Automatic Pool Cover - Energy Use
Swimming pools require heating to achieve a comfortable water temperature, typically between 78 to 82°F, depending on the activities and use of the pool. The typical method of heating pools is from a gas heater. The amount of energy required to maintain the desired pool temperature depends on the pool location and the duration of the pool season, as shown in Table 1.0 below.
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Table 1.0 Costs of Outdoor Pool Gas Heating by Location*
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|---|---|---|---|---|
| Location | Season | Temperature | ||
| 78° | 80° | 82° | ||
| Miami | 1/1–12/31 | $2136 | $2848 | $3600 |
| w/cover | 1/1–12/31 | $416 | $584 | $800 |
| Phoenix | 3/1–10/31 | $1384 | $1776 | $2216 |
| w/ cover | 3/1–10/31 | $96 | $168 | $256 |
| Dallas | 4/1–10/31 | $1512 | $1920 | $2456 |
| w/ cover | 4/1–10/31 | $184 | $280 | $408 |
| Atlanta | 4/1–10/31 | $1704 | $2248 | $2880 |
| w/ cover | 4/1–10/31 | $320 | $424 | $592 |
| Los Angeles | 5/1–10/31 | $1864 | $2376 | $2904 |
| w/ cover | 5/1–10/31 | $168 | $304 | $472 |
| Kansas City | 5/1–10/31 | $1434 | $1872 | $2384 |
| w/ cover | 5/1–10/31 | $288 | $416 | $544 |
| New York | 5/1–9/30 | $1448 | $1904 | $2384 |
| w/ cover | 5/1–9/30 | $208 | $296 | $400 |
| Chicago | 5/1–9/30 | $1621 | $2072 | $2536 |
| w/ cover | 5/1–9/30 | $216 | $296 | $384 |
| Denver | 5/1–8/31 | $1757 | $2120 | $2498 |
| w/ cover | 5/1–8/31 | $123 | $168 | $243 |
| Boston | 5/1–8/31 | $1712 | $2096 | $2504 |
| w/ cover | 5/1–8/31 | $232 | $328 | $461 |
| Minneapolis | 6/1–9/30 | $1331 | $1776 | $2176 |
| w/ cover | 6/1–9/30 | $192 | $248 | $384 |
| San Francisco | 6/1–8/31 | $1560 | $1856 | $2168 |
| w/ cover | 6/1–8/31 | $192 | $320 | $472 |
| Seattle | 6/1–8/31 | $1525 | $1784 | $2056 |
| w/ cover | 6/1–8/31 | $304 | $424 | $552 |
*U.S. Department of Energy Figures based on a 1,000 square-foot, outdoor pool heated with an 80% efficient natural gas heater at $.50 us per therm.
As shown in the table 1.0 a typical pool season will cost pool owners from $2056 to $3600 per season without a pool cover depending on where you live with a pool temperature set to 82°F. This cost can be reduced respectively to $552 to $800 with a solar cover or a savings of $1504 to $2800 over one pool season.
