Pool heater FAQ for Palm Beach County homeowners

For most homes here, an electric heat pump. South Florida's air rarely drops much below the 50s°F, which is exactly where heat pumps work efficiently. Gas makes sense if you want heat on demand for occasional use, and solar is a good fit if you have suitable south-facing roof space.

Sizing depends on pool surface area, gallons, whether you use a cover, wind exposure, and how warm you want the water. A properly sized heat pump is usually rated in BTUs and matched with a load calculation, not a rule of thumb. Undersized units run constantly and never catch up.

Yes. Many systems heat both, using valves to switch between them. Gas heats a spa fastest; a heat pump can do it too, just more slowly.

It depends on the unit's power draw, your electricity rate and how many hours it runs. Our pool heat pump guide walks through the calculation so you can plug in your own FPL bill rate.

Per unit of heat delivered, a heat pump is almost always cheaper to run than a gas heater, because it moves heat from the air instead of burning fuel. Gas costs less up front in some cases and heats faster.

Yes. After we understand your pool and equipment, you get one itemized price with the equipment listed by model.

In Palm Beach County, new heater installations and replacements that involve electrical or gas work generally require a permit and inspection. We handle permits as part of a full replacement.

A straightforward swap on an existing pad is usually completed in a single visit. New gas lines, electrical upgrades or solar arrays take longer, and we'll tell you the timeline up front.

On the equipment pad beside your pump and filter, with enough clearance for airflow (heat pumps) or venting (gas). We check clearances before recommending a unit.

Common causes are low water flow (dirty filter or closed valve), a thermostat set too low, low refrigerant in a heat pump, or a dirty evaporator coil. Our repair guide covers the checks you can safely do yourself.

Heat pumps typically last around 10–15 years and gas heaters around 7–12, depending on water chemistry, salt levels and maintenance. Coastal salt air shortens life if coils aren't rinsed.

Once a year is a good baseline, ideally before the cooler months when you'll rely on it most.