Swimming during summer is delightful, but it is a different story during wintertime. Not many are fans of freezing waters, rendering your backyard pool useless during this time. Considering the maintenance cost and effort of keeping a swimming pool on your property, it is good if you can use it all year round. This is where a pool heater makes a great investment.
A swimming pool heater allows you to regulate the temperature of your pool so you can enjoy it longer. A warm pool also evokes a relaxing mood, which could be helpful if you are planning to unwind after a long day or week at work. A pool heater works similarly with a home water heater, which also provides you with options regarding power source or volume capacity.
When looking for the best pool water heater, check your personal heating needs and pool volume first. You don’t want to run a pool heater that cannot efficiently heat your entire pool because it is underpowered.
You also have a choice as to which source you’ll use to power up your pool heater. You can choose from getting gas, electric, or solar-powered ones. There is almost no difference among the three when it comes to performance, but each differs in other features such as heating speed, noise, maintenance, and capital cost.
Therefore, it is important that you define the features in a pool heater you will prioritize first, as well as the non-negotiables. Budget is also something significantly considered, which does not only pertain to the upfront cost, but also the cost to maintain, upgrade, or repair your pool heater.
Here at Top Best Reviewss, we narrowed down the top pool heater choices for each category. We have a solar pool heater, an electric pool heater, and a gas pool heater on this list.
Best Pool Heater for More Relaxing Swimming Sessions – (Comparison)
| Name | Energy Source | |
| Hayward W3H400FDN Universal H-Series – (Editor’s Choice) | Natural Gas | Check Price |
| SunHeater Pool Heating System – Solar Heater | Solar | Check Price |
| EcoSmart SMART POOL 27 Electric Tankless Pool Heater, 27kW with Self Modulating Technology | Electricity | Check Price |
Hayward W3H400FDN Universal H-Series – Editor’s Choice
If you are to heat up a large pool or looking for something that heats it up quickly, a natural gas pool heater is your best pick. This pool heater can efficiently heat a surface area of up to 1,200 square feet. It can deliver up to 400,000 BTU of heat with natural gas as its source. If you are nearby a gas source, then there is no problem with installing one.
This pool heater is best for in-ground pools and spas because of its heating performance and capacity. Though it burns gas as its fuel, it produces fewer NOx emissions with its superior energy usage technology that uses less gas in producing more heat and at a faster rate.
The Hayward W3H400FDN Universal H-Series boasts of its polymer header design in its hydraulics, which helps you save on energy consumption without sacrificing performance.
This pool heater also defers the effects of corrosion with continuous water flow and the water’s chemical composition. This saves you on maintenance costs, as well as improves its reliability over a long period. This design is also patented.
As an inground pool heater, it provides high power output, reducing run time, which helps decrease the strain in your pool heater. In the same way, it also reduces your energy cost and increases its energy efficiency, which helps you experience more comfort with less pain in your pocket.
Climate and weather sometimes affect a pool heater’s performance. Because of this, the Hayward W3H400FDN Universal H-Series deploys a forced draft combustion system to combat external factors that degrade the performance of your pool heater.
This pool warmer has intuitive controls with its LED digital control panel. You can set the temperature to your comfort level and monitor its settings with its easy-to-read display.
Pros
- Uses natural gas as its heat source
- Faster heating up rate
- Energy-efficient
- Corrosion-resistant hydraulics
- Comes with an intuitive LED digital control and readout panel
Cons
- Needs to have a nearby natural gas source to work
Conclusion
The Hayward W3H400FDN Universal H-Series is the best pool heater choice for larger pools or spas.
SunHeater Pool Heating System – Solar Heater
This pool heater can work as an in ground or above ground pool heater. It uses sunlight as its power source wherein you omit the need to pay for monthly gas or electricity fees.
The SunHeater Pool Heating System – Solar Heater includes two 20-inch solar panels that can effectively heat up the water in your 31-inch round pool or 18 by 36-inch rectangular one.
This solar powered pool heater works as your pool heat pump by connecting to your existing pool water filtration system. The converted power harvested by the solar panels heats the tubes where water passes through and returns to the pool. This pool heater can raise your water’s temperature between 6 to 10 degrees Fahrenheit.
Since it uses solar energy, you do not have to worry about paying recurring fees. However, if you use it alone, you can only enjoy a warmed-up pool during the day when sunlight is available. If you want more mileage to your pool heater, you have to purchase a battery to store sunlight and extend its usability at night or in the absence of sun.
This solar panel pool heater features a tube-web-tube design for its solar panels, which claims to effectively capture the most sunlight from its position. The panels are also rigid and flexible, allowing them to contract and expand according to changing temperatures. This avoids cracking and damage that also prolongs your pool heater solar panels’ life.
The SunHeater Pool Heating System – Solar Heater is both a cost-effective and economic choice for a pool heater since it uses a free power source. However, it is restricted to the amount of sunlight it captures, which deems make it unusable in areas with limited access to the sun. It works best during summer or warmer days.
The upsides of getting a solar water heater for pool are operating cost savings and environment-friendliness. It also incurs fewer maintenance costs as long as it is installed properly.
Pros
- Uses solar energy that converts to power and heats your pool
- Connects to your pool’s water filtration system
- Includes two 20-inch solar panels
- No operating cost and less maintenance cost
Cons
- Will not work in the absence of sunlight
Conclusion
The SunHeater Pool Heating System – Solar Heater is a good choice for people looking to heat smaller pools, particularly those above ground round and rectangular pools. It works best in areas getting generous sunlight on most days of the year.
EcoSmart SMART POOL 27 Electric Tankless Pool Heater, 27kW with Self Modulating Technology
If you need a consistent and reliable pool heater on-demand or accessible all year round, an electric pool heater is the best fit. This is perhaps the most popular type there is since it is easy to install and does not require a special or seasonal power source.
This swimming pool heat pump also doubles as a booster pump, so you get multiple functions from your pool heater.
Similar to the function of a tankless water heater for your home’s water supply, the EcoSmart SMART POOL 27 Electric Tankless Pool Heater, 27kW with Self Modulating Technology works with the same principle of providing heat on-demand. It connects to your main electricity line and is easy to install. It is tankless so you do not have to maintain another water supply storage just for your swimming pool.
This heat pump pool heater features a sensor flow technology that decreases the chances of burnt parts due to overheating. Its activation flow is around 12 GPM.
This pool heater can raise your 11,000-gallon pool by 5 degrees Fahrenheit for about 10 minutes or more for bigger pools. It makes a good pool heater for above ground pool and for an in ground one.
You can boost its control convenience by purchasing the compatible Eco Smart Remote Control. With it, you can now monitor settings and set the temperature remotely.
This pool heater’s power output is at 2.7kWH. It uses an energy-efficient technology that reduces your heating pool costs. It may have monthly energy fees, but the installation and upkeep costs are lower than other types.
Pros
- Uses electricity to heat your pool’s water
- Utilizes flow sensor technology that reduces the risk of burning due to overheating
- With digital thermostat control and is compatible with Eco Smart Remote Control
Cons
- Slow to heat your pool
Conclusion
The EcoSmart SMART POOL 27 Electric Tankless Pool Heater, 27kW with Self Modulating Technology is a reliable pool heater that can heat your pool on-demand and all year round.
Final Verdict
Ultimately, your choice of pool heater boils down to individual needs and preferences and is dependent on a host of factors. We included different types of pool heater on this list, and it is hard to gauge one against the other. Therefore, to arrive at the Editor’s Choice, we based it on the aspects of performance, reliability, and convenience.
The best pool heater on this list is the Hayward W3H400FDN Universal H-Series.
The Hayward W3H400FDN Universal H-Series uses natural gas as its power source, making it more reliable in heating up fast and more. Having less harmful NOx emissions is also a plus. Its forced draft technology also helps your pool retain its temperature without being affected by external factors.