People often say that with above ground pools you don’t need a heater. The pools are smaller, and usually shallower than inground pools so why bother? Well, unless you live on the equator, you know full well that the pool will not stay warm without a little extra heat in the shoulder seasons. In this article we will explore what the best above ground pool heater will be for your backyard.
With all pools, the first thing to make sure you have is a bubble cover. By covering your pool when it’s not in use you will reduce heating requirements measurably. However, a cover will not suffice when cold temperatures arrive. You will need an above ground pool heater and we are here to help you find the best model for your pool.
How To Choose An Above Ground Pool Heater
First, let’s take stock of the existing conditions and utilities you have at your house. Take a look at the shadow lines in your backyard. Is there an area with direct sunlight facing south/south-west which might make sense as a place to install solar collectors? Do you have a roof which is facing south/south-west which might make a good place to install solar collectors?
Next, crack open your electrical panel and take a look at whether you have any empty slots in the panel. Take a photo with your phone. This will come in handy if you choose to pursue an electric heat source. You may be able to save some trouble for your electrician by sending a photo ahead of time. Next, look for your gas meter, propane meter, or propane tank. Take note of where they are relative to your pool location as this will influence how much it costs to use gas or propane as a fuel source for your heater.
Best Above Ground Pool Heater Sources
Next, it’s time to weigh the heating options. There is not just one type of above ground pool heater. This can make finding the best above ground pool heater a challenge. In this article, we are going to simultaneously explain each heating option and the heater that we recommend.
Each category has a best heater but ultimately it’s up to you to decide what heating source makes sense for your pool. The four most common types of heaters are solar energy, electric and natural gas or propane. Before we explain each heater type, here is our summary of the best heater for each source.
Invalid table id.Best Above Ground Pool Heater For Solar Energy
There are solar panels designed specifically for above ground pools. These are not photovoltaics, there is no electricity being produced. These panels work by running small streams of water through pipes which are exposed to the sunshine. Like all heat sources, the pump must be running for the solar to work.
If you have space and exposure for a roof mounted solar collector system, you might consider a preassembled kit. These can be put together by you if you are feeling motivated, or hire a pool plumber to assemble. With these kits it’s important to consider the GPM and horsepower produced by your pump as it can overtax the smaller pumps if you’re trying to pump water onto your roof.
- DO IT YOURSELF: Complete SunQuest solar heater systems are available to suit your needs. Designed for Roof/Rack installation, all hardware, roof strapping and a Bypass are included (Pipe not included). More cost-effective than an Electric or Gas heater
- EXTENDED SWIMMING: A solar pool heater sized and installed correctly, will raise your pool water 10 ℉, keeping your pool warm and extending your swimming season. Use a Liquid Solar Blanket or cover to maintain the heat for optimal results
- SOLAR POOL HEATER – The Sunheater Solar Pool Heating System allows you to capture free heat from the sun’s rays to effectively raise your pool water temperature. It’s an efficient and cost-effective method to heat your pool.
- EXTENDS POOL SEASON – Your pool’s pump pushes the water through the panel’s many tubes where it’s warmed by the sun and then returned to the pool. This system can raise the water temperature up to 15°F and extend your pool season by weeks!
If you can install your solar panels on the ground next to the pool, the solar collectors designed for this purpose work a bit differently as they don’t require a roof for installation. Like all solar collectors for pools, these are modular. Modular means you can start with a small solar array, and make it larger by buying more collectors if you aren’t getting the heating you are looking for. Some ground mount options:
- Solar heater mat uses solar technology to increase the temperature of the pool water by approximately 5 to 9 degrees depending on the weather
- Features an 11-square-foot surface to absorb the sun’s rays to heat up above-ground pools; Dimensions (L x W): 47.25 x 47.25 inches (flat)
Best Electric Above Ground Pool Heaters
If solar isn’t going to work in your backyard, or you want something a bit more reliable, you might consider an electric heat pump. These have a significant electrical demand, and will require the use of a licensed electrician to connect. Depending on where you live, this might be the best heat source for you.
However, if you live in a place where summer night temperatures are in the 50’s, you may want to skip the heat pump as a heating option. With heat pumps it is important to look at the BTUs produced. Also read the manufacturer’s suggestion for maximum pool sizes and climate zone restrictions.
Furthermore, it’s important to look at the minimum flow rate required and compare that to your pool pump to make sure the heat pump will turn on when needed. If the flow rate of your pump isn’t high enough, the heat pump may not turn on.
One heat pump we like is the FibroPool Heat pump. This heat pump uses advanced technology to operate down to cooler temperatures than most. This heat pump may be a bit large for some above ground pools, so you may want to consider some of the smaller options out there.
- CLEAN AND GREEN: The FH120 is powered by clean electricity, reducing the harmful environmental effects and cost of traditional heaters that use natural gas or propane. Our pumps instead move heat from the air into the water, which saves you money and is a breeze to maintain
- COMPATIBLE WITH: In ground pools up to 5,000 gallons and above ground pools up to 15 foot round or 12 by 18 foot oval. As with all heat pumps, we recommend using in a humid climate down to 50 degrees for best performance. Dry climates are better served by a traditional gas heater
Best Above Ground Pool Heater For Small Pools
However, currently we don’t recommend the smaller heat pumps for backyard pools as they don’t have the track record yet. If you feel like gambling, here are some of the less expensive heat pumps out there for smaller pools:
- [Extend Your Pool Season]: Nothing beats a warm swimming pool for your kids, pets and the whole family! ECOPOOLTECH Pool Heater EU50S, highly efficient, low operating cost, extend the fun for a few more months!
- [Energy Save]: The EU50S pool heater based on heat pump technology. The operation only requires very limited electric input, hence its heat conversion rate can reach a score of COP 5.44. In other words, for every cent of electricity spent, 5.44 times heat is generated!
- 【Ideal Choice for Above Ground Pools】 WECIYGG mini pool heat pump is specially designed for small pools of up to 2000 gallons. It is suitable for above-ground swimming pools, hot tubs or spas
- 【Energy Saving】 The heat pump has an energy efficiency of 4.5, using the surrounding air to heat the pool, which is more economical than propane, natural gas, and electric heaters for maintaining the ideal water temperature
Best Natural Gas/Propane Above Ground Pool Heaters
Next there are the Natural Gas or Propane heaters. These will be the most complicated installation of all these heaters as you will need electricity for the ignition system, and you will need gas run from the gas meter or propane tank to fire the heater.
The gas and propane work must be completed by a licensed plumber or propane supplier and you’ll most likely need to get city inspections. However, if you want a heat source that will never let you down, gas and propane are the best solution.
Keep in mind these heaters also have minimum flow rates, and if you have a small pool your pump may not provide the flow rates required to turn these heaters on. Our favorite heater in this category is the Pentair Mastertemp 125.
This heater is adapted from the Spa-Rite Max-E-Therm which has decades of proven performance as a tried and true pool heater. You will have the least amount of problems with this heater than any other.
We also show some of the competitors to the Pentair Mastertemp below. These all have a great track record in their own right. The Pentair model is simply more adopted by homeowners.
- BEST FOR: In-ground pools and spas with a surface area up to 400 ft. where natural gas is available. Its low environmental impact makes it ideal for pools and spas located where low-NOx emissions are required.
- PREMIUM PERFORMANCE: The Hayward Universal H-Series 150,000 BTU Natural Gas Heater delivers fast premium heating performance for years of reliable, long-lasting comfort.
- Polymer headers prevent rust stains on your pool or spa surface
- All-Copper-Fin-Tube Heat Exchanger; Made from a single piece of extruded copper
Above Ground Pool Heater FAQS
There are endless questions surrounding the process of heating your pool. We chose a few of the most asked and answered them here.
How To Heat An Above Ground Pool?
When looking at how to heat an above ground pool, the first thing to consider is what type of fuel for the heater do you have available? You can always add a propane tank if you have nothing available. If you have electricity available, you may be able to use an electrical resistance heater, or an electric air source heat pump.
With electrical resistance heat, know you will be using a massive amount of electricity, and it is the most expensive method to heat your pool. The electric air source heat pump is one of the least expensive methods, but will not work in freezing temperatures. If all you have is the sun available, you can use solar panels. Solar is often the easiest to add to your pool, and will cost you almost nothing once it’s installed. The downside of solar is you won’t have that instant gratification you can get from a propane, natural gas, or electric resistance heater.
Can You Heat An Above Ground Pool In The Winter?
Depending on where you live, you certainly could heat an above ground pool in the winter. If you live in an area prone to freezing temperatures for more than one night, you probably ought to consider closing the pool instead of keeping it open and heated all year. Unlike an inground pool, an above ground pool freezes quite fast.
The damage that occurs during a freeze is primarily due to the pipes themselves freezing, not the pool. Since above ground pools have uninsulated pipes above ground, if the water stops moving in the pipes, it can freeze. When the water freezes sometimes you’ll get a fitting busting open and the pool drains down. In winter you’d want to keep your pump running 24 hours a day to prevent freezing, or you’ll need to manually go outside and turn the pump on when the colder temperatures are expected.
How To Heat Above Ground Pool Quickly
The quickest way to heat an above ground pool is to use natural gas or propane. Just like an inground pool, heating an above ground is fastest with fossil fuel heaters. One tip for how to heat an above ground pool quickly is to use a bubble cover or other cover to prevent surface evaporation and heat loss.
Losing heat through the surface is where the majority of your heat loss occurs and if you fail to prevent this, it’ll slow down your heating rate. Consider adding solar heat to your above ground pool. Depending on the array you install, this can help speed up the heating rate when combined with a gas heater.
Best Above Ground Pool Heater Summary
Whatever you choose to do, finding the best above ground pool heater is a huge part of making your swimming experience the most enjoyable. After all, the heater is what extends your ability to use the pool. Invest in the right heater and you can swim for most, if not, of the year. You now understand the heating options and which devices we recommend. Enjoy swimming in a heated above ground pool.
