Pool Heater and Heat Pump Installation
Swim more months of the year. Get matched with an independent local pro to choose, size and install a gas pool heater or electric heat pump.
Free matching with independent local pool pros across Florida.
Adding or replacing a pool heater
Even in Florida, pool water can get too cool for comfortable swimming during winter, and an attached spa needs heat to be a spa at all. Whether your old heater has reached the end or you are adding heat for the first time, the choice comes down to two main types: gas or propane heaters and electric heat pumps.
Installation is more than setting a unit on the pad. It can involve gas piping, a dedicated electrical circuit, new plumbing and valves, a bypass, and permits. That is why it helps to talk it through with a pro who installs heaters regularly.
Which heater fits how you swim?
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A heat pump tends to fit if you
- Want to keep the pool warm for weeks or months at a time
- Mostly swim during mild weather, which is most of the year in much of Florida
- Prefer lower running costs over fast heating
- Have enough electrical capacity, or can add it
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A gas heater tends to fit if you
- Heat on demand for a weekend or an evening
- Have an attached spa you want hot quickly
- Want heat on the coldest nights, regardless of air temperature
- Already have natural gas or propane at the home
Already have a heater that stopped working? See gas heater repair or heat pump repair.
What goes into sizing
An undersized heater runs constantly and still leaves the pool cool. An oversized one costs more than it needs to. A pro will usually look at:
- Surface area and volume
- Most heat is lost at the surface, so surface area matters as much as gallons.
- Target temperature
- How much warmer than the air you want the water to be.
- Your area's winter nights
- Jacksonville and Central Florida typically see cooler nights than South Florida.
- Wind and shade
- Wind and shade increase heat loss. Screen enclosures help a little with wind.
- Cover and spa
- A solar cover holds heat overnight. An attached spa changes how the heater is used.
What an installation can include
- Removing and disposing of the old heater
- A level pad with the clearances the manufacturer requires
- Plumbing the heater in after the filter, often with a bypass and check valve
- A gas line from the meter or propane tank, sized for the heater
- A dedicated electrical circuit and disconnect for a heat pump
- Connecting to your controls or automation
- Permits and inspections where required
- Start-up, testing and showing you how to use it
Ask which of these are in the quote. Before work begins, confirm that the pro you hire holds the Florida license your job requires. Gas and electrical work often have their own licensing requirements.
What affects installation cost
- Heater type and capacity
- Replacement or first-time install. New gas or electrical runs add work.
- Distance from the gas meter or electrical panel to the pad
- Plumbing changes and any pad work
- Permits in your city or county
Pros commonly install heaters and heat pumps from brands such as Raypak, Pentair, Hayward and Jandy. Compare quotes on similar capacity units.
Heater installation questions
How do I find pool heater installation near me?
Send a request with your city, whether you have natural gas or propane available, and whether you are replacing a heater or adding one for the first time. Dominion Pool Pros passes it to an independent local pro who installs pool heaters in your area.
How much does pool heater installation cost?
The main factors are the type and size of heater, whether gas lines or electrical circuits need to be added or upgraded, plumbing changes at the equipment pad, a new pad if needed, and permits. Replacing a heater in the same spot with the same fuel is usually simpler than a first-time install. Ask for an itemized quote.
Should I get a gas heater or a heat pump in Florida?
Many Florida homeowners choose heat pumps because winters are mild and heat pumps are efficient in warm air. Gas heaters heat faster and work in any weather, which suits people who heat on demand or have a spa. The right choice depends on how and when you swim. A pro can walk you through it.
What size pool heater do I need?
Sizing depends on the pool's surface area and volume, the temperature you want, how cool your nights get, wind exposure, whether you use a solar cover and whether a spa is attached. A pro should size the unit rather than guessing from pool gallons alone.
Can a new heater be tied into my automation system?
Usually, yes, if the heater and controller are compatible. Ask the pro to confirm when choosing a model. See pool automation and smart controls.
Related services
- Pool Heater RepairConnect with a local pro for gas heaters that will not ignite, show error codes or shut off early, so the pool stays warm through cooler months.
- Pool Heat Pump RepairGet matched with a local pro for heat pumps that run without heating, ice up, show flow or pressure errors, or will not start.
- Pool Automation and Smart ControlsConnect with a local pro to repair a control panel or add automation that runs pumps, heat, lights and valves from one place.
- Variable-Speed Pump InstallationConnect with a local pro to replace a single-speed pump with a variable-speed model and program it for your pool.
Request heater installation in these Florida areas
Requests are matched with independent pros in six Florida metro areas. Availability depends on local pro coverage.
Ready for a warmer pool?
Tell us your city and whether you have gas at the home. We will pass your request to an independent local pro who installs pool heaters.
Dominion Pool Pros is a free referral service. We connect Florida homeowners with independent local pool professionals and do not perform any pool or spa work ourselves.