Solar Pool Heating Cost Savings
Initial Investment of solar pool heating
The cost of our solar pool heating system is usually between $6,000 and $8,000 for a typical pool. The solar pool heating system demands a higher initial investment than a gas or electric pool heating system but you will recover the initial investment in a relatively short time depending on how often it is used and on the price of natural gas which seems to only go up.
Operating costs of traditional vs solar pool heating
The operating costs of our solar pool heating systems are almost zero while the operating costs of a gas pool heater are usually between $500 and $1500 a month for an average pool.
Savings and payback of solar pool heating
In order to compare the payback and savings of pool heating systems let us assume we are using a 400 square foot pool for 10 years. The cost analysis would be:
Gas Pool Heating System (10 Years)
Initial Investment: $2,500
Operating Costs: $10,000 (guess)
Total Costs: $12,500
Solar Pool Heating System (10 Years)
Initial Investment: $5,000 (including installation)
Operating Costs: $500 (maintenance)
Total Costs: $5,500
It is very clear that a solar pool heating system for the case above can be paid back in 3 years. The savings over a 10 year period are $7,000. This can be a much higher saving depending on the size of pool and how often it is used. A research study has been performed by Natural Resources Canada on the cost of solar, gas and electric pool heating systems.
Cost comparison of solar heaters, gas heaters and heat pumps
| Type Of Heater | Installation Cost | Annual Cost | Total Cost After 15 Years |
| Natural Gas | $2,300-$4,900 | $350-$1,200 | $7,500-$22,900 |
| Heat Pump | $3,100-$6,400 | $160-$500 | $5,500-$13,900 |
| Solar Collector | $3,000-$6,000 | $0 | $3,100-$5,750 |