How Much Does It Cost To Heat A Pool? Explained!

Kenneth Wilson

Having a pool as an addition to a house is not an addition that is necessary, but for those who enjoy swimming or appreciate the look, it can be a valuable extra. When a homeowner is looking to add an in-ground pool to their home, the cost of the pool can be a major concern to take into consideration.

One of the costs that must be taken into consideration is the cost of heating the pool. Heating a pool will increase a homeowner’s electric bill so it is important to be aware that this is where the cost increase will be realized.

How much does it Cost to Heat a Pool?


The cost to heat a pool ranges from $1,200 to $9,600 per year, on average. The reason there is a large range is that there are a variety of factors that contribute to the annual price including the type of heater and the size of the pool.

As it states, there are a variety of factors that contribute to the price of heating a pool. Some of the types of heaters include:

  1. 1
    Solar Heater
  2. 2
    Electric Heat Pump
  3. 3
    Electric Resistance Heater
  4. 4
    Gas Heater

The annual price of a solar heater ranges from $2,300 to $9,600. The annual price of an electric heat ranges from $2,300 to $7,700. The annual price of an electric resistance heater ranges from $1,200 to $6,200. Lastly, the annual price of a gas heater ranges from $1,300 to $6,300. (Related: How Much Would It Cost To Maintain A Pool?)

Additional Costs to Consider in Heating a Pool


Pools have a variety of additional costs other than the cost to heat the pool. Additional costs include installation, a pool cover, pool filters, cleaning, and chemical additions. Chemical additions are the most expensive of the consistent cost other than heating the pool. This will be discussed after the below costs.

Here are the costs that you can expect as a homeowner, including both ranges of cost and average cost:

  • Installation - The average cost can run around $42,480 but can run upwards of $150,000.
  • Pool Cover - Depending on the type of cover, it can range from $2,700-$3,700.
  • Pool Filter - Pool filters can range from $30 to $1,600 in cost per filter. The average cost is $286 per filter.
  • Cleaning - A basic net skimmer to clean debris off the top of the pool is on average between $10 to $25.

Proper upkeep of a pool is paramount in reducing the costs of pool upkeep. Neglecting any of these areas can lead to much larger issues that could result in much costlier repairs.

What are the Costs of Chemical Additions?


Chemical additions are used to assure the pH balance of pools. A proper pH balance protects the pool from impurities that would otherwise make the pool unpleasant to swim in at least, or unsafe to swim in at most.

Understanding how much of the chemicals to put in your pool can be difficult to understand, so some homeowners may need to hire a professional pool company to provide proper upkeep of the chemicals in the pool. This would mean a larger price for the upkeep of a pool for the homeowner.

Not including the cost that a pool company would charge for the chemical upkeep of a pool, here are the average costs of typical chemical additions:

  • Chlorine - $22.34 per week for one tablet that treats 10,000 gallons of water
  • Bromine (Chlorine alternative) - $43.99, which would be about double the price of chlorine
  • Algicide - $10.98 per 128-ounce bottle. A pool owner would add one cup weekly. Which would mean that one bottle would last 16 weeks.
  • Pool shock - Averaging between $25-$50. This is not a regular cost but it is used when the pH balance is off or if an excess of algae is growing.

Average Cost of an Above Ground Pool


The cost of an above ground pool varies depending on the size and shape. The bigger the pool makes it more expensive and the more non-standard shape the more expensive it gets. A round pool is more standard than oval and rectangular shaped pools. A round shape is the most standard because it is the easiest to install. As a result of it being the easiest to install, makes it the most readily available option. If you go into a store or look online, this will be the option you find most commonly.

Here are typical costs and expenses that you can expect to pay:

  • The range of price is $750 to $11,200
  • The average price is $2,850
  • Round pools range from $750 to $3,000
  • Oval and rectangular pools range from $1,000 to $4,000

Since $4,000 is the most that you can expect to pay for just the pool, you may be asking what are the additional expenses that can bring a pool up to the highest cost of $11,200. Typical expenses that you can add to your pool are a frame, a deck, and installation.

Kenneth Wilson
September 13, 2021
Cost Guides, Pool

Kenneth Wilson

Retired contractor. Currently residing in Southwest Florida. Now in semi-retirement, I write and manage this blog focused on helping home owners make savvy decisions when it comes to finding contractors and getting their projects done. I also operate remodeling design service for homeowners.

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