HEATING - Just a quick question!

[jasona]

Greetings to all.

I have an Intex Easy Set Pool 18'x48'' (it's round - 18 feet diameter by 48 inches high). I've just ordered one of your 12kw Elecro Heaters and I was wondering if you could give me a rough idea of how many hours per day I should have the heater on. I don't want the pool to be bath temperature warm, I just want to take the chill off it. I've worked out that if it was switched on for 12 hours per day, it would cost £288 per month in electricity! Gulp! I hope you'll tell me I don't need it switched on for THAT long!

Any and all advice much appreciated.

Many thanks in advance,

Jason.

[Glan]

Hi Jason,
I think we spoke today on the phone, but to answer your question for the forum, the 12kw elecro will cost around 60p per hour to run, this assumes you have managed to shop around, and you are paying around 5p per kw per hour. This is only a rough rule of thumb, so don't come back and tell me I was 5p out!... :)
Obviously the question of "how long will I need to have my heater on to keep my pool warm?" is definitely the same as "how long is a piece of string?".... :confused: The couple of guides are these:
Always position your pool in the sunniest, and hopefully most sheltered from the wind, spot in your garden. (18' dia pools tend these days to be the garden :D ).Always replace the solar cover when you are not using the pool, this will maximise the amount of solar heating available. Try and insulate your pool, using such materials as polystyrene foam etc, there is an old army saying "one layer below, is worth two on top", one presumes the ground will suck out the heat quicker than the air?.
Finally the most obvious variable in this equation, is what do you class as warm?.
So..... in general!!! initial time a 12kw will take from cold tap water to warm (24 deg C) an 18' dia 48" deep pool, will be 18 - 24 hours. To maintain this temp in April, May,Sept(ambient air temp, and hours of sunlight dependant!) will probably be 6 - 8 hours, allowing the thermostat control to kick in and out as required. June, July & August hopefully 3 - 6 hours, or as last year, not at all during the heat-wave (please God lets have another!). If you decide that 28 deg C is more your idea of warm (the girlies always want their pools like a bath! :p ), you can increase these times by 50%.
This as you must appreciate is just a general (in my experience) guide.
So assume you have your heater on for 6 hours a day, the cost per 4 week period will be roughly £100 per month, or let’s just say the cost of a nice Indian take-away once a week. Satisfy yourself in the knowledge, that the children are not bright blue from the cold, and you do not have to drive/taxi or entertain them anymore. Obviously your house becomes the Mecca for all the neighbour hood invite themselves round at every opportunity!!!

The most important thing to do.....
Economy seven reduces the cost by up to 60%, but there is a standing charge,... but once you require Chernobyl to heat your pool, it's generally worth it.
Hope this helps
Glan

[jasona]

Dear Glan,

That's fantastic, thank you SO much for taking the time to provide all that superb information! I'm sure that others on the forum will find it of use, as well as just myself.

Thanks again,

Jason.