Should You Heat Your Pool Overnight?

If you’re wondering if you should heat your pool overnight, it can seem like a simple decision. Is the extra cost of heating the pool worth the extra comfort you might enjoy? But, in reality, there’s much more to the decision than the cost/comfort ratio.

Before we look at everything you should consider about overnight pool heating, you should know that there’s no definitive answer. Whether you heat your pool, overnight or during the day, is entirely up to you. Still, to make the best decision, you should consider all the advantages and disadvantages.

If there is one thing that is certain about heating your pool overnight, it is that you should use a pool cover. You heat your pool because you want the comfort of warmer water. A pool cover or solar blanket keeps the water as warm as possible, reduces pool cleaning, and it means less maintenance and wear and tear on your pool equipment.

Advantages of Heating Your Pool Overnight

More Comfort

If you or anyone in your family doesn’t like cold pool water, then overnight heating may be a solution. This is especially true if you enjoy morning swims.

Longer Swim Season

You may not need to heat your pool as much during the warmer summer months. But you know how short they can be. By heating your pool overnight towards the end of the season, you may be able to extend your swim season and get more use from your pool.

It May Be Less Expensive

Of course, running your pool’s heater will increase energy bills. However, especially if evening temperatures are significantly lower than daytime temperatures, you may use less energy to heat your pool overnight to keep the water temperature more consistent, than to let the temperatures cool overnight and run the heater only during the day.

Disadvantages Of Heating Your Pool Overnight

Energy Cost

This may be the biggest reason for not continually heating your pool. It’s not cheap to heat water and pump it through your pool. If you are considering overnight heating, energy-efficient heating options such as solar panels or heat pumps can help reduce the costs.

More Maintenance

Bacteria, algae and other organic contaminants love warm water. Higher pool temperatures usually mean more monitoring and adjusting chemical levels, filter cleaning, and ensuring proper circulation.

Higher Equipment Repair & Replacement Costs

It’s a simple equation. If you do not heat your pool overnight now, then you will be significantly increasing the operating times of your pool’s equipment when you do. So your equipment’s maintenance and repair costs will be higher, and its lifecycle will be shorter.

If you found this post helpful, check out our recent article DIY Pool Maintenance vs. Professional Pool Maintenance