We’ve designed pool heat time calculator to estimate the duration required to heat a swimming pool to a desired temperature.
This how long does it take to heat a pool calculator takes into account various factors such as pool volume, current water temperature, target temperature, and the heating system’s capacity. By inputting these parameters, pool owners can obtain a reasonably accurate estimate of the time needed to warm their pool.
Consider a scenario where you have a 15,000-gallon pool currently at 70°F (21°C), and you want to raise the temperature to 82°F (28°C) using a 100,000 BTU/hour heater. The calculator would process these inputs and provide an estimated heating time, helping you plan your pool activities more effectively.
Pool Heat Time Calculator
| Pool Size (gallons) | Initial Temp (°F) | Target Temp (°F) | Heater Output (BTU/hr) | Efficiency | Heating Time (hours) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 15,000 | 65 | 80 | 100,000 | 80% | 24.8 |
| 15,000 | 70 | 85 | 100,000 | 85% | 20.5 |
| 20,000 | 70 | 82 | 125,000 | 80% | 20.4 |
| 20,000 | 75 | 85 | 125,000 | 90% | 14.9 |
| 25,000 | 68 | 80 | 150,000 | 85% | 25.2 |
| 25,000 | 70 | 90 | 175,000 | 80% | 31.3 |
| 30,000 | 60 | 80 | 200,000 | 90% | 30.0 |
| 30,000 | 72 | 88 | 200,000 | 85% | 26.5 |
| 35,000 | 60 | 82 | 200,000 | 90% | 38.5 |
| 35,000 | 65 | 75 | 250,000 | 95% | 17.2 |
| 40,000 | 70 | 85 | 250,000 | 90% | 35.2 |
| 40,000 | 75 | 90 | 300,000 | 95% | 27.7 |
| 50,000 | 68 | 78 | 300,000 | 95% | 21.9 |
| 50,000 | 70 | 85 | 350,000 | 90% | 31.3 |
| 60,000 | 65 | 75 | 400,000 | 85% | 34.4 |
| 60,000 | 70 | 80 | 400,000 | 90% | 25.8 |
Pool Heat Time Calculation Formula
The formula for calculating pool heating time is:
Time (hours) = (Volume × Weight × Specific Heat × Temperature Difference) / (Heater Output × Efficiency)Where:
- Volume: Pool water volume in gallons
- Weight: Weight of water (8.34 lbs per gallon)
- Specific Heat: Specific heat of water (1 BTU/lb/°F)
- Temperature Difference: Target temperature minus current temperature (°F)
- Heater Output: Heater capacity in BTU/hour
- Efficiency: Heater efficiency (typically 0.75-0.95)
Suppose you have a 20,000-gallon pool at 65°F that you want to heat to 80°F using a 150,000 BTU/hour heater with 85% efficiency.
Time = (20,000 × 8.34 × 1 × (80 - 65)) / (150,000 × 0.85)
= 2,501,000 / 127,500
≈ 19.6 hoursHow do you calculate how long it takes to heat a pool?
To calculate the heating time for a pool, follow these steps:
- Measure the pool volume in gallons
- Determine the current water temperature
- Decide on the target temperature
- Check the heater’s BTU rating
- Estimate the heater’s efficiency (consult the manufacturer’s specifications)
- Apply the formula mentioned earlier
For instance, let’s calculate the heating time for a 30,000-gallon pool, currently at 68°F, aiming for 84°F, using a 200,000 BTU/hour heater with 90% efficiency:
Time = (30,000 × 8.34 × 1 × (84 - 68)) / (200,000 × 0.90)
= 5,004,000 / 180,000
≈ 27.8 hoursHow long does it take to heat a pool from 60 to 80?
With a 25,000-gallon pool with a 175,000 BTU/hour heater operating at 80% efficiency:
Time = (25,000 × 8.34 × 1 × (80 - 60)) / (175,000 × 0.80)
= 4,170,000 / 140,000
≈ 29.8 hoursThis calculation shows that heating a large pool by 20°F can take more than a day, highlighting the importance of planning ahead and considering energy costs.
How long does it take to heat a 20,000-gallon pool?
Let’s assume we want to heat a 20,000-gallon pool from 70°F to 85°F using a 125,000 BTU/hour heater with 85% efficiency:
Time = (20,000 × 8.34 × 1 × (85 - 70)) / (125,000 × 0.85)
= 2,502,000 / 106,250
≈ 23.5 hoursHow long to heat a pool by 10 degrees?
With a 35,000-gallon pool with a 250,000 BTU/hour heater at 95% efficiency:
Time = (35,000 × 8.34 × 1 × 10) / (250,000 × 0.95)
= 2,919,000 / 237,500
≈ 12.3 hoursHow many kW is needed to heat a pool?
As a rule of thumb, a pool typically requires 10 BTU per hour per gallon of water to heat effectively.
For example, a 40,000-gallon pool would need approximately 400,000 BTU/hour. To convert this to kW:
kW = BTU/hour ÷ 3,412
400,000 ÷ 3,412 ≈ 117 kW
A 40,000-gallon pool would require about 117 kW of heating power for optimal performance.
References
- U.S. Department of Energy – Energy Saver: Swimming Pool Heating https://www.energy.gov/energysaver/swimming-pool-heating
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