by Roxy D'melo
It is currently winter — the time of the year when you are likely to use your pool less often. But many may still want to enjoy their Intex pools as much as they can. If you are among them, it is excellent to know that even now you can heat your pool to enjoy a relaxing swim and keep your family and friends entertained even during the fall and winter months.
There are many questions we have to answer before we figure out how to heat an Intex pool. “How much does it cost?”, “How long will it last?” and probably the most important question “What do I need to buy for it?”
The good news is that heating an Intex pool is a relatively simple process, and there are several ways that you can accomplish it. Through this article, we’ll guide you to the process of choosing the best option for your Intex Pool!
How to Heat an Intex Pool: 3 Most Common Ways
1. Heat Pumps
If you’re going to use an electric heater instead of natural gas, you should consider using a heat pump. Heat pumps are a more efficient way to heat an Intex pool and will only cost $50 to $150 to operate monthly. That’s small compared to the price of running your gas bill all winter long. However, they require you to pay more money upfront.
2. Gas Pool Heaters
A gas heater works by heating the air inside a heat exchanger. This results in warm air blowing into your pool. These units use propane or natural gas to heat the air and have a lower upfront cost.
However, they may be harmful to the environment and have a high running price, ranging up to 600$ a month, depending on the size of the pool.
3. Solar Heating Systems
Solar energy is eco-friendly and does a great job heating up your pool for swimming. But setting it up and having to install panels can be expensive. However, after the upfront cost, you won’t have to pay monthly expenses.
However, since it doesn’t heat quickly during the rain or with a cloud cover, you may want to consider a backup alternative.
| Type | Pros | Cons | Cost |
| Heat Pumps | Have the longest lifespan. | The rate of heating is lower compared to gas pool heaters. | Higher Upfront Cost, Low Monthly Payments. |
| Gas Pool Heaters | Heats the pool quickly. | Damage the environment and require a continuous supply of gas. | Lower Upfront Cost, High Monthly Payments due to gas bill. |
| Solar Heating Systems | Eco-Friendly. | Require professional help to set up. | High Upfront Cost, no monthly payments. |
How to Heat an Intex Pool: 4 Alternative Ways
Apart from the types of heaters mentioned above, you can also use the following ways to heat your Intex pools!
1. Solar Covers
You can regulate the heating of your Intex pool with a solar cover. This passive system works by trapping heat from the sun like a blanket and redirecting it into the water.
When used together with the pool’s other heating system, it will maximize efficiency and add to your pool’s overall longevity, safety, and quality. It can cost a high price to set up but will not require any payments after that.
These can also store heat from the sunny days and keep the pool heated to a comfortable temperature during the night and overcast days. These are also great for minimizing evaporation of water and chemicals, as well as keeping leaves and debris off of your clean swimming pool water. To check if it is really heating the pool, you may use pool Thermometer to track it.
2. Windproof Enclosures
Building a windproof pool enclosure is helpful during those cold winter nights because the heat produced by a pool is trapped inside the chamber. This can help to keep your pool above freezing for extended periods.
The best pool windproof enclosures are not those made of netting or flimsy materials. The best kind is made from windproof material and is sturdy enough to withstand large gusts of wind.
The enclosure should fully cover the pool’s surface area, completely blocking any loss of warmth. The cost of setup and maintenance will depend upon the size of your pool and the material you use.
3. Heat Exchanger
One of the most popular types of heating system for an above-ground pool is a heat exchanger, that transfers the heat of the pool water to the home’s central heating system via a radiator. Heat exchangers are one of the most economical and most accessible systems to install.
However, they have several disadvantages that you should consider before installing one in your house, including excessive energy consumption.
4. Wood Stoves
This is one of the most cost-efficient methods that only works for smaller Intex pools. A wood stove heating system can be a great way to heat your intex swimming pool. They are very energy efficient, and there are no large pumps or compressors needed to get the pool water hot.
One can also use them in conjunction with the central heating system in colder climates or as a stand-alone pool heater in milder temperatures.
However, it requires a lot of wood. This may mean that it will become too expensive to maintain for larger systems. Additionally, it will take a long time to heat up the pool as the water has to pass near the stove. But occasionally, for small Intex pools, it will work well!
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. Does putting black garbage bags heat the pool?
Yes, it does! The pool will get warmer than if you put the black garbage bags on it. The reason is that sunlight will come and heat your pool, and this incident will cause an increase in temperature.
Without it, it would release the heat back into the air, and the pool would stay cool throughout the day.
But if you use black bags on top of your pool, they would be directing that heat into pulling up the pool water temperature. In other words, black color absorbs a high level of heat from the sunlight and transfers it into the pool water, becoming warmer.
And as a result, this becomes a positive outcome of placing black garbage bags over your pool.
2. How long does it take for pool water to warm up?
Many factors can affect how fast your pool heats up, such as the type of heater you’re using, the size and depth of your pool, wind speed, and the direction of the sun. For example, clear skies make the water heat faster than a cloudy day.
3. Do solar rings work to heat the pool?
The solar rings are an ‘upgraded’ edition of the floating solar pool heating panels. Solar rings are mainly used for heating pools in colder regions. These rings have a transparent plastic layer to trap more heat, reflecting the water.
Using these rings, you can quickly get rid of chilly water and significantly save your pool heating expenses.
Solar rings are swimming pool accessories that function to warm the pool water naturally. They do not generate any harmful byproducts and use solar energy only. The most energy-efficient way to heat an Intex pool is to use solar rings.
Plus, the right choice of solar rings will help you save up on your utility bills and provide you with great comfort during the chilly season.
Final Verdict
When it starts getting colder week by week, you may begin to feel that a heating method for your Intex swimming pool is an obligatory thing.
In this case, what do you think are the best choices for heating? How can you choose an efficient one? And what are the most important things to consider when you opt for a specific option? Make sure that your pool is clean as well as warm to have hygienic swimming.
We hope these articles answered all your questions and helped you find the method of heating that is perfect for your place and matches all of your requirements.
