Electric vs Propane Pool Heaters: Which One Is Better?

Winters in Long Island can be long and brutal. That means there’s a good chunk of the year that your pool will be uninhabitable. 

Installing a pool heater adds months to the life of your pool each season. While you’ll still need to close your pool for a few frigid months, you can begin your pool season earlier in the spring and extend it later in the fall.

Read on to learn about choosing between propane and electric heaters and which will work best for you and your family.

Choose A Propane Heater for Cold Climates

Propane and Electric heaters are both easy-to-install and effective at heating medium to large swimming pools.

Electric Heaters Don’t Work As Well in Cold Climates

Electric pool heaters can be a good option if you’re someone who lives in a climate that doesn’t get particularly cold. This is because heaters that run on electricity are optimal when temperatures don’t get below 45 degrees Fahrenheit. 

You might want to swim in your pool well beyond that point. It’s also important to note that temperatures may dip down below 45 degrees and bounce back up into the high 60s within a matter of days. 

Those ups and downs can last for weeks, even months in Long Island and it’s important that you have a consistent option if you want to access your pool throughout spring to the end of fall. 

If you live in a climate that stays relatively warm year-round, going with an electric heater might be the more energy-efficient option.

Propane Heaters Are a Good Choice for Cold Climates

Unlike, electric pool heaters, propane heaters work well with the ups and downs of the spring and fall temperatures that we experience in Nassau County.

A propane pool heater uses less energy to heat your pool and can heat your pool relatively quickly if temperatures suddenly plummet.

Propane Heaters are Efficient

Propane Heaters Work More Quickly

Propane heaters are able to produce greater heat, so they heat the pool quicker than an electric heater does. With that in mind, you can start to heat the pool shortly before you hop in, depending on the size of the pool. 

Naturally, the larger your pool the longer it will take to heat up, regardless of the type of fuel that you use. That said, propane will have your pool ready to go pretty quickly. 

This is especially useful for those who aren’t using their pool every day and aren’t always sure when they’ll want to go in for a dip. It’s also useful for climates with heavy fluctuation in temperature.

  The most important factor to keep in mind here is that propane heaters are going to be more effective at keeping your pool warm throughout the end of fall. So long as the water isn’t frozen and it’s bearable to expose your skin outside, you’ll be able to heat the pool up and go for a dip whenever you want.

Electric Heaters Take Time to Heat Your Pool

It’s important to note that electric heaters don’t warm your pool very quickly. They take a while to heat the pool, so you’ll have to plan in advance if you want to take a dip. 

Many homeowners who use electric pool heaters solve this problem by running their electric heater all the time. Keeping a pool warm with an electric heater can be costly. Unless you’re using your pool every day, it may be better to plan ahead and heat your pool in advance only on the days you need it.

Install a Propane Heater for Less

Installing a propane heater typically costs somewhere around $4,000-$5,000. This does not include the cost of the propane tanks or fuel. Electric heat pumps also cost $3,000-$6,000, including purchase and installation.

However, Long Island electricity prices are notoriously high. And electric heaters are less efficient than propane, making them more expensive to run overall.

One thing to keep in mind when you’re installing your propane heater is that there are different regulations on how you can set up your gas line. This factors into the initial installation process, sometimes requiring a person to bury the gas line from the tank to the pool. 

As mentioned earlier, if you live in a warmer climate, electric heaters may be more efficient in the long run.

Easy Propane Heater Maintenance

Propane Heaters Are Easy to Maintain

Propane heating options are simple to operate and generally have fewer issues than electric heaters. For propane heaters, it’s simple to have fuel delivered to you, and you’ll be able to maintain the system yourself with a little instruction. 

Easy Propane Delivery

Many companies offer home delivery and propane tank monitoring to ensure you never run out of fuel for your propane pool heater.

Save up to 30% on Propane

Propane Depot is Long Island’s top rated family owned propane company offering propane delivery and tank installation complete with 24/7 service. Plus you’ll never run out of propane again with our smart propane tank monitors.

Don’t overpay for propane! Click here for a quote or call us at 631-400-SAVE