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Learning how to heat a pool is crucial if you want to get the most out of yours this season. Even in hotter regions, swimming is much more pleasant if there's a little warmth in the water, and there are lots of ways to create it. So, if you're planning new pool ideas for your backyard, then you'll need to do a bit of research on the best methods for heating. Luckily, we're here to help by rounding up some of the most popular methods and explaining the differences. Extend your swimming season by learning how to heat a pool - our guide will help you find the right approach to factor into your pool design. Heat pumps are both efficient and low carbon, so are a good choice if you're looking for a sustainable option for heating your swimming pool. There are heat pumps that can warm entire homes, but there are also systems made specifically for pools, which are more affordable.

There are two types of heat pumps: air source and ground source. Some heat pumps provide heating directly to the pool water, whilst indirect units utilize a heat exchanger,' explains SPATA (The Swimming Pool & Allied Trade Association). So, how do they work? Well, these types of heaters extract most of the heat they provide from outside air (or the ground). SPATA explains how heat pumps are a popular choice for outdoor pools, since the operational months coincide with the warmest weather. They do require electricity to run. But generally, during an outdoor pool heating season, they will provide 3.5 to 4.5 times more heat to the water than the power they consume in electrical input. Heat pumps for winter operation can still provide warmth in temperatures as low as 5ºF (-15ºC), but are less efficient. Air source heat pumps need to be installed somewhere where there is plenty of ventilation, with noise consideration in mind. And another thing to consider is that 'the initial warm-up times are likely to be slower than other forms of heating being considered (warm-up periods of less than five days are generally unlikely),' as says SPATA.

Cost-wise, according to Swim University, expect to pay between $500 to $1,500 (approximately £368-£1,103) for air source heat pump installation, while running costs will be around $100-$200 (roughly £74-£147) monthly. Ground source pumps tend to cost more to install as excavation work is involved. This method can be used if you're wondering how to heat a greenhouse, too. Boilers are a common and quicker way to heat a pool, providing an initial one-to-two-day heat-up time. They are available as either a purpose-built "direct" type, where swimming pool water passes directly through the boiler, or an "indirect" type, where a conventional boiler is linked to an additional external heat exchanger,' explains SPATA. The part of the heating equipment in contact with the pool water must be specifically designed to be compatible with the chemicals contained within swimming pool water and the required flow rates,' they continue. SPATA explains how mains gas boilers have the lowest running costs in comparison to oil and liquid petroleum gas (LPG) ones.

If using LPG, remember you will need space for the tank - however, larger tanks can be installed underground. They all need a flue and should be installed by a qualified professional, generally in a plant room. In some cases, it's also possible to use your home boiler to provide heating via a swimming pool heater exchanger, SPATA adds. Swim University says they can cost between $500 to $1,500 (£368-£1,103) to install, with running costs of around $200-$400 (£147-£294) a month. As an alternative, you can use a biomass boiler. This is an environmentally-friendly approach that uses renewable energy - usually in the form of wood pellets made from forestry waste or by-products. In fact, you can even use a biomass boiler to heat your entire house - an increasingly popular approach as more people become more conscious of climate change. However, they are more expensive to install than traditional boilers. Looking for more sustainable garden ideas? Our guide has plenty to get you inspired.



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