How Much Does Pool Heater Repair Cost?

Pool Heater Repair Cost Factors

There are several pool heater repair cost factors to consider, such as the following:

• Heater age: Older heaters out of warranty (1–5 years) typically means you have to pay the entire repair price.

• Saltwater vs. chlorine: Saltwater heater parts cost up to 50% more than chlorine pool varieties since they have to resist corrosion. You’ll likely replace parts more often.

• Unit size: Larger sizes often require spending more for the parts. Although a general rule, it’s not always the case. Something like a thermostat costs the same no matter the size of your heater. 

Pool Heater Repair Cost by Type

Due to the complexity and cost of parts, you'll pay 30% to 50% more to repair an electric heat pump over a gas heater. Also, solar heaters cost about 50% less than average and fail far less than the other two types. Learn more details about each heater type below.

Electric Heat Pump

Electric heat pumps cost approximately $200 to $1,200 to repair. They use compressed refrigerant to pull heat from the air, compress it, and move that heat into your water. They’re especially useful for maintaining constant pool heat in climates that don’t drop below 45 degrees Fahrenheit since they take one to three days to heat your water.

Natural Gas

Natural gas heaters cost around $150 to $750 to repair. They heat pools faster, in 14 hours or less, than the other two varieties. But they're expensive to run, about 70% more than a heat pump and up to 100% more expensive than a passive solar setup. 

Solar

Pool solar heaters cost around $50 to $400 to repair. They're the least complex of the types but heat water very slowly and only work well in moderate to warm climates with ample sunlight. But they cost nothing to run and often work great in combination with a gas heater. 

Why Is My Pool Heater Not Working?

Your pool heater might not work for many reasons, including lack of power, blown circuitry, or issues with wiring or corrosion. Diagnosing the problem is almost impossible without an experienced pro to assess the situation. But you're likely looking at one of the following problems:

• Failure due to lack of maintenance

• Improper-size heater

• Corrosion

• Clogging

• Filter or pest issue

Always get in touch with a local pool heater repair pro to ensure you take the best steps for your system before trying to diagnose it yourself. 

Lack of Maintenance

Annual pool heater maintenance will run you between $100 and $200 and can save you hundreds in repair bills. 

It could be more expensive to fix if you haven't taken care of your heater with regular maintenance and upkeep. Most people realize their heater is broken when it stops working or their energy bill suddenly increases. By this time, what would’ve been a simple repair may become complicated, costing you more money.

Watch out for these common issues with your pool heater:

• More expensive bills due to decreased system efficiency

• Problems with controls or system power, pointing to inadequate connections

• Excessive noise due to equipment that’s broken or fallen into disrepair

Your Heater May Be the Wrong Size

Not only will the heater type dictate the price of repair, but so will the heater size. Larger heaters will require more work, making them more challenging to get to the problem. Their parts can also be more expensive due to their size. 

Your Heater Is Not Protected From the Corrosive Saltwater in Your Pool

If you have a saltwater pool, you'll want a saltwater-specific heater. Since saltwater is highly corrosive, it'll quickly destroy a pump not designed for corrosive environments. Usually, this means a complete replacement. Your heater needs a special heat exchanger and other features to handle it.

Environmental and Other Issues

The actual price won’t vary much due to the cause of the problem, but it helps to know what to avoid in the future. The problem could be electrical, a matter of broken parts, or an animal that’s taken up residence in the unit. There are also other factors to consider, such as leaks, soot, rust, and control failure.

Check the Warranty

Your pool heater's warranty determines how, when, and why you can call a pro for maintenance. Solar heater warranties usually cover a sizable chunk of repair expenses. Remember that electric heaters require more frequent service than their solar counterparts, and their warranties may range from one to 10 years, depending on labor.

Gas heaters warranties are often the shortest and most restrictive. Maintenance should be frequent and consider the cost of repairs. Warranties generally last a maximum of five years and only include parts.

FAQs

How much does a pool heater cost to replace?

Replacing a pool heater costs $2,800 on average. Final pricing depends on the type of heater (gas, electric, or solar) and your pool's volume. You’ll also want to factor in the $3,800 average price for swimming pool repair costs, which tend to crop up at the same time you start seeing equipment failures. 

Installation is often the least expensive for electric and gas heaters. Heat pumps and solar panels often cost several thousand dollars more to install.

How long should a pool heater last?

Pool heaters last five to 20 years, depending on the type you have:

• Solar heaters: 20–25 years

• Electric heaters: 5–10 years

• Gas heaters: 5 years, possibly longer with annual maintenance

You’ll want to factor in pool maintenance costs along with heater maintenance to keep your heater functioning well past its expected life span.

How much does it cost to heat a pool for a month?

On average, you can expect to spend anywhere from $1,500 to $3,000 during the spring, fall, and summer months. You may spend up to four times as much for year-round heating. Northern climates require more energy and can double the price. 

Depending on the size of your pool, location, climate, and current energy prices, you’ll spend up to $20 per hour to heat a pool using propane, $9 per hour using natural gas, and $1 to $2 per hour fora heat pump. 

Standard estimates allow homeowners to easily estimate the cost of heating a pool for a month. Propane heaters, for example, are known to burn around 1 gallon per hour per 100,000 BTUs.

What is the best pool heater on the market?

No single brand or product is best for every pool owner since it depends on your situation and location. For example, a solar blanket might be the right choice in sunny, Southern climates where waters only need mild heating. You'll likely need something much stronger in northern climates when you want to use your pool in the middle of a cold winter. 

Below is a list of some of the most popular pool heaters currently on the market.

• Above-ground:

  • Hayward Universal H-Series Pool & Spa Heater

  • Hayward H100IDP Propane Gas Pool Heater

  • Blue Wave NS6028 Solar Heater for Above-Ground Pools

• In-ground:

  • Pentair 460736 MasterTemp High Performance

  • Pentair 46085 MasterTemp High Performance

  • Fibropool Electric Heat Pump

• Others:

  • Solar blankets

  • Vinyl liners

Although blankets and solar covers have the lowest introductory price, they aren’t very effective at heating the water except in the sunniest climates. Plus, you’ll want to factor in repair and maintenance costs of $50 to $100 for a solar cover, with automatic blankets costing up to $3,000 for repairs. 

Include a budget for annual maintenance and repair with your swimming pool installation costs.

How fast does a pool heater heat a pool?

An electric or gas heat pump will take eight to 14 hours to heat a pool, while a solar heat pump takes 24 to 72 hours. 

You can figure out how long yours will take using the following equation: number of gallons of pool water x 8.34 = ____ pounds of water. Once you've determined the pounds of water present, divide that figure by the heater's BTU size. The resulting number is how many hours it'll take to raise the water temperature by 1 degree Fahrenheit.

How much does pool heater maintenance cost?

Pool heater maintenance costs $100 to $200 annually. To ensure your pool heater is ready to use, treat it the same as you would a home heating system: with regular maintenance and checkups.

Why isn’t my pool heater making the water warm enough?

If your pool heater isn’t heating your water enough, it’s likely due to one of these reasons:

• Broken thermostat

• Broken heating element

• Underpowered for outdoor temperatures

• Clogged filter 

• Failing or clogged pump

• Leaking or failing valves