Swimming pool heating : An introduction to pool heating

Heating your swimming pool outside of the Perth summer season is a good thing to do if you plan on using it, but controlling your energy consumption is even better!

To do this, you must first understand things work: what are the primary sources of heat loss from a swimming pool, and what parameters should be taken into account to determine your heating requirements?

Technical criteria for heating your pool

If you decide to heat your swimming pool using solar water heating, the system you choose must be adapted to your pool sizing. To do this you need to know the volume of water (in m3) that your pool can hold.

Then, to estimate your personal comfort level, you need to know the temperature (in °C) at which you want to heat your pool water.

These are simple but essential parameters to be able to correctly size your pool heating system, and thus ensure maximum comfort during colder days at a lower cost.

Heat loss in a swimming pool

A heated swimming pool is subject to multiple sources of heat losses, whether it is set up on the ground or above ground, inside or outside a house. These losses represent the heat exchanges that take place between the water in your pool and its surroundings (pool walls, outside air, etc.).

Part of the heated water evaporates, thus amplifying this phenomenon of heat loss. Whatever the source of these losses, it is by limiting them and by opting for an efficient heating system that you will significantly reduce your energy consumption.

Isothermal covers are a simple and effective way to reduce heat loss

An isothermal cover, also called bubble tarpaulin, limits the exchange of heat between the water in the pool and the outside environment. Its price varies according to the surface of your pool (from $150 to $600 on average).

However, if you are serious about reducing the cost of heating your pool, you should not hesitate to buy an isothermal cover as it can reduce heat loss in your pool by half, an investment that will quickly pay for itself. They also prevent water evaporation during the hot season!