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The best way to heat a swimming pool depends on your pool and location. Those living in sunny environments may find that a solar-powered heater works just fine, but you may need something more reliable, like a gas or electric heater if it’s often cloudy where you live. When in doubt, try a few lower-cost options first to see if they meet your needs before going all in on a more expensive heater.

Small animals, particularly rats and mice, like to burrow inside pool heaters. To keep them out, seal any entry points with caulk or steel wool. Then, place mothballs inside or around your pool heater. As a final measure of protection, you can cover the pool heater in hardware cloth or wood paneling to further block entry points.

Using a gas pool heater is the fastest way to heat an outdoor pool. Gas pool heaters are powerful and can increase pool water temperature by 1 to 3 degrees Fahrenheit per hour. Using a gas pool heater and a solar pool cover will get your pool warm as fast as possible.

Each state has its own regulations about pool fences, and laws to protect both swimmers and pool owners. Before installing a pool, you’ll need to research what the pool laws in your state, city, and county are to ensure that you’re adhering to the legal regulations. Inground pools typically need to have a fence around the entirety of them, but the rules regarding above-ground pools are less stringent. A good rule of thumb is to always have a fence around your pool to ensure safety for all.