Choosing an Efficient Pool Heater with Propane

Smart pool-heating solutions consider climate, demand, and control.

Extending your pool season no longer has to mean budget-busting energy bills. The last decade or so has seen innovations that improve pool efficiency, such as smartphone-controlled heaters, mechanical components designed to work together, and variable-speed circulation pumps. Propane can add value to pool building and remodeling projects too because it offers some key performance differences over a heat pump.

Features to look for in a pool heater

While efficiency standards for propane pool heaters haven’t changed from the Department of Energy – mandated 82% in the last decade and a half – automation systems have made heaters easier to use.

There are several scenarios in which a propane or natural gas pool heater is more cost-effective than an electric heat pump or solar panels. It all depends on weather, climate, and demand. If you’re looking for a quick heat-up, propane is the way to go because it puts out more BTUs than a heat pump.

Propane pool heating may be even more in demand in the wake of the coronavirus, as pool owners vacation in place. With an earlier pool season, the season may last quite a bit longer and that’s where propane gas heaters will be more effective.

Courtesy of Propane Education & Research Council