If your pool is too cold, you’re probably wondering whether to invest in a pool boiler installation. The climate in Britain is, unfortunately, too cold for swimming without any type of heating for much of the year, and therefore, swimming pool boilers represent the answer to the problem. Most pools have an installed heating system which raises the temperature of the water and allows you to swim at any time of the year, whether the weather is cold or warm.
There are different ways to heat a pool effectively. The best way for yours will depend on the percentage of the year that you want to swim in your pool and the location of your property. However, knowing more about pool boiler installation and maintenance will make sure that you are well-informed and prepared for the ongoing care that swimming pool boilers require to continue functioning at their optimal level.
How is An Outdoor Pool Heated?
Heating up your outdoor pool is achieved by using much the same process as heating a home with a standard gas boiler. A pool boiler works in just the same way as the boiler inside your house – the water is pulled into the system, passed across the heated area and the heat is then transferred into the cold water. The hot water then gets transferred into the pool, thus warming up the water.
Installing A Pool Boiler
Gas heaters have long been the most common method to heat swimming pools, and they remain popular today. They generate heat by burning gas in a combustion chamber before transferring the heat to water drawn from the pool itself. The warm water is then pumped back into the pool. Modern gas boilers are considerably more efficient than older models, and offer a host of benefits including:
- A relatively affordable purchase price
- Ability to heat water rapidly
- No impact on function from the temperature of the air
It is, however, absolutely essential that a pool boiler is only ever installed by a trained and qualified professional. This complex task requires specialist skills and therefore, you need to contact a team of professional pool boiler installers to arrange for the installation to be carried out. This is certainly not a job that you should tackle yourself since safety is paramount when dealing with any type of boiler.
What Are The Installation Requirements?
When you’re choosing between the different swimming pool boilers there are a few variables to consider. Firstly, you need to bear in the mind the energy source that you’ll use to heat the water and operate the boiler. Your choice will impact in a major way on your monthly payments, not to mention that it will determine how quickly the pool will reach the optimal temperature for swimming. Some sources of energy don’t work in certain climates, therefore, research is vital. Secondly, you need to bear in mind the pool size since this also impacts of the cost of operating the boiler.
What Size Of Swimming Pool Boiler Do I Need?
Generally speaking, the larger the boiler you’re able to afford, the better it will be. You can roughly estimate the right size for your needs by following this formula:
Surface area of the pool x the temperature rise x 15
You can then add in more factors including elevation, wind and shade. This will increase the size of the boiler you require still further.
How Long Does It Take To Install A Swimming Pool Boiler?
The installation time for any swimming pool boiler will vary depending on where it is being installed as well as when. However, a team of professional boiler installers will always strive to ensure the job is done both quickly and precisely.
Servicing Your Boiler
In order to ensure your boiler is functioning properly it needs to be serviced regularly – at least once per year. In the case of some manufacturers, the boiler will only remain guaranteed if you’re able to prove that regular servicing has been carried out. It goes without saying that servicing of any swimming pool boiler should be undertaken only by a fully qualified professional who is experienced and trained. This is the best way to ensure that your pool water remains at the right temperature in the long-term and that the heater will continue to work at its optimal efficiency.
An annual service will also ensure that your boiler and heat pump has no faults or problems. A trained professional will be able to identify any potential issues before they get out of hand and repair them so that the pool water will be able to be heated without any interruptions or disturbances.