STR and Pool Heaters

[Linda Weiner]

I'm planning on another STR, but this one has a rather large pool, where many STRs in town have a small plunge pool. In SW Florida our season is typically January-April. A pool heater will definitely make the STR much more appealing. My concern is the huge cost of the electric bill. Electric pool heaters are really expensive to run and solar heaters may not do the trick, even in our SW Florida winter months.

How do you deal with a situation like this? Do you put a limit on the electric bill and charge the credit card after the bill arrives if it's over the allowed amount? Do you bite the bullet and pay a few thouand dollars? Our electric rates have gone way up this year!