Unheated pool-Feburary (Naples: insurance, houses, gated)

[Samiamnh]

Solar heaters are a waste of money......they work best when you don't need them.You want a warm pool? suck it up and install a heater.Wifey likes to swim at 86 degrees.Feels like a frigging hot tub and I prefer low 70's so it's a little more refreshing,but you know what they say......if moma's not happy,nobody is happy.

[rikoshaprl]

I had a solar heater that I used with a gas heater up north. I think the solar helped a little but there is nothing like firing up the heater when you want to warm the pool and the sun is not out.

[capekelly]

Originally Posted by kyjake39

Anybody know what the temperature would be in an unheated pool in February?Question is for an uncovered pool in Cape Coral.
Thanks,
Jake

I live in Cape Coral and have been living in Cape Coral since 1996. I have lived with an unheated pool in the winter and much of depends on which side of the house the pool is located. If the pool in on the southern side with a unobstructed from dawn to dusk, it may be tolerable. But it will still be so cold that you will not want to swim in it. Children may but should not as it will rob their small bodies' heat rapidly and they can get hypothermia and drown.

I highly recommend getting a solar system to heat your pool - that way, the sun does it for free all year round and you will actually use your pool rather than pay to maintain it and look at it for six months out of the year. I sell real estate and a lot of people get heat pumps so they can heat the spa (if there is one) Many pools built in past six years have spas with jets attached to the in-ground pools.

You can also get a black coating or dye mixed in to the cement finish on the bottom of the pool, and that is an excellent way absorb sunlight and warm the water naturally.

Also, many people use propane, but then you need to have a large tank placed on property and refilled occasionally. If your pool is on the north side of the house, you will need a heater even in the summer.

The cheapest way is through solar plumbed to roof-mounted array that keeps pool warm year -around.

Condominium associations try to be cheap and save money by setting it at 83f, but that is cold and no one swims because they are too chilly, especially if there is a wind or breeze. Raising to 87f is good temp that is not too hot and people will use it and be able to swim laps and get exercise.

[rikoshaprl]

Originally Posted by capekelly

If your pool is on the north side of the house, you will need a heater even in the summer.

I don't understand why it would matter if the pool is on the north or south side in the summer. The pool will be in the sun all day regardless. The sun is so high there is no shadow from the house on the pool.

[Kim in FL]

Originally Posted by rikoshaprl

I don't understand why it would matter if the pool is on the north or south side in the summer. The pool will be in the sun all day regardless. The sun is so high there is no shadow from the house on the pool.

and it will still be too cold to swim in!

[TamRE]

We have an unheated pool in Port Charlotte, FL. It is way too cold already for me to swim in. Has to be 78 or higher for me. I sometimes will float on a raft in the pool in the winter, but other than that maybe dipping my feet in while reading a book. We had a pool heater at our last home but we rarely ever used it. Only when the grandkids or other company came down from NY. They do have some solar rings that you can put in the pool, but I am not sure how good they work.

[rikoshaprl]

Originally Posted by Kim in FL

and it will still be too cold to swim in!

In the summer?

[Jason Szumlanski]

Originally Posted by TamRE

We have an unheated pool in Port Charlotte, FL. It is way too cold already for me to swim in. Has to be 78 or higher for me. I sometimes will float on a raft in the pool in the winter, but other than that maybe dipping my feet in while reading a book. We had a pool heater at our last home but we rarely ever used it. Only when the grandkids or other company came down from NY. They do have some solar rings that you can put in the pool, but I am not sure how good they work.

Solar pool heating systems this time of the year will be above 78 degrees when using a pool cover at night. That's no problem. If you want to extend the season even more, you can use a heat pump for supplemental heating, but the solar pool heater will bring up the starting temperature, reducing your electric heating costs. Installing a heat pump without solar is going to cost you dearly in electricity in the long run. Not using a pool cover in either case is usually a waste of money.

[tjstrain]

Solar panels screwed thru perfectly sealed roof shingles is what you really want here in hurricane territory. After a few years of sun exposure quite a few of those fasteners tend to leak rain water into your attic and on to your ceiling drywall.
Solar panels only raise your temp by about 5 degrees, so at 60 +5 = 65, you still gonna swim in that? After it being DARK all night it's gonna take 8 hours of sun to get that water comfy just enough to dabble your toes in it and then run inside for dinner.

[tjstrain]

Solor panels work as good as Window film for hurricane protection. It's all how much of the salesmens BS you get hood winked into believing.