- 1875 Leslie St., Unit 8, Toronto (North York)
- Store: Mon–Fri 10–5 · Sat 10–4 · Sun closed
How gas, heat pump and solar heaters compare in an Ontario season, and the questions that decide which one fits your pool.
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Store hours
Mon–Fri 10–5 · Sat 10–4 · Sun closed
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service@poolmaster.ca
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Toronto & York Region
The question isn’t really “which heater is best.” It’s “when do you want to swim?” Someone who wants the pool warm for a Victoria Day long weekend needs something different from someone who mostly swims in July anyway and just wants to stretch September by a couple of weeks.
Answer that first. Then the comparison below gets much easier.
| Gas (natural gas or propane) | Heat pump (electric) | Solar | |
|---|---|---|---|
| How it heats | Burns fuel to heat water passing through an exchanger | Pulls heat from the outdoor air, like an air conditioner in reverse | Circulates water through collectors, usually on a roof |
| Speed | Fastest. Can raise temperature quickly on demand | Slow and steady. Best left running to hold a temperature | Depends on sun and collector area |
| Cool weather | Works regardless of air temperature | Efficiency drops as the air cools; most struggle in cold spring and fall nights | Little help on cloudy or cold days |
| Running cost | Higher per degree | Usually lower per degree in warm months | Very low once installed |
| Installation | Gas line and venting; licensed gas technician required | Dedicated electrical circuit; needs airflow around the unit | Roof or rack space, plumbing runs |
Our swimming season is short, and its edges, May and September, are exactly when you most want heat. Heat pumps work beautifully in a hot July but lose a lot of their advantage on a 9 °C May night. Gas doesn’t care about the air temperature, which is why it remains common here for people who want to open early, swim late, or heat the pool on short notice for a weekend.
Plenty of owners end up happiest with a heat pump plus a good solar or thermal blanket, accepting a slightly shorter season for lower running costs. Others want instant heat and choose gas. Neither is wrong.
Heaters are rated in BTUs for gas or kW for heat pumps. Bigger is faster, not just warmer. The right size depends on:
An undersized heater runs constantly and never quite gets there. An oversized gas heater costs more up front than it needs to. A proper sizing calculation for your yard is worth more than a rule of thumb.
Gas appliances, pool heaters included, have to be installed and serviced by a licensed gas technician working for a TSSA-registered contractor. That covers the gas line, the connection and the venting. It is also why a gas heater quote includes more than the heater itself. Poolmaster’s gas work is handled by our TSSA-licensed technicians.
A cover. Most heat loss from a pool is from the surface, through evaporation. A solar blanket or thermal cover at night keeps far more of the heat you paid for, whichever heater you choose. Some owners find that a cover alone gives them the extra degrees they wanted.
It depends heavily on water chemistry. Low pH and high chlorine corrode heat exchangers. Balanced water and proper winterizing add years.
Usually, yes. The pump needs to provide enough flow for the heater, and there needs to be space and a suitable gas or electrical supply.
See pool heater troubleshooting. Anything involving gas smells, sooting or the burner should go straight to a licensed technician.
For installation or replacement, see our equipment service and installation page.
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