Every week someone asks us: "what's the best pool heating?" The honest answer is that there's no single best — there's a best fit for your pool, roof, and swimming habits. Here's how the three technologies stack up in Canberra conditions specifically.
Solar heating — lowest running cost
How it works: pool water circulates through collector panels on your roof and returns warmer.
In Canberra: excellent from October to April. Our strong sun and clear skies suit solar well; the limiting factor is shoulder-season nights, which is where a pool blanket becomes essential.
- Running cost: minimal — the heating is free, you just run a pump
- Season: roughly 6–7 months
- Best for: families who want the longest season for the lowest ongoing cost, with suitable north-facing roof space
- Our system: Heliocol — the world's leading solar pool heating, 25-year panel warranty. We've been the ACT's authorised dealer since 2008.
Heat pumps — the year-round workhorse
How it works: extracts heat from the air (yes, even cold air) and transfers it into the water — like reverse-cycle air conditioning for your pool.
In Canberra: modern inverter heat pumps work happily through ACT winters. Pair one with rooftop solar electricity and your running costs plummet — the Oasis iX range we install is PV-ready for exactly this.
- Running cost: low–moderate; very low if paired with home solar PV
- Season: year-round
- Best for: swimmers who want reliable temperature control in any weather
- Price: from $3,299 installed. Oasis iX was SPASA Product of the Year 2024.
Gas — instant heat on demand
How it works: a gas burner heats water directly as it flows through the unit.
In Canberra: unmatched for speed. A gas heater will take a spa from cold to 38° in under an hour, regardless of the weather outside.
- Running cost: highest of the three for continuous use
- Season: year-round, on demand
- Best for: spas, and pools used occasionally rather than daily — where you heat only when you swim
- Our system: Raypak — the industry benchmark, in natural gas and LPG.
The combination play: plenty of Canberra pools run solar as the primary heater with a heat pump for shoulder seasons — free heating most of the year, guaranteed temperature when it counts.
Get a recommendation for your actual pool
Roof orientation, gas availability, PV capacity, pool volume and how you swim all change the answer. We do a free site assessment with every heating quote — book yours or call 02 6294 0824. Every complete system currently includes a free Wi-Fi module ($595) and Daisy blanket ($600+).