Solar heat for pool ?

[City Guy997S]

Originally Posted by Sun-Dog

A pool heater can be propane, electric, oil, etc. and all are expensive to run. Many have higher btu ratings than house furnaces. They convert the energy source directly into heat.

Based on my limited use of the heat pump, I would say it's more like a dollar a day to run.

Sadly no you can't run a heat pump for a $1 a day......the pool pump alone burns that!

[Sun-Dog]

Originally Posted by City Guy997S

Sadly no you can't run a heat pump for a $1 a day......the pool pump alone burns that!

LOL! Well I can't say I've tried to measure it directly. This January I ran the heat pump for about 2.5 weeks (guests in town) and my electric bill went up $25 for the month. The system runs 8 hours / day. Not very scientific but not bad, either.

[NoSnow4me]

Originally Posted by City Guy997S

Propane is usually delivered. Natural gas is plumbed in. I was comparing the 3 options other than solar. Lets try to keep up with the class!

That was my point. Natural gas isn't plumbed in here. There's no distribution infrastructure, so we don't have that option. Without the demand for heating houses, there probably never will be. You obviously don't live around here if you didn't know that, so your input on costs isn't valid. Why don't you go find a forum section where you know what you're talking about?

[DCSjersey]

same as Sun Dog...I have to say our electric pool heater cost about the same...and the A/C is normally shut down during the times the heater would be on. On the same token, if they are both on, the pool heater is only going to run to recover overnight heat loss. We keep the solar cover most of the winter and only fold it back some when we use it unless guest are here, then it's rolled off and back on at night.

[City Guy997S]

Originally Posted by NoSnow4me

That was my point. Natural gas isn't plumbed in here. There's no distribution infrastructure, so we don't have that option. Without the demand for heating houses, there probably never will be. You obviously don't live around here if you didn't know that, so your input on costs isn't valid. Why don't you go find a forum section where you know what you're talking about?

I have owned 3 types of heaters mentioned here and I was relaying that info and the associated costs are 100% valid regardless of location. Propane is still the most expensive way to heat your pool regardless of your zip code.

Just an FYI.....natural gas has been brought into Florida regardless of the need for heating.
http://www.fpuc.com/customer-service/areas-we-serve/

[NoSnow4me]

Originally Posted by City Guy997S

I have owned 3 types of heaters mentioned here and I was relaying that info and the associated costs are 100% valid regardless of location. Propane is still the most expensive way to heat your pool regardless of your zip code.

Just an FYI.....natural gas has been brought into Florida regardless of the need for heating.
Service Area | Florida Public Utilities

You also said that solar heaters are worthless and a heat pump costs $150 - $220 per month to run. That information is very inaccurate in our climate, so you're misleading people by saying it in a forum where people come to look for advice that is specific to the local area. It's a disservice to the people asking questions to tell them what's what when you don't know what you're talking about.

[City Guy997S]

Originally Posted by NoSnow4me

You also said that solar heaters are worthless and a heat pump costs $150 - $220 per month to run. That information is very inaccurate in our climate, so you're misleading people by saying it in a forum where people come to look for advice that is specific to the local area. It's a disservice to the people asking questions to tell them what's what when you don't know what you're talking about.

and you are wrong 100%.........

Solar is not what they promise, you will not have an 85 degree pool in December when your guests arrive to swim! As I said earlier it simply extends the swimming season a month or so on each end. Your pool will be cold Nov-Apr.

Electric heat pumps are the cheapest way to heat your pool with reliable (measurable) costs and performance. Sadly they do not cost $1 a day to run. Try AquaCal | Swimming Pool & Spa Heat Pumps | Pool Heater for operational costs, equipment sizing (and location). They should have a good handle on costs for this area as they are made just up the road in St Pete!

[City Guy997S]

Originally Posted by Sun-Dog

LOL! Well I can't say I've tried to measure it directly. This January I ran the heat pump for about 2.5 weeks (guests in town) and my electric bill went up $25 for the month. The system runs 8 hours / day. Not very scientific but not bad, either.

Too many variables......the biggest is what the heater was set at. If you had it set to 80 it would probably run an hour in the morning to recoup the night before's heat loss. If you had it set to 90 it would probably run 5 of those 8 hours of run time.

The pool pump alone (1 HP) would cost you $1 to run 8 hours.

[rikoshaprl]

The solar will help keep your costs down in November, December and April when you may need to run the heat pump too. January, February and March we only heat the spa and don't try to heat the pool unless we have visitors.