The swimming pool is one of our best options to relax during the hot summer months. But when it comes to the colder season, you will need the best in-ground swimming pool heaters.
We use the swimming pool during the hottest months of the year. However, they are often left unused and unattended when winter comes, which can make them vulnerable.
Repeatedly using the pool can have its benefits, such as stir the water up to distribute the chemicals in it. But that would be hard if the water is too cold for swimming in it.
That is why you need pool heaters to keep the swimming pool functional. In-ground pools take a lot of power to circulate and heat the water, but you can reduce the cost.
If you have the best in-ground swimming pool heaters, then you will keep the water warm enough for you to relax and swim during the cold months without spending too much money.
We have a list of the best options you can choose from if you want to buy a new in-ground swimming pool heater. Let us take a look at their features and see which one is best.
Why Get An In-ground Pool Heater?
At first look, the only benefit you will see from in-ground swimming pool heaters is their ability to warm up the swimmers’ water. However, it has a lot more to offer than just that.
Yes, it does heat up the water in the pool, but the other benefits root from that simple fact. After warming up the water in the pool, you will reap the different benefits of having one.
1. Having an in-ground swimming pool heater can extend your swim season. You can enjoy swimming in the pool with the right pool heater without limiting yourself to the summer months only.
You can set the pool heater whenever you want, and you can get all the advantages of having a warm swimming pool all year round. So the pool is used frequently for maintenance as well.
2. Night swimming is also great with pool heaters. Even when it is summer, there are times when the pool water cools down to a shivering temperature once the sun goes down.
So pool heaters help in keeping the water warm for you to swim at night. It is sometimes more relaxing when there is no sun shining while swimming than during the middle of the day.
3. Exercising is also possible with pool heaters. With the benefit of having warm water in the pool, you can continue exercising any time of the day with fewer repercussions than normal exercises.
See, exercising in the water gives your body the resistance that it needs to develop your muscles. The water also lessens the impacts on the joints and ligaments all over the body.
Exercising in warm water also lessens the stiffness of the joints and muscles. So if you are experiencing a bit of age, you should get your needed exercise in the pool.
Best Inground Swimming Pool Heaters
1. Hayward HeatPro Pool Heat Pump
When we say swimming pool equipment, Hayward surely comes to mind. It is one of the best brands for different swimming pool equipment types, including the pool heater.
This in-ground swimming pool heater from Hayward is a powerful yet quiet pool heater. It does make a sound but compared to most pool heaters; it is hardly noticeable when swimming.
It has titanium heat exchangers, which means that it also prevents rust and corrosion from the constantly flowing water and exposure to other elements while transferring heat into the pool.
This pool heater comes in a medium-sized box design. Within this box is the acoustic compressor cover, limiting the sound that the blades and heaters put out to keep it quiet.
Aside from that, it also has fan blades profiled to have strong rotations while also reducing wind resistance. This also translates into a quieter operation and functionality.
It is a consistent pool heater and has a power of 140,000 BTUs. With this power, the Hayward HeatPro can raise the water temperature by 15 degrees Fahrenheit in just a day.
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With these features and quiet operation, I loved to use it and continue heating the pool water while swimming. It did not make any disturbing noise, so it still allowed me to relax.
That said, this pool heater is one of the more expensive options on the market. If you want a high-end pool heater, you can get this, but then read on if budget is an issue.
2. Raypak Electronic Ignition Natural Gas Pool Heater
This pool heater is one of the easiest pool heaters to use. It does not need too much help from you to function as it has some features that help it perform better.
This Raypak pool heater has an electronic ignition system that gives you the ease of control. It also features automatic ignition, which is a system that senses or reads the temperature of the water.
Once it reads the temperature going down or off the temperature you have set, it automatically turns itself on. It then starts heating the water to the desired temperature.
A microprocessor controls the thermostat installed in this pool heater. This helps the heater detect even the smallest changes in temperature in the swimming pool water.
I love how this heater gives me a real-time update on the temperature of the water. The LCD digital display gives an accurate reading of the water temperature and other settings.
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With a power of 336,000 BTU, this pool heater can heat a large pool by up to 10 degrees Fahrenheit in less than a day. You do not have to wait for long before you can swim.
The heater has a single piece of copper fin tube. This improves the heat transfer from the heater to the water in the pool without wasting too much energy.
Another good thing about this pool heater is that it can connect directly to the gas supply. It does not use up too much fuel but compared to solar or electric options; it does cost a lot in the long run.
3. SmartPool SunHeater Solar Heating System
Now, if you want to spend as little as possible, then you can rely on this in-ground pool heater to do the job for you without breaking the bank. It is a simple yet powerful system.
This pool heater does not need a connection to any energy supply from your home. It garners the power that it needs from the sun by using solar panels stretched around the pool.
This pool heater requires a lot of space. The solar panels alone span about 80 square feet, which means that you need to put them on the roof or somewhere spacious to collect energy.
This pool heater can get the temperature of the water up by a few degrees. However, it also depends on the sun exposure it gets, so this pool heater is perfect for use in the middle of the day.
It does not store energy like most solar panels as it only uses the panels it has to collect heat. So the heat transfer will solely depend on the amount of sunlight that it collects during the day.
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One of the few downsides of this pool heater is that it does not come with specific instructions. You need to figure out how to install it properly or call a professional to do the job.
Aside from that, you will not spend much on this pool heater. I can advise you to avoid transferring the full flow of water into the pool heater as it might dislodge the solar panels.
4. Ecosmart Electric Tankless Pool Heater
This in-ground swimming pool heater is for ease of control and convenience. This is the best choice if you do not want to spend too much time on installments and energy.
Electric pool heaters are the popular choice if you do not have an existing natural gas line. They also spend less compared to when you buy propane gas tanks to heat the pool water.
This model also boasts its space-saving design that does not interfere with any of the swimming pool equipment. You can use it in either large or small swimming pools.
This model can heat up to 15,000 gallons of water in just a few hours. It is also very easy to use as it includes a digital display and control over the temperature with simple knobs.
You can set a very accurate temperature as the controls allow you to increase or decrease the temperature by 1-degree increments. It does require a bit of work when it comes to the installment.
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This pool heater requirement is a 200 amp electrical panel that needs at least two 50-amp breakers. That way, you will be able to heat the water while also keeping it safe from accidents.
With its amazing heating system, this pool heater can raise the pool water temperature by 10 degrees Fahrenheit in just a little over 13 hours, so you can swim on the following day.
5. Pentair UltraTemp High-Performance Heat Pump
This pool heater is one of the models that are popular when it comes to heating any type of pool. Heat pumps are a kind of pool heaters that do not use up too much energy or fuel.
This pool pump from Pentair is one of the EcoSelect models from the company. This is a feature that reduces the usage of energy of the pool heater, therefore, making it more eco-friendly.
It also has a refrigerant that does not release ozone. That means that it does not spend too much energy. Instead, it uses up all the energy that it collects.
This exceptional ability to use energy as efficiently as possible and not produce too much waste comes from the well-engineered parts that function with power without using up too much energy.
Such parts are the titanium heat exchanger that transfers heat in a more even and efficient way. There is also the scroll compressor, which helps the heater work properly without much noise.
This pool heater has a unique feature that allows it to maintain the set temperature perfectly. Not only does it heat the water, but it also cools it down if the water temperature goes too hot.
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I liked this feature because I was able to keep the water at the perfect temperature. That way, I did not have to worry if the pool heater was on for too long as it sets the temperature perfectly.
6. Hayward Universal H-Series Pool and Spa Heater
This pool heater is perfect for any pool size as it can control its output to reduce the temperature on smaller bodies of water. You can use it both in large pools and small spas.
It puts out a maximum of over 400,000 BTUs while also being able to go as low as 150,000 BTUs. This makes it possible to use in small pools without overheating the water.
It uses propane to power its heater, so you will need a little bit of setup process with this heater. However, with the detailed instructions included, this heater will be ready in an hour or less.
It uses an LED control panel that is very easy to use. You can set the accurate temperature on the panel without experiencing the hassle of putting the heater on the right power.
There is also a digital temperature readout that tells you whether or not the heater has heated the water at the right temperature. This gives you more control over the temperature you want.
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The control panel also has a lockout feature that prevents unauthorized persons from disrupting the heater. This is also a safety measure, so your kids do not get accidents from playing with the heater.
I also loved how this heater was able to tell me if there is something wrong inside the heater. The heater diagnostics help in keeping me updated about the functions inside the heater.
7.FibroPool FH 220 Swimming Pool Heater Heat Pump
This is one of the most durable swimming pool heaters on the market. It has an outer casing made from enamel-coated stainless steel, making it resistant to rain, wind, and sunlight.
Even when it is freezing outside or snowing, this pool heater will still function normally since the interior parts stay protected in all weather conditions that you leave it on.
Since there are electrical components inside this pool heater, it is worth knowing that the casing’s professional design and material can protect all the electrical components.
This heater needs a 220-volt power output, so if you do not have enough experience to properly connect this pool heater onto that kind of output, you should hire an electrician for the job.
It uses a titanium heat exchanger, which is a perfect material for transferring heat efficiently. This pool heater is perfect for smaller swimming pools as it does not have too much power.
It puts up a power of 55,000 BTUs, which is pretty great for a small pool. It also has another disadvantage as it depends on the weather to put up with the temperature requirement.
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If the outdoor temperature is below 40 degrees Fahrenheit, this pool heater will have trouble heating the water properly, which was a bit of a bummer for me.
Nonetheless, this pool heater was able to go up to par with other pool heaters that I have tried, and since I have a small swimming pool, it was the perfect pool heater to use for me.
Buying Guide For Inground Pool Heaters
There are many things that you need to keep in mind when buying your next pool heater. So to get your money’s worth, you need to be careful in selecting your in-ground pool heater.
What Type Of Pool Heater Do You Need?
There are three major types of in-ground pool heaters that you can choose from. Depending on what you have as a fuel, you should consider getting a pool heater that uses up less energy.
The first type is the more common gas pool heaters. Gas pool heaters use either propane or natural gas to create the heat needed to warm up the swimming pool’s water.
They are perfect for heating large amounts of water as they are very efficient and consistent. When it comes to overall functions, gas pool heaters are better than electric and solar heaters.
The other type is a Solar heater, which is perhaps the cheapest option. These heaters usually use black tubes or collectors that absorb more heat from the sun than other colors.
That means that solar heaters do not function properly or are not advisable to use in areas with a generally colder climate. So buy this heater if you live in sunny areas.
Lastly, you have the Electric heaters which are efficient and easy to use. These heaters efficiently heat the water without spending too much space for their set up.
Setup Area
Since there are different types of pool heaters available out there, you need to consider buying the model that will fit in the area that you have dedicated for the pool heaters.
Make sure to get the pool heater that will use up as little space as possible if you do not have a lot of space for the setup. Electric pool heaters are the best choice when it comes to conserving space.
Some of the pool heaters might need to be connected to the pool pump, so you also need to consider whether you have enough space to put the heater beside the pool pump.
How Large Is Your Pool?
In-ground pool heaters do not have the same energy or output. That is why you need to consider how much the pool heater can heat at a set amount of time.
To do that, you need to know the number of gallons of water in your pool. The pool heaters usually indicate how many gallons of water they can heat up.
Make sure that you get the right pool heater that will translate to even heating of the pool you have. Do not go for weak pool heaters if you have a large swimming pool.
Efficiency
Pool heaters are already usually expensive enough on the first purchase. So make sure that you get the pool heater that will conserve as much energy as it can when used.
Getting the pool heater that heats the swimming pool without spending too much energy will let you save up money in the long run.
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