| There are several different types of swimming | | | | heated), the desired "ideal" swimming |
| pool heater, all using different power sources and | | | | temperature, the intended swimming season, the |
| different means of generating and transmitting | | | | variation of outdoor temperatures across the |
| heat energy. | | | | seasons, and the available budget for heater |
| The main swimming pool heater types are gas | | | | system purchase and installation and ongoing |
| and propane burning heaters, heat exchangers, oil | | | | running costs. |
| fired stoves, electric heaters, solar systems, | | | | As a guide, heating systems that use solar |
| condensing heaters and heat pumps. | | | | energy and exchanger technology are great for |
| All of these alternatives have different | | | | raising water temperatures by a few degrees. |
| advantages and disadvantages that include | | | | They are also cheap to buy and easy to install. |
| suitability based upon pool size, local climate and | | | | This makes them ideal in warm climates, or for |
| emission levels. | | | | summer use. They do however have limitations |
| Certain heater types like those powered by solar | | | | when it comes to providing a swimming pool for |
| energy, those using exchanger technology and | | | | year-round use in varying ambient temperatures, |
| those based around a heat pump can be very | | | | or for heating large pools. |
| cost effective. However, they are limited by the | | | | Boilers and condensers that burn gas, propane, oil, |
| volume and strength of heated water that they | | | | or solid fuel offer more versatility. They can heat |
| can generate (i.e. hot water production). | | | | a cold pool to a high temperature very quickly |
| Other methods of generating heated swimming | | | | and they have high flow rates and accurate |
| pool water use a boiler, stove or condensing | | | | temperature control. This does of course come at |
| system and they offer more power, i.e. a higher | | | | a cost, even so it is only with these types of |
| flow rate along with greater heating levels, but at | | | | heaters that a medium to large pool can genuinely |
| a higher cost and energy consumption. | | | | provide year round swimming conditions. |
| This creates a dilemma in that, it is possible to | | | | One way of reducing ongoing pool heating fuel bills |
| generate some heat at a very low cost (indeed | | | | is to combine two different water heating |
| free with solar energy), but that high flow rates | | | | approaches. E.g. Solar heating can be used to |
| and hotter water increase the energy usage and | | | | initially raise (or maintain) a pool at a moderate |
| the initial outlay costs of the heating system. | | | | temperature, with a boiler, condenser or heat |
| This means that choosing the right heating | | | | exchanger used to supplement the heat during |
| system for any pool requires careful consideration | | | | cool seasons or when warmer water is required. |
| of the pool's size (i.e. volume of water to be | | | | |