Gas or electric for STR Pool and why?

Question

Building an STR home with custom pool in Florida .

Is gas or electric better for STR purposes and why?

Any way to connect to phone app to control thermostat for pool? (Eg. Best for home)?

Kerry Baird · Answer

I added an electric heater to my Central Florida STR (I'm directly East of you). My guests absolutely rave over having the heat on this time of year. It takes 2 hours to heat the pool, and it is currently set at 85. I allow the guests to control the heat.

Here are my current winter FPL electric bills:

$182 for my long term rental, with non-heated pool

$119 for no pool at all

$269 for the heated pool.

Current ADR for the pool house is an average of $485 this month. ADR for the non pool house is $223.

I more than make up the cost of the electrical on the nightly rate and the increased demand for the house with heated pool.

Jeff E. · Answer

@Chris K.

I have one STR in Scottsdale that has a gas heater only, my natural gas bill for last month was over $1200 to heat the pool during guest stays in Arizona to 85 degrees.  The outdoor temperature during this period was around 55 degrees at coldest.   I am building two more pools with STR rentals currently and have decided on those to have the pools built with both a natural gas heater and an electric heat pump after discussing the situation with my pool builder.   From what I was told, the electric heat pump is much cheaper to heat over time, but will struggle in keeping the pool warm in really low temps along with having a hard time to get the spa as hot as some guests like it.  My plan is to use the heat pump to keep the pool at a constant temperature unless it is really cold in which case I will switch it over to the gas heater.  Also, if you use a pool cover it will really help with costs, but I am reluctant to ask guests to take the time to cover the pool each night, I think it takes away from the guest experience they are trying to have.

Nancy Bachety · Answer

We just made the decision two days ago. We went with electric in NE FL, AquaCool system. Propane gas is the other option and in this region, that is more costly than in other parts, like NY where we have natural gas. It might take a few hours more to reach a temperature but who really knows, when temperatures vary and wind and shade and full sun vary too. Being installed this week. We just put the pool in, listed it with a pool, and most people asked 1) if it was heated and 2) how much we charge per day to heat it. We rented it to none of those people who asked but decided to buy a heater because of their questions.

Sean McKenna · Answer

Heat pump is the way to go.  It’s pretty much the same as running AC.

Alecia Loveless · Answer

@Chris K. I’d say solar plus gas. I’m in northern New Hampshire and we made homemade solar using YouTube and we’re able to achieve 85 degrees for much of July and august, our big swim season with just 3 homemade solar panels. Real solar I’m sure would be much more efficient with storage capacity.

Chris K. · Answer

@Kerry Baird great info and thanks so much for the breakdown ! Very helpful in my decision making. I agree I think your roi will be much higher because guests will want heated pull in winter months. Who doesn’t love a warm pool??

Bruce Woodruff · Answer

Frankly I would just not heat the pool during the winter months. It's just not worth it. A complete waste of money and natural resources.... IMO

How many people really use it anyway?

Chad McMahan · Answer

Hi Chris.

Gas + solar heating is fairly economical. Electric is costly.

Chris K. · Answer

@Jeff E.

This is exactly my issue! My STR property is in South Florida (Tampa) where there are only a few weeks out of the year where daytime high below 60. So electric for me should be ok but I want to make sure guest experience is 10/10, meaning for the few weeks out of the year has would be better for me because it is colder out.

I am also afraid of very high gas bill ($1200! Wow), and the cost/ benefit of gas may be lower for me. If guests come during very cold months and poo is a few degrees to cold , that’s just maybe how it is…

Rancel Evans Jr. · Answer

I would talk to the local gas companies along with the pool installer, and get their opinion. When I installed my pool most gas companies steered us away from gas for a pool heater.

Gas or electric for STR Pool and why?

Most Popular Reply