Outdoor swimming pools in Australia are not as warm as you may think. If you’re in Melbourne, your pool is only likely to reach 16-22° in the mid-summer and even when you’re located in the warmer regions, the warmest temperature the water could go is at an average of 30°C at the height of the summer.
You see, if you want to enjoy your pool for most of the year, you would have to invest in a swimming pool heating system. However, when you add up the cost of heating, cleaning, maintaining, and more, you could be looking at spending more than $3,000 a year to run a pool.
While an energy-efficient pool heater is a great way to keep your energy bills lower, there are many other cost-effective alternatives to heat your pools or at least keep them warm for longer. Discover them here in this article.
- Invest in a Solar Water Heater
Using solar energy to heat your pool is an efficient and eco-friendly way to enjoy the outdoors on a particularly colder day. Solar water heaters are used mainly in residential applications and have far less carbon footprint than gas or fuel heating. While investing in this system will set you back at several thousands of dollars, the money it can save you in utility bills should make it worth it in the long run. Investing more in solar renewable energy by opting for Reliant Energy plans will help you save the environment and lower your power bills in the years to come.
- Use Solar Covers
Solar covers work by covering the surface of the swimming pool to keep the water from evaporating and at the same time, absorb solar heat to warm the pool. Today, these covers are available in at least three different forms and they don’t cost anywhere near breaking the bank:
Solar Cover – Also called solar blankets, these are the bubble wrap-like plastic that you would see completely covering a pool.
Solar Sun Rings – Solar rings are thought to be easier to use because unlike a solar cover, you wouldn’t need one that fits the pool perfectly. You only need multiple smaller rings that can be moved around the pool.
Liquid Solar Pool Cover – This liquid is poured into the pool, creating an invisible barrier that sits on the surface of the water. Like the two other options, it reduces evaporation, thus preventing heat loss.
- Windproof Your Pool
Strong winds can be your greatest enemy when you’re trying to keep your pool warm. So, if you’re in a particularly windy area, consider building a windproof enclosure over your pool. This should protect your pool against the wind and keep it from losing warmth. An added benefit to this is that it makes your pool accessible, regardless of the weather.
- The Black Hose Trick
You may have heard of this trick a few times in the past, but it’s actually quite a clever way to heat your pool. Here’s how it works: connect a black hose to the water tap and run it to an area where it gets direct sunlight. Form it into a coil and run the remaining hose into the pool. The sun should heat the water as it flows through the hose and into your pool.
Why black, you ask? Darker colours tend to absorb the most heat and a black hose has the highest chance to warm up the water.
fiberglass pools san antonio tx and heating systems are a typical feature in Australian homes. While it’s the case, however, it doesn’t hurt to experiment on things that would help you save money on keeping your pools warm during the colder days.
Which of these cost-effective ways would you like to try first? Share your thoughts by leaving a comment below!
