If one has a choice a gas heater is the most efficient. If not then a heat pump.
With either one I suggest adding the solar as well.
An imperative element in the equation is also having a solar cover.
When the temperatures at night are consistently below 70 at night (let alone the run of 50s we are having), it is very difficult to keep the pool at 80 and above.
Our set up maintains 83+ easily from March through December 31. I keep the solar at 95 and the gas heater at 80.
For us it is just too cold outside to be comfortable so we let the pool go "cold" January and February. If we happen to have a series of bright sunny days I turn the solar back on.
Then we have periods on and off like we have recently where the threat of freezing requires (suggests) turning off the solar and isolating it during the sub 35 days/nights.
My guess is if we wanted to keep our pool at 80++ in January and February it would cost about $400 per month.
Because we have a very irregular shaped pool we do not use a solar cover during the winter months. We just don't like looking at a big sheet of plastic and it is too cold to be outside anyway (with no clothes on).
|