Written on: January 23, 2023
South Florida residents are used to the warmth and sun on a nearly year-round basis. So, when the temperatures dip into the 50’s or lower, it’s considered a big deal! That’s why whether you’re entertaining guests during the winter months, or using your pool for regular exercise, you’ll be glad you have a pool heater to keep the water warm.
Now, it’s not going to make your pool into a hot tub. But it will take the chill off, so you can enjoy your pool no matter the temperature outside.
When selecting a pool heater, here’s why a propane-powered pool heater is the most efficient choice you can make for your South Florida home.
A propane pool heater will produce more heat, at a quicker pace, so it will warm up the water in your pool or spa much faster than an electric heater. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, a propane-powered pool heater can achieve as much as 95% efficiency; electric options can run in the 60’s at best.
Pico Propane sells and installs a wide range of high-efficiency propane pool and spa heaters from top name brands including Pentair, Jandy, Zodiac, and Hayward. They get your water hot faster and more efficiently than electric models, and cost about half as much per Btu to operate as comparable electric models, too.
Propane heaters also do a better job of maintaining the temperature once the water is warm. As a result, propane pool heaters help you keep heating costs better under control.
Propane pool heaters work a lot like a tankless water heater, which is why they are so efficient at heating your pool’s water quickly. Water passes through a combustion chamber where it’s rapidly heated by copper coils before it flows back into your pool.
By contrast, an electric pool heater works more like a heat pump, pulling warm air in, heating it, and heating the water. And as the outside temperature gets cooler, an electric pool heater must work harder to heat the water—and keep it warm—which drives up your energy costs.
It can also take hours to bring the water to a comfortable temperature.
You could opt for a solar pool heater. But there are drawbacks to this option, unless you have a lot of space. A solar pool heater requires an area at least 50%, and usually closer to 100% (or more), of your pool’s surface to work properly.
The system also needs to be mounted on a framework in your yard or on your roof, and your pool’s pump must run the water through the system to heat it. While the solar energy is technically “free” once you’ve paid for the system outright, you may see a big spike in electric bills as your pool pump works overtime moving the water through.
In addition to being a highly efficient way to heat water, propane is a clean-burning fuel, so you’ll save energy and reduce your home’s carbon footprint, too. If you already use propane to heat your home, your water, or any other appliances, it’s the smart choice for your pool heater too.
Pico Propane offers expert installation, maintenance, and repair of propane pool and spa heaters, along with our convenient and reliable propane delivery service for your home. Stop by our showroom or contact us today for more information.