Pool Heating in Florida: What is Your Best Option?
Choosing the right system for pool heating in Florida can seem overwhelming. Given that swimming in Florida is a year-round activity, there are several types of heaters available to keep your pool comfortable in all seasons. If you are a seasonal resident, you may know which pool heating method you would choose for your northern residence. But which pool heater is right for your Florida home?
Compare Popular Florida Pool Heating Systems
With over 30 years of experience installing pool heaters in Florida, we at Symbiont Service Corp are here to help you make an informed decision. Below is a list of the top pool heating systems in Florida. We’ve ranked them in order of recommendation, starting with the systems we highly recommend. We also included a brief description of how each pool heating system works and why we do or don’t recommend that system for Florida, followed by a concise list of each system’s pros and cons. Finally, you’ll find a summary of our recommendations for the best Florida pool heating system based on your pool and spa setup.
Quick Links:
- GeoThermal pool heaters in Florida
- Air source pool heat pumps in Florida
- Gas pool heaters in Florida
- Solar pool heaters in Florida
- Electric resistance pool heaters in Florida
- Recommendations Based on Your Pool and Spa Setup
Request a Free Pool Heating Consultation
= Green Technology
Highly Recommended: Water Source Pool Heat Pumps (a.k.a. GeoThermal Heat Pumps)
GeoThermal heat pumps are by far the most energy efficient pool heating systems. They work by extracting and transferring heat from lake water or an aquifer well to your pool instead of burning fuel to create heat. Not only does this make them more eco-friendly than other pool heating systems like gas, but they also heat as well as gas at a fraction of the cost. Additionally, because they are not affected by outside air temperature, GeoThermal systems perform much better than air source heat pumps during cold nights, which results in a significantly warmer pool during the day.
Why is a GeoThermal Pool Heater a Good Choice for Florida?
GeoThermal heat pumps can keep a commercial, community or private residential Florida pool comfortable all year round. In fact, the Florida environment is ideal for optimal GeoThermal performance. Compared with northern states, where the average ground water temperature is 54°F, Florida ground water maintains a year-round average temperature of 75°F. With consistently warm ground water acting as a heat source in the winter and heat sink in the summer, a GeoThermal pool heater can operate at maximum efficiency in any season. Plus, a GeoThermal system can cool your pool in the summer!
GeoThermal Pool Heating in Florida PROS:
- Renewable and sustainable green energy.
- Uses water as heat source (Types of Source Water: Wells, Lakes, Closed Loop, Cooling Tower).
- Geothermal heat pumps are the most efficient heat pumps you can choose (30% more efficient than Air Source Heat Pumps).
- Heats as well as gas with an operation savings up to 70-90%.
- Can heat or cool the pool water, enabling you to swim year-round.
- Can be installed indoors (out of the weather).
- Heat exchanger not affected by pool chemistry.
- Unaffected by outside air temperature.
- Longest serviceable life — 15 to 20 years — even when installed on oceanfront properties where equipment is generally more susceptible to harsh conditions.
- Warranty: 5 years labor, 7 years parts, Lifetime parts titanium tube heat exchangers.
- Eligible for a 26% tax credit when combined with a Geothermal AC system installation.
- Best return on investment.
- 95% Geothermal users would recommend.
GeoThermal Pool Heating in Florida CONS:
- Higher cost of installation compared with other pool heating systems.
Interested in a GeoThermal Pool Heat Pump?
Recommended for Most Residential Pools: Air Source Pool Heat Pumps
While not as efficient as GeoThermal systems, an air source heat pump is also an energy efficient and eco-friendly option. Air source heat pumps heat your pool by transferring heat from the air, rather than creating heat by burning fuel like gas or propane.
Why is an Air Source Heat Pump a Good Florida Pool Heating Option?
Florida’s warm air temperature provides a useable heat source, making an air source heat pump a solid choice for most residential pools. Plus, some air source heat pumps can also cool your pool during the summer. However, during the coldest times of the year, an air source system may struggle to maintain your desired pool temperature. Homeowners can choose not to swim on the days when the pool is cold, swim late in the afternoon when the pool will be at its warmest, or cover the pool at night to minimize the heat losses.
Air Source Heat Pumps in Florida PROS:
- Environmentally friendly heat source.
- More efficient than gas or electrical resistance heaters.
- Can heat or cool the pool water.
- Heat exchanger not affected by pool chemistry.
- 7-to-10-year serviceable life.
- Warranty: 5 years labor, 7 years parts, Lifetime parts titanium tube heat exchanger.
- Good return on investment.
- Quiet operation.
- Lower cost of installation compared with other pool heating systems.
Air Source Heat Pump in Florida CONS:
- Should not be installed indoors.
- Performance is affected by outside air temperature.
- Units are affected by salt air (environment).
Interested in an Air Source Pool Heat Pump?
Recommended Only in Specific Cases: Gas Pool Heaters
While not eco-friendly, gas is nonetheless a reliable fuel source for generating heat. Gas systems are not affected by outside air temperature, and they are able to maintain a consistent temperature during the winter months. Also, their upfront cost is lower than some other systems, including GeoThermal. Additionally, gas pool heaters also have a small footprint, making them a good option for when space is limited. However, gas prices fluctuate and have recently been on the rise, making gas the most expensive way to heat a pool.
When Would We Recommend Gas Pool Heating in Florida?
If your priority is a consistent, reliable pool temperature throughout the winter months, then a gas heater will not disappoint. However, we recommend GeoThermal over gas for Florida pools because of the former’s long-term benefits. A GeoThermal system is more environmentally friendly, operates consistently in Florida, and it will also cost you far less to operate and maintain than a gas pool heater.
Gas Pool Heating in Florida PROS:
- Produces the most heat with the smallest footprint.
- Can use natural or propane gas.
- Can maintain pool temperature throughout the winter months.
- Not affected by outside air temperature.
- Can be installed indoors with proper exhaust.
- Lower cost of installation compared with other pool heating systems.
Gas Pool Heating in Florida CONS:
- Most expensive way to heat the pool.
- Serviceable life is only 2 to 5 years on the coast.
- Heat exchanger is Cupronickel, which can stain pool surface.
- Cannot cool the pool during the hot summer months.
- Heat exchanger can be affected by pool chemistry.
- Not green technology.
Interested in a Gas Pool Heater?
Limited Effectiveness: Solar Pool Heaters
Solar is an eco-friendly heat source with the lowest cost of operation of all pool heating systems. Solar panels – generally installed on a roof – absorb the heat from the sun. A pump circulates pool water to the solar panels on your roof via a system of pipes, transferring the heat from the panels back to your pool. A solar system can also cool your pool by running it at night.
Why is Solar Pool Heating Only a Fair Choice for Your Florida Pool?
Although solar pool heating is a popular and low cost option in Florida, you need to understand Solar’s limitations. First, solar energy, while environmentally friendly, is inconsistent as a heat source. A solar system’s performance is weather dependent, requiring ample sunshine, and will only raise the water temperature by 10-12°. This may be enough during warm weather, but it proves insufficient during the cooler times when pool heating is most needed. What’s more, the panel installation is invasive to your home, potentially voiding the warranty on your roof. Plus, the solar panels are susceptible to wind damage during hurricane season.
Solar Pool Heating in Florida PROS:
- Lowest cost of operation.
- Can cool the pool by running at night.
- 10-to-15-year serviceable life.
- Will extend swimming season.
- Green Technology.
Solar Pool Heating in Florida CONS:
- Not on-demand heating.
- Will only raise temperature of pool water 10°F to 12°F above non-heated pool (with a blanketed pool).
- Cannot heat the pool at night.
- Must penetrate roof to install (can void warranty on roof).
- Requires large roof or rack area.
- Susceptible to damage from high winds (hurricanes).
Not Recommended, Except in Specific Cases: Electrical Resistance Pool Heaters
As the name suggests, an electric resistance heater relies on electricity to heat your pool. Because heating an entire pool solely with electricity is costly, electric resistance heaters are generally used for above ground pools and spas. Electric resistance heaters are inexpensive to install, provide consistent temperatures, and are not affected by air temperature.
In What Cases Would We Recommend an Electric Resistance Heater for Your Florida Pool?
We would only recommend an electric resistance heater for a portable spa. For an inground spa, a gas heater will heat much faster and for a similar cost. We would not recommend using an electric resistance heater for your pool in Florida. Other heating methods – air source, GeoThermal and even gas – cost less to install and operate.
Electric Resistance Pool Heating in Florida PROS:
- Ideal for portable spas (can fit into tight spaces).
- Can be used on inground spas.
- Not affected by outside air temperature.
- Less expensive to install.
Electric Resistance Pool Heating in Florida CONS:
- Not green technology.
- Cannot cool.
- Expensive to operate.
- Susceptible to pool chemistry.
Our Recommendations for Pool Heating in Florida Based on Your Pool and Spa Setup
= Green Technology
If you have a pool only:
- Best Choice: GeoThermal (water source) heat pump—best performance and most cost-effective. If you want to swim year-round, you should seriously consider GeoThermal.
- Good Choice: Air source heat pump—does not heat as well as GeoThermal or gas, but the install cost is significantly less than GeoThermal and the operational cost is significantly less than gas. Air source heat pumps are typically the best choice for residential pools.
- Fair Choice: Solar—will only extend the swim season, and the pool typically needs to be covered at night in order to get more swimming days. Solar is most often used in residential applications.
- Poor Choice: Gas heater—too costly to operate for the entire swimming season.
- Very Poor Choice: Electrical resistance heater—heating is costly and slow.
If you have a spa only:
- Good Choice: Gas heater—if the spa will only be heated on demand, a gas heater will heat the spa rapidly, and has a low install cost.
- Good Choice: Air source or GeoThermal heat pump —if the spa will be continuously heated, they will cost much less to operate than gas.
- Fair Choice: Electrical resistance heater—good for portable spas.
- Poor Choice: Solar—cannot heat at night and won’t achieve typical spa temperatures.
If you have both a pool and spa (spa is connected to the pool):
- Best Choice: GeoThermal heat pump—Typically the best option for commercial pools.
- Good Choice: Air source heat pump—Typically the best options for residential pools.
- Poor Choice: Solar—won’t heat the spa to typical desired temperatures.
- Poor Choice: Gas heater—the cost to heat the pool is too high.
- Very Poor Choice: Electrical resistance heater—the cost to heat the pool is too high.
Ultimately, the best pool heating system for your Florida pool will come down to your budget, space considerations, heating needs, and temperature preferences.
We hope our recommendations helped you gain greater clarity in your search for the right pool heater. If you need help making your final decision, the pool heating experts at Symbiont Service Corp are here to assist you!
Trust Your Pool Heating & Equipment Needs to Symbiont Service Corp:
We carry a comprehensive line of pool and spa heaters, as well as pool automation systems, salt systems, pool filtration systems and more at competitive prices. Our tagline, “One Company, One Call, Complete Comfort!”, means that you can count on us to take care of all your pool equipment needs — from consultation, to installation, to service and maintenance. One call to Symbiont Service Corp, and you can start enjoying the benefits of pool ownership without the stress.
- Top-of-the-Line Products – We carry a full line of top quality pool heat pumps, filtration systems and other pool equipment from leading manufacturers.
- Factory Authorized Warranty Station – We are a factory authorized warranty station for most pool/spa heat pump brands throughout the state.
- Serving Residential & Commercial Clients – We specialize in residential and commercial pool equipment, as well as air conditioning systems.
- Pioneer in Energy-Saving Technology – Since 1983, we’ve been a pioneer in the GeoThermal industry and a leader in innovation in Florida.
- Proven and Trusted – We’ve installed over 1300+ GeoThermal Systems throughout the state of Florida.
- Excellent Client Reviews – Don’t take our word for it – read real reviews from hundreds of our happy customers!
- Licensed Master Electricians on Staff – We are state licensed for electrical installations and service. With Symbiont Service Corp, there is no need to subcontract your electrical requirements for pool heating or air conditioning.