If you are looking to extend your pool season either in the spring or the fall, a pool heater is a necessary addition to your pool.  Luckily if one was not installed when the pool was built, it’s not a difficult appliance to add to an existing pool.

In St. Louis, it’s common for pool season to start on Memorial Day and conclude sometime around Labor Day.  Since children go back to school around Labor Day, it’s the natural end of the summer season and the conclusion of the pool season.  But just because the Labor Day is past doesn’t mean that pool season has to be over.  A pool heater can extend your pool season well into September and October if you wish.

There are two main types of pool heaters: Natural Gas (or propane) and electric.  Natural Gas heaters are by far the most popular in the St. Louis area, and because of relatively low natural gas prices, very affordable to operate.  Typically natural gas heaters are installed near the existing equipment area on the existing concrete pad where your exiting equipment is located.  If there is not enough room on the existing pad, then a new pad will need to be poured for the new heater.  You’ll also need to run gas service from your house to the heater.  Propane heaters work in a very similar manner.

Electric heaters are not as common as gas heaters, but are still an option.  They operate on a high voltage circuit, so it’s likely that new service will need to be run from your house to the equipment pad to support the heater.  Most existing pool electric services will no support a heater.

When installing a new heater, the pool company will first call to have all the utilities marked In the yard so that they understand where everything is buried underground.  Next they will arrange for gas or electric service to be run out to the equipment pad where the heater will be located.  After the service has been run to the pad, the pool company will either pour a new equipment pad to support the heater, or make room for the heater on the existing pad.  Finally, the heater will be delivered to your house and installed by cutting into the exiting pool plumbing and rerouting the water through the heater, and hooking up electric and gas service to the heater.

In addition to heating your pool, most modern heaters are “smart” and connected to the internet.  This allows you to remotely control the temperature of your pool.  So if you need to warm up your pool for an impromptu party that comes together at the last minute, no problem!  You can get the pool warmed up from literally anywhere with internet service from the convenience of your cell phone.

If you’re thinking about extending your pool season, trust the experts at Pool Tron to expertly install a top quality heater that will give you years of trouble free service.  Call us today!