Most efficient use of heater

[Kjp300]

I heated my pool to 84 degrees so the grandkids could swim yesterday. I even went in with them. The high hit 75. ?

The next 10 days call for highs in the low 50’s and lows in the 40’s and 30’s, with one night’s low of 28! Ouch! No one will be swimming. Am I better off keeping the heater at 84 and letting it keep up daily with the drop in temperature, or shutting down the heater, letting the water temperature drop to whatever it hits, and then running the heater continuously to heat the pool back up whenever it gets nice again?

I am not science equation kind of guy. My common sense tells me that it shouldn’t make much of a difference because whether the heater heats the water a couple of degrees a day or, say, 20 degrees over 20 hours (assuming the water drops to 64) the same BTU’s will be needed.

Any thoughts? Just curious.

 

[JRB100]

Personally, I have found it better to run the heater only on days we will swim. If a cold spell moves through, no heat until the next warm day arrives. We heat our pool frequently too.

 

[ajw22]

Shut down the heater.

The greater the difference is between air temp and water temp the more BTUs will be lost and the heater running to replace. When you want the water hot again you run the heater once and that is the minimum gas required.

 

[Kjp300]

Ok will do. Thanks!