Although pool swimming is one of the most exciting and useful activities, it's not ideal for swimming in the cold water. You don't want to invest in a traditional swimming pool heater that consumes plenty of energy, right?
Here, I highly recommend you use the best solar heater for above ground pool. It can provide you with heated water so that you can swim anytime when the temperature drops. Furthermore, this machine draws energy from the sun without increasing your electric bill.
Here are the best solar heaters for above ground pool you can buy in 2025:
- Best Overall: Fafco solar bear economy heating system
- Best For Large Pool: SmartPool S240U Pool Solar Heaters
- Best For Small Pool: Goplus Solar Dome Swimming pool heater
- Best For Medium-Sized Pool: Intex Solar Heater
- Best For Colder Days: XtremepowerUS 90105
- Most Durable: SmartPool WWS421P Sunheater
| 6 Best Solar Heaters for Above Ground Pool | ||
|---|---|---|
Best Overall | Fafco solar bear economy heating system | |
Best For Large Pool | SmartPool S240U Pool Solar Heaters | |
Best For Small Pool | Goplus Solar Dome Swimming pool heater | |
Best For Medium-Sized Pool | Intex Solar Heater | |
Best For Colder Days | XtremepowerUS 90105 | |
Most Durable | SmartPool WWS421P Sunheater | |
Best Overall: Fafco solar bear economy heating system
Flexible
Well made
Simple to install
Short straps
Apart from useful basic features for users, Fafco solar bear economy heating system is a worthy investment because it comes with a full set. You don't have to buy anything extra.
Please forget the ineffective small 1-1/2-inch headers, which decrease the circulation and affect the solar heating. The big 2-inch headers allow Fafco to transfer the solar heat to the water more effectively.
Even when you use this solar heater during the year in severe weather conditions, this machine can last very long because it's made from U.V stabilized polyethylene material.
Here is the main point:
You can get all of these great features at a reasonable price.
| Fafco solar bear economy heating system Specifications | |
|---|---|
Weight | 40 pounds |
Dimension | 55 x 15 x 15 inches |
Highlight Features | 4' x 20' Wide Solar Collector with 1-1/2" barb connections |
Fafco Solar Bear brings high performance, durability, and convenience.
Best For Large Pool: SmartPool S240U Pool Solar Heaters
Easy to install
Quick to heat up
Not works well in extreme weather
If you choose a too small solar heater for a big above ground pool, it can't provide you with enough heat. Or it takes for a long time to reach the desired temperature level.
Thus, I strongly recommend you pick up SmartPool S240U. Typically, an average heater can increase the temperature from five to ten, but this solar heater can reach 15 ̊F.
This model features a tube-web-tube, which takes responsibility for capturing as much sunlight as possible to heat a large space in a short time.
Here is the detail:
The two 2’ x 20’ panels work best for an 18’ x 36’ pool.
| SmartPool S240U Pool Solar Heaters Specifications | |
|---|---|
Weight | One pound |
Dimension | 240 x 27.5 x 16 inches |
Highlight Features | The filtration system |
This solar heater can heat a big above ground pool quickly.
Best For Small Pool: Goplus Solar Dome Swimming pool heater
Flexible
Easy to set up
Not long and strong enough to pump the water up to your roof (no recommended for roof installation)
Why do you have to spend a large amount of money buying a big and expensive solar heater for a small above ground pool?
Is it essential? Or is this a waste of money?
You know the answers, right?
I make sure that this small heater can offer enough heat for your small pool. What's more, you will get another benefit from this unit. It has a small design, which doesn't take a lot of space.
| Goplus Solar Dome Swimming pool heater Specifications | |
|---|---|
Weight | 11.2lbs |
Dimension | 22.5"x22.5"x8.5" |
Highlight Features | A protective cover |
This is a practical and space-saving model for a small above-ground pool.
Best For Medium-Sized Pool: Intex Solar Heater
Simple installation
Cheap
No leak
Very hot to touch to the surface directly
Slow to heat
Choosing the wrong size of the heater for your above-ground pool can't maximize its performance. Therefore, ensure that you make the right decision. Above, you get the best solar heaters for small and big pools. Now, the Intex Solar works best for a medium-sized pool. Its eco-friendly solar technology helps the machine raise the temperature of 5-9 degree F) in an 8000 gal above-ground pool. Though this information can change a bit depending on the specific weather condition, it is not much.
| Intex Solar Heater Specifications | |
|---|---|
Weight | 5.3 pounds |
Dimension | 47.3 x 47.3 x 0.5 inches |
Highlight Features | Eco-friendly solar technology |
This machine is useful to heat a medium-sized pool in a normal condition.
Best For Colder Days: XtremepowerUS 90105
Easy to install
Clear directions
- Not work well for a large pool
Whether you have a small or large above ground pool, it's vital to choose a heater that can produce a lot of heat to keep your body warm on cold days. Specifically, this solar heater can heat the water temperature to 10-15 degrees F that is the highest level.
Will you use this solar heater on a nice day or colder day?
It's not essential because its extremely high-grade material can work well in any weather condition. In particular, this material brings a high durability level, which means you can use it for a long time even you use this model every day.
| XtremepowerUS 90105 Specifications | |
|---|---|
Weight | 14.33 pounds |
Dimension | 120 x 24 x 5 inches |
Highlight Features | Extremely high-grade materials, solar pool heating system, round 1. 5" header manifold, |
This heater can provide you with a high warmth level for cold days.
Most Durable: SmartPool WWS421P Sunheater
Easy to set up and handle
Quick to heat
- Mounting kit sold separately
Do you want to spend an extra amount of money buying a new solar heater just after a short time of use?
If not, you should invest in a highly durable model like Smartpool WWS421P Sunheater. Its polypropylene material brings many benefits as follows:
This material is resistant to corrosion as well as chemical leaking. What's more, it can resist freezing very well for heating your pool better.
Polypropylene is impermeable, absorbing under 0.01% of water. So it doesn't keep a lot of heated water on the surface.
Finally, polypropylene is famous for tensile strength, so you can expect a long lifespan.
| SmartPool WWS421P Sunheater Specifications | |
|---|---|
Weight | 29 pounds |
Dimension | 48 x 1 x 240 inches |
Highlight Features | A polypropylene heat collector,80 square feet of solar panels |
Smartpool WWS421P is very durable.
How To Choose The Best Solar Heater for Above Ground Pool?
Will you install your solar heater alone or hire a professional?
Although installing a solar heater for an above ground pool is more straightforward than setting up one for an in-ground pool, don't be subjective.
The majority of the pool heaters are packed with installation manuals to show you how to set up the machines by yourself. This item is essential, so avoid choosing a product with a confusing-and-difficult-to-understand manual.
If you can't install your solar heater alone, you might need to spend money to hire a professional. Thus, it would help if you always gave priority to an easy-and-free-hassle installation.
In case your solar heater requires professional installation, don't try to install it without having any skill. Or you can harm your machine.
What temperature level do you need?
An average solar heater for an above ground pool can increase the temperature of five-ten degrees. However, if you invest in a higher-quality model, it can raise to 15 temperature. This level is high enough to keep your body warm in the pool.
However, choosing the size of the heater should depend on the size of your above-ground pool. For example, a small solar heater can't provide enough heat for a big pool.
What is your budget for a solar heater for an above ground pool?
If you plan to buy a good solar heater, you had better prepare at least $100. Under this price, it's hard to find out a product that can meet all your requirements. With $100, you can purchase a small heater that effectively works for a small above-ground pool, needing less heat.
If you have a big above-ground pool, purchasing a large heater is essential. Of course, the price will be higher.
Should you buy a heater with a control panel?
A machine designed with a control panel is always a worthy investment. It allows you to adjust the heat level. Some of them even have a temperature monitor to help you determine how hot your pool is.
Which Brands Make The Best Solar Heater for Above Ground Pool?
Fafco
Fafco is the largest and oldest solar thermal manufacturer in the US. It focuses on producing practical, efficient, and economical products.
SmartPool
SmartPool specializes in swimming pool products for above ground pools and inground pools. There are many types such as gate alarms, pool alarms, underwater lighting, spa fragrances, specialty pool chemicals, saltwater chlorination systems, solar pool heating systems, and robotic pool cleaners.
Intex
With over 50 years of experience, Intex provides you with high-quality and durable products at an affordable price. Apart from outstanding merchandise, Intex gives you impeccable customer service.
FAQs
How much can a solar pool heater raise the temperature of a pool?
As I said earlier, an average heater can reach five-ten temperature while a bigger model is up to 15 temperature.
How to install and use above ground solar pool heaters?
Although any solar heater for an above ground pool is packed with an instruction manual, not all are easy to read. Thus, you should consult the information below to properly install and use an above ground solar pool heater.
Find out an appropriate position for putting the solar collector (mounted on a roof or beside your pool) as long as the collector can expose under the sun directly. Choose a hose and connect it to your above ground pool pump. In case your product is packed with a controller, you can connect it. Finally, it would be best to connect another hose to the solar collector, then put the end into your pool.
The pump draws the water from the pool to move it to the solar collectors and returns the heated water to your pool. You can use the controller to adjust the water temperature as desired or set the system’s rubbing time. Even some models are designed with an auto-shutoff mechanism. This system will stop delivering hot water to your pool when you get the desired temperature level.
Do solar heaters for above ground pool need expensive maintenance?
It doesn't require expensive maintenance.
How can I heat my above ground pool fast?
A gas pool heater can heat your pool in the shortest time.
How fast?
Just think about how an oven and a grill burn gas.
However, this method isn't cost-effective in the long run. Though its price is lower than others, its operating cost can be up to three-time higher.
The second solution is using a heat pump, which heats your pool pretty fast at a reasonable cost-operating. In this case, you can save up to 60% of energy. But, its ability to generate heat will lower when the environmental temperature is under 50 degrees Fahrenheit.
The final solution is using a solar pool heater that is cost-effective. This product runs based on the sunlight. On cloudy days, it's tough to heat your pool.
How to care & clean my above ground solar pool heater?
The manuals provide you with a lot of useful information on maintaining and cleaning above ground solar pool heater. In case the care and maintenance information in the manual is not explicit, you can consult the general guidelines as follows:
You have to check fittings on a regular basis to discover the looseness and leakage signs timely. For example, is there the buildup of dirt and other particles in the gaps between solar collectors? If yes, remove them.
If there are plumbing fixtures for signs of wear, it's essential to replace them with new accessories.
Remove dirt and debris on the solar collector surface because these particles will decrease the solar collector's water heating capacities and ability to absorb sunlight.
Conclusion
The best solar heater for above ground pool will warm your body while swimming on cold days. However, they work well for different sized pools, so make sure to check the size of your pool before buying.
