Above-ground pool heaters

Plan the decision before comparing equipment

Start with the pool’s real volume and footprint rather than its marketing diameter. A soft-sided seasonal pool may need gentle temperature maintenance, while a deeper permanent pool may justify a compact heat pump. Check the pump’s available flow, hose or plumbing size, circuit requirements and minimum operating temperature. Solar mats also need enough unshaded area and a bypass plan; more mat is not automatically better if the circulation system cannot support it.