Electric Vs. Solar Pool Heater: Which Is More Pocket Friendly?

The mere presence of a pool does not imply that you have the means to heat it, and heating it need not be an expensive luxury. You may have heard about the several approaches to pool heating and their advantages and disadvantages.

There are many different kinds of pool warmers, but some of them, including solar and electric pool heaters, might be more affordable than others.

The following blog discusses the differences between electric vs solar pool heater. You can choose the best solution for your pool and your budget by contrasting these two popular types of pool heaters.

How They Work

Electric pool heater: There are two sorts of electric pool heating systems to take into account. Electric heat pumps transmit heat from the surrounding air or water, whereas electric resistance pool heaters produce their heat from electric currents. As a result of heat pumps capturing heat instead of creating it, they are far more efficient than electric resistance heaters.

Solar pool heater: Solar panels are used to absorb sunlight and extract heat from it for solar pool heating. A solar collector, which is often found on the roof of your home or in the yard, circulates the pool water.

The water is heated as it flows through the panels, and after that, the heated water is pushed back into the pool. A system-wide automated valve distinguishes between filtered water that does not require a second pump and water that puts very little back pressure on the primary pump.

Additionally, solar panels do not produce any pollution or contribute to energy prices, making it incredibly environmentally friendly. Your pool may be continually heated by solar energy, allowing you to use it whenever you want without having to plan ahead and lowering your monthly energy costs.

Costs

Electric pool heater: Heat pump systems, which are substantially less expensive overall than electric resistance heating, initially cost more upfront, up to $5,000, according to the U.S. Department of Energy’s yearly cost review. Despite only costing $1,000 to $2,000, installing an electric resistance heating system can cost two to three times as much as installing a heat pump system, which typically costs $300 to $500.

This is because additional wiring changes must be made to your home’s system. Electric resistance heaters are not energy-efficient and need heavy-duty wiring and large-amperage circuit breakers.

Heat pumps, which cost $100 per month, are less expensive in the long run than electric resistance systems, which cost around $500 per month. Furthermore, air-based heat pumps depend on the temperature of the air to work, which makes them slow to heat up pool water and ineffective below a particular external temperature.

In summary, the cost of electric resistance heating: $500/month plus $2,000 plus $1,000 equals $9,000; and the cost of heat pump heating: $100/month plus $5,000 plus $500 equals $6,700.

Solar pool heater: Solar panels with Superior Solar feature no recurring fees and no down payment, but they are more expensive than electric or heat pumps. Fortunately, a lot of reliable dealers provide financing alternatives and fixed rates to make their products more reasonable.

Additionally, switching to solar energy will result in lower energy costs. Most homeowners may recover their investment in solar pool panels in two to five years. Therefore, in contrast, there is a low monthly installment and no down payment for solar panel heating.

Maintenance

Electric pool heater: If properly maintained and entirely trouble-free, heat pump pool heaters may last between 10 and 20 years, whereas electric resistance heaters normally last between 5 and 10 years.

To save money and preserve energy, you should also spend money on things like pool covers. Similar to the heat pump and electric resistance heater, these components will need to be changed as they age.

Solar pool heater: Up to 20 years might pass between major maintenance tasks for solar panels used in swimming pools. They do not pollute the environment, use renewable energy, and just sometimes need to be rinsed off, which is often done whenever it rains.

In the unlikely event that anything goes wrong, reputable businesses may also offer solid warranties and licensed personnel on call 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Utilizing the Sun’s free energy is ultimately the most cost-effective and energy-efficient way to heat your pool whenever you want to use it. Solar panel purchases are not only beneficial for the environment, but also for your wallet.