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—Comparing the options

Heat pump or gas pool heater

A heat pump heats steadily and efficiently; a gas heater heats fast. The supply and how the pool is used decide it.

A heat pump draws warmth from the outside air and carries it into the pool water, heating steadily and efficiently from the electrical supply. A gas heater burns gas to heat the water quickly, which suits a pool that is heated occasionally or needs a fast warm-up. The two have different supplies and different running costs.

Comparison guides set out how two pool options differ and when an owner might prefer one over the other.

The choice usually follows how the pool is heated. A pool kept warm through the season suits a heat pump, which is efficient over long runs. A pool heated for a weekend or a short spell suits gas, which heats fast but costs more to run for long periods.

01Summary

What matters most here

  • How fast it heats

    Gas heats quickly; a heat pump warms steadily over time.

  • The supply

    A heat pump needs a circuit; gas needs a supply line and a flue.

  • Running cost

    A heat pump is cheaper over long runs; gas costs more the longer it runs.

02Detail

What each option involves

  • Heat pump

    A unit with a supply and airflow, heating steadily and efficiently.

  • Gas heater

    A unit on a gas supply and flue, heating the water quickly.

  • The pattern of use

    Steady heating against occasional fast warm-up decides between them.

03Before you start

Before choosing

  • Check the supply

    Whether a gas line or an electrical circuit is available.

  • Decide the use

    Kept warm all season, or heated for occasional use.

  • Think about running cost

    Long runs suit a heat pump; short bursts suit gas.

—In practice

How to use this

Decide from the supply and how the pool is heated. A heat pump heats steadily and cheaply over long runs from the electrical supply; a gas heater heats fast but costs more the longer it runs, and needs a gas line and flue. A pool kept warm through the season suits a heat pump; occasional fast warm-up suits gas.

Mistakes worth avoiding

Gas for all-season heating
A gas heater costs more the longer it runs. A pool kept warm all season is better served by a heat pump.
Ignoring the supply
A gas heater needs a gas line and flue, and a heat pump needs a circuit. Choose against the supply that is actually there.

04FAQ

Common questions about this

Which heats a pool faster?
A gas heater, because it burns gas to add heat quickly. A heat pump warms the water steadily over time.
Which costs less to run?
A heat pump over long runs, because it moves heat rather than creating it. Gas costs more the longer it is run.
Can I switch between them later?
Usually, if the other supply can be provided. The two need different connections, so the change is checked before it is made.

05Read next

More pool guides on this

Filed under heat & cool system installation. Every pool guide is listed on the pool guides page.

—NEXT

Choosing the heat source?

Tell us the supply and how the pool is heated. We will compare a heat pump and a gas heater for your pool.

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