Pool Heating

[marv]

What are your experiences of pool heating. We will be in a villa on April the 3rd and will have to pay extra for pool heating. Do you think this time of year we will need to heat the pool.

Thanks Marv

[pinky]

Hi Marv,

I would recommend pool heating in April, even with a south facing pool. Do you have kids going with you? They spend much longer in the pool than us and they can get quite cold.

[marv]

Yes we have kids not little ones though. We went in April 2004 on the 14th for 2 weeks and the temprature was high 80,s early ninetys all the time we were there.
I think it may be best to get some as i thought it will be a night the pool will be used the most.

Thanks Marv:wave:

[georgemac]

Marv, I would ask lots of questions before paying for pool heating, as we were very dissapointed with it in Oct last year, it was nothing like our last stay in the same villa.

I would ask what temperature the pool will be heated to - ours was 84 degF and we found it a little bit on the cool side (if the heating was working).

I would also ask what time the pump/heating would be on and off at each day, particularily if you are going to use the pool at night.

Lastly I would ask if they use a pool blanket, and if so is it on rollers or do you have to drag it on/off each night.

We were in April in 2001 and the weather was fantastic, at night when we came back to the villa you could see the heat coming off the pool - not like this last year.

[Sue F]

The main thing to remember with pool heating is that the overall temperature of the water is still very much dependant upon the outside temperature of the air. The water is heated to the same temperature but chills quicker if the surface air is cold. This is why sometimes it can feel as if the pool heater is not working if the temperature drops too low - it just can't keep up. This only tends to happen occasionally colder winter months.

However, in April there will still be a chill in the air at night so I would definately recommend the pool heating, especially if you are going to use the pool quite a bit in the evenings. Although it feels hot, the sun in April is not strong enough to maintain a constant high temperature in the water.

Either way using a Pool blanket is a must as this keeps any heat in overnight. Otherwise all your heat evaporates and you are starting from scratch every morning, a difficult task even with the pool heater.

Another thing to remember with Pool heating is that, if you decide you want heating after you have arrived it will take at least 24-36 hours to heat the pool. (Imagine putting your immersion on and waiting for that much water to heat up!!) And you will be charged for this period without getting any of the benefit.

[deejay]

We would always go for pool heat in April - if you have a pool & spa then it's worth it for the spa alone!

[marv]

Travel agent has told me that to get heating for the pool i would deal with it over there with whome we got our Villa from(Virgin representative).
They said we would pay for it there and the pool would take a couple of hours to heat up.
Well ime a little unsure on it taking 2 hours to heat up as we have a spa and than can take upto 18 hrs to heat from cold.


Marv:wave:

[dismum]

If it is heated by electric it can take up to 24 hours before you get the benefit gas is quicker but more expensive .