benefit

– Corrosion Protection.

– Reduced Circulation Pump Run Time for Energy Savings.

– Easy to Use.

• A pool heater that provides fast and reliable heating

• Convenient for pools located where low-NOx emissions are required

• Provides up to 150,000 BTUs of warmth in a single unit

• Designed with easy installation and serviceability.

Smart Pool S601 Pool Solar Heaters, Pack of 1, Black

To get your pool warmed quickly and efficiently so you can get in and enjoy yourself with friends or family members, look no further than this fantastic solar-powered pool heating system by SmartPool.

The Smart Pool S601 Solar Heater is a solar water heater that raises the temperature of your pool’s water by up to 10 degrees Fahrenheit.

The panel array measures 4 feet wide x 20 feet long and provides an average heating output of 6,000 BTUs per hour. The Smart Pool S601 works best when installed in full sun exposure for optimal performance.

The SmartPool S601 solar heater is an 80 square feet pool solar collector that helps you keep your pool warm. The SmartPool S601 has a Direct Flow System – One Header Hole for Each Heating Tube which means there are no extra holes to drill in the pool.

The SmartPool S601 uses polypropylene heat collectors which are more durable than glass and easier to clean than plastic collectors.

Feature to Benefit

• Perfect for pools with high water volume

• Keeps your pool’s temperature at a perfect level year-round

• Easily heats swimming pools in any climate, regardless of shape or size

• Comes with 80 square feet of solar panels, raising water temperatures by 6°F.

FibroPool FH120 Above Ground Swimming Pool Heat Pump

This great pool heater comes with all the hardware you need and doesn’t require any dangerous chimney or blower, making it safe for use in all kinds of weather conditions!

The FibroPool FH120 heating system is easy to install and can be used in both saltwater and freshwater pools.

FibroPool FH120 Pool Heater is a 120 volt, 60Hz, 10A draw pool heater that provides the ultimate energy savings. It is built into an 8-foot long power cable with a standard USA plug.

This unit can be used for pools up to 7500 gallons in coastal climates. Plug the FibroPool FH120 into a GFCI protected outlet and use it as your primary or secondary heat source for pools up to 7500 gallons.

The FibroPool FH120 has a wattage of 1200W and heats water at a rate of 2 – 3 degrees Fahrenheit per hour, which is great if you want to slow the healing process.

Feature to Benefit

• Keeps your pool warm and comfortable all year long

• Great for pools in coastal climates up to 7500 gallons incapacity

• Comfortable temperature in just a few hours after start-up

• Offers an average energy savings of 50% over other heat pumps.

Hayward W3HP21004T HeatPro 95,000 BTU Pool Heat Pump for In-Ground Pools

The Hayward W3HP21004T provides an electromagnetic motor that can withstand the elements of corrosion and rust found in your pool’s environment.

This fantastic pool heater comes with all the hardware you need and doesn’t require any dangerous chimney or blower, making it safe for use in all kinds of weather conditions!

Hayward’s W3HP21004T is a high-performance 95,000 BTU pool heater that features an energy-efficient design.

The Hayward pool heater has a non-corrosive design and comes with several safety features including an automatic gas shutoff valve.

The pool heater has a consistent temperature range of 68 to 86 degrees Fahrenheit. It heats up to 20,500 gallons of water in 24 hours.

W3HP21004T pool heater has an Ultra Gold corrosion-resistant titanium heat exchanger that provides efficient heating for your pool. The UV-resistant body panels are designed to withstand the sun’s damaging rays, so you can enjoy your swimming season year after year. This model is suitable for pools up to 18 feet by 36 feet.

Feature to Benefit

• Efficient design and energy-efficient

• Quality and durability that will keep your pool functioning better longer

• Its superior safety features ensure that pools stay at the right temperature without worry about overheating.

• Corrosion Resistant.

Raypak 266,000 BTU Digital Electronic Ignition Natural Gas Pool Heater

Raypak 266,000 BTU Digital Electronic Ignition Natural Gas Pool Heater is a powerful and quiet natural gas pool heater. The Raypak Thermal Systems 266,000 BTU Digital Electronic Ignition pool heater is suitable for pools up to 60 feet by 20 feet.

The Raypak 266,000 BTU pool heater comes with electronic ignition control.

Raypak’s thermal systems have been tested by NSF International to certify that the heaters meet ANSI/NSF Standard 50 for material safety and structural integrity under normal operating conditions.

The Raypak P-R266A-EN-C pool heater is a high-efficiency gas pool heater that can be used for commercial or residential purposes.

It features an LCD digital display that provides accurate temperature monitoring of the water in your swimming pool. This allows you to keep track of any changes in the water temperature.

The unit also monitors operational status as well as service diagnostics and has a high wind resistance feature.

This product is very energy efficient and will help you save money on your utility bills without compromising on quality or performance.

Feature to Benefit

• Can be used for commercial or residential installations

• High-efficiency gas pool heater that can withstand high wind resistance and maintain the temperature of your pool.

• Increases energy efficiency with a digital display unit that monitors water levels, operational status, and service diagnostics.

Final Verdict

Investing in a pool heater can be beneficial to your entire family. With the rising cost of energy, it makes sense to look for ways to save on our energy bills. Pool heaters are not only cost-efficient but provide many other benefits such as safety and comfort in addition to saving money.

The above article is aimed at informing you about various types of pool heaters and giving insight into the best models in the market; hopefully, this will make selecting one much easier when looking for your next purchase.

Enjoy an early morning swim or wait until late evening with ease and peace of mind knowing that your swimming pool is always heated to a comfortable temperature!

What to Look For in a Pool Heater

A pool heater is an important investment for your entire family. There are many factors to consider when purchasing the right pool heater.

You should keep in mind the size of your swimming pool, whether you want natural or propane gas, and also the features that make the most sense for you. Weaving through all these considerations can be tricky but with our guide, it will be easier for you to navigate what will work best for your needs!

There are multiple options on the market when it comes to pool heaters so we hope this article has helped simplify things and given you some insight into which ones would suit your home and budget.

Size of your Swimming Pool

The size of your pool is the first thing to consider when looking for a pool heater. It will determine what kind of model you need, whether it will be natural gas or propane, and how efficient it needs to be.

The larger your pool, the more intense the heat needs to be – this is because water loses heat faster than other media (such as air). If you have an above-ground pool then you can purchase smaller propane or natural gas heater however if you have an in-ground swimming pool it’s likely that you’ll need to invest in a high-quality unit to keep it heated efficiently.

BTU Output

The BTU output refers to the amount of heat your heater outputs. Higher BTU pool heaters can produce more heat and therefore work faster at heating your pool water. If you have a larger swimming pool you will likely need multiple smaller units rather than one large unit which is logical when it comes to calculating the BTU you need for your pool size.

Natural Gas vs Propane Gas Pool Heaters

There are two types of gas used for these kinds of pool heaters, namely propane or natural gas. Natural gas is usually cheaper but because propane is denser it can provide higher combustion rates so if this is an important factor when looking for your next unit then propane be better suited for you.

Solar vs. Gas Pool Heaters

Solar pool heaters are a great choice for those looking to save money and live a more eco-friendly lifestyle. There is usually an installation cost however they can be very effective in heating your pool water.

In comparison, gas pool heaters have the benefit of being able to heat your pool quickly as well as having adjustable temperature controls so if you’re looking for something that goes above and beyond then natural gas might be what works best for you!

Features of a Good Quality Pool Heater

If you’re looking for a high-quality pool heater then some features will typically come as standard:

• Is the unit fully automatic? If so, does it turn on and off with your swimming pool’s filtration system? This is an incredibly convenient feature to have as it ensures that you never forget to switch your heater on or off. You can set the temperature and leave it knowing that once your pool reaches this level the heater will automatically kick in!

• A digital display showing the operational status, water level, and service diagnostics is also very useful as it gives you everything at a glance without having to go into the unit itself.

• Some models come with timers which means you can program them to turn on and off at certain times during the day. This is particularly helpful if you want your pool water to reach a particular temperature overnight or first thing in the morning.

These are just some of the features that are commonly found on high-quality pool heaters so if these are important aspects for you then you might want to consider making them priority factors when looking into your next purchase!

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does it take to heat an average-sized pool? 

The time it takes to heat your pool water will depend on the size of your pool and the unit itself. For example, if you have an in-ground pool with a surface area of 400 square meters then you could expect to wait anywhere between 8 -12 hours for the water temperature to reach 30 degrees Celsius (if using propane gas).

How much does it cost to heat a pool?

The costs will keep rising along with the size of your swimming pool. If you’re looking for an average estimate then start by calculating 0.5 cents per liter of water heated up which is around $1,200 per month if heating a 20,000-liter pool! Prevention is better than a cure, so if you’re constantly fighting with your heating unit because it constantly breaks down then you should consider investing in a high-quality pool heater rather than buying a new one every other year. 

How long can you expect a pool heater to last? 

If you’re looking for a very long-term solution when it comes to heating your pool then the best choice is a gas heater which can last between 8 – 10 years. In comparison, solar heaters will usually have a lifespan of around 5-7 years while heat pumps only have an average life expectancy of 3 -5 years. 

How do you best maintain a pool heater? 

A common mistake made when looking after a pool heater is forgetting to change your filter element at least once a year. This is incredibly important as it ensures that your unit can function at peak performance and maintain its energy-efficiency levels over the years.

There you have it; all of their most frequently asked questions answered! So if you’re considering making a purchase then hopefully this article has given you some helpful pointers that will help you out in the long run. Remember, always do your research before spending money on something that could end up being an expensive mistake!