pool heating charges for renters

**wetwilly** · 11-15-2005, 08:35 AM

Hey follow owners that rent with heated pools,

We are getting our pool heater installed this month!!!!

We are working on how to charge renters for the heating of the pool. For those of you with heated pools that rent out your houses, how do you charge for heating the pool in Fall/Winter and early Spring?

I have seen websites and rental/mgt company sites that say "plus pool heating charge" but I need some info on how the cost is calculated and charged to the renter?

Any help or info would be great.

Thanks,

Wetwilly

**GVM** · 11-15-2005, 10:21 AM

It's expensive to heat a pool in the winter, plus the hassle and expense of who's going to turn it on, off, etc. Get at least $200 per week. At that, you're not making much, but if it can snare a rental that you otherwise would not book, it's worth it. Also, many renters expect a hot tub...which a heated pool is not. I can't remember the optimal temperature before bacteria becomes a problem...but it's hardly 'warm'.

**Beach Runner** · 11-15-2005, 12:08 PM

We charge $250, but should probably up it due to the increased price of gas. A guest can easily use that much in a week - we've had it happen. Even during spring break, it takes 24 hours to get the pool to a temperature that's reasonable, and then it's not that comfortable. The hot tub will heat up in 30 minutes in January. We've had pool heating bills so high that the guests must have left the hot tub on 24/7 (not really 24/7 - we have a timer so it automatically turns off at midnight, but you can turn it back on). When it's that cold, it takes them a few days to realize that the pool will never get warm enough to be fun.

Anyhow, that's why we started charging. Unfortunately, a few guests who abused the use of the heat (like keeping the hot tub turned on 24/7) cost those who use it wisely. We keep the pool heater locked up and the gas locked up.

**Donna** · 11-15-2005, 01:37 PM

Our pool at Conch Out is 20 X 22-ft. and is 9 feet deep at the deepest point. Heating the pool during the off-season runs at least $250 and that does not reflect new energy rates. If renters want the pool heated, we charge a daily rate of $35. One thing you need to be aware of, however, is that the pool maintenance service charges $30 for each trip out to turn the pool heater on or off, unless the order coincides with their regular service day. So you can end up paying more than necessary if these dates are not consistent. We feel it's really important to have guests pay for the pool heating, because otherwise the heater can be running with no one using the pool. The previous post is correct, that swimming even in a heated pool in the colder months is not comfortable enough for people to get much use.

**Cil** · 11-15-2005, 02:19 PM

Wow, this is very educational for me. I love love love to swim, and was hoping to have a chance at it during winter if we ever had a pool installed, or lived where there was one.
What about solar heating? Any good?
Sorry for the hijack, Wetwilly.

**Miss Kitty** · 11-15-2005, 02:29 PM

Does anyone have a solar blanket on their pools? We have talked to our pool co. about one, but they are not returning my calls!!!!

**Donna** · 11-15-2005, 03:26 PM

We have that liquid heat retention thing that is invisible and floats on the top, supposedly retaining heat. No way to tell if it does anything or not, but our pool lady swears by it. Joan at Pool Pal (850)231-1223 is a wealth of information on such matters and is the consummate professional. I suggest that you give her a call with questions. She is also very, very good at pool maintenance and operations and a great communicator with her clients. You can e-mail her at: poolpal@bsc.net

**Johnrudy** · 11-15-2005, 05:51 PM

Originally Posted by Cil

Wow, this is very educational for me. I love love love to swim, and was hoping to have a chance at it during winter if we ever had a pool installed, or lived where there was one.
What about solar heating? Any good?
Sorry for the hijack, Wetwilly.

When we had a pool where we lived on the central Gulf coast of Fla, it was never warm enough to swim in it during Dec. - Mar. And it was quite a bit warmer there than in the panhandle area. Warm enough to have the a/c on almost all 12 months, but too cool outside to actually swim for those few months.

**wetwilly** · 11-17-2005, 12:36 PM

Thanks for the suggestions, info, and help.

We have figured that 1-2 additional rentals in the fall/early winter and/or early spring will cover the cost of the heater and installation. I have had several inquiries on the house (and one rental) for that time period. With my fall/winter and early spring inquiries, the top question after they reviewed the pictures was whether the pool was heated. For the potential renters looking at my house, heated or not is a significant criteria for rental whether it will actually be comfortable and warm enough or not at that time of year. We went with the bigger heater and with a 20x12 pool that is 6' at its deepest point it will have a good rebound for short term rentals according to Cox Pools.

We will charge the renters (probably $35/day and $250/week) just to recoup the the cost of heating it but not to make any $$ on the heating charges.

Take a look on the virtual tour at www.emeraldcoasttours.com/20brownstreet/. If interested in renting, just send me a PM or an email.

**bsmart** · 11-17-2005, 05:37 PM

Originally Posted by Sueshore

Does anyone have a solar blanket on their pools? We have talked to our pool co. about one, but they are not returning my calls!!!!

This past year was our first year using a solar thermal heat cover for our pool here in GA. When my dad and I removed the cover this past April, the temperature of the pool was already at 84 degrees and ready for swimming as soon as the automatic cleaner took care of all of the algae. In the years before we had the thermal cover, it took atleast a week of nice sunny weather to warm the pool up to at least the mid to upper 70s before we could swim in it after it was cleaned.

**Beach Runner** · 11-17-2005, 09:02 PM

Ooh! How much does a solar blanket cost? Sounds good!

**SGB** · 11-17-2005, 09:37 PM

How much does a pool heater and installation cost? We've been told by our management company that turning our pool (10x20) into a heated one will up the number of rentals in the shoulder seasons, so we're starting to look into it.

**Miss Kitty** · 11-18-2005, 03:57 AM

MY pool guy called back, but I missed it. BTW...this is for the pool in Dallas. Hopefully, I can get some info today and I will share what I learn.

**Beach Runner** · 11-18-2005, 06:18 AM

I'll bet Joan at Pool Pals would know. She's very knowledgeable.

**wetwilly** · 11-18-2005, 06:01 PM

Originally Posted by SGB

How much does a pool heater and installation cost? We've been told by our management company that turning our pool (10x20) into a heated one will up the number of rentals in the shoulder seasons, so we're starting to look into it.

Not cheap. I will send you a PM on the heater cost and installation. Yes, we did some research and feel that we will get 2-4 addl rentals in the "shoulder" weeks/weekends with a heated pool. We already got 1 booking that said that the heater was a mandatory criteria and 1 pending.

Our pool was installed by Cox Pools when the house was being built, so I just used them (Cox Pools of PCB) for the heater and installation. Their warranty is great and they are a certified service center that stocks the parts for the brand heater.

Okalossa Gas is running the gas line from the main for no charge and then is charging me $500.00 to tie in the heater and inspect and approve everything. Then it is $10.00/mo in the months when no gas is used and actual usage charges for the heating (I'm planning to charge renters $35/day and $250/wk for heating).

Being remote and not living there, has not been a big challenge. Both Okaloosa Gas and Cox have been great to work with and I scheduled our pool maintenance/cleaning at the same time as the Okaloosa engineers site survey so everything went very smooth. Amy at Coastal Pools was great and she answered any of the Okalossa engineers questions.

**tylerT** · 11-22-2005, 05:14 PM

Just build it into the rent - if you separate it out, they're going to think you're nickel and dimin them.

**Beach Runner** · 11-22-2005, 05:23 PM

Originally Posted by tylerT

Just build it into the rent - if you separate it out, they're going to think you're nickel and dimin them.

True.dat. However, another one of our objectives was to keep people not staying at our house from using the heat. We found out this was happening when we had two months with no rentals, yet a huge gas bill. Someone said they saw our hot tub being used, yet they weren't sure that the house was rented. Therefore, we need to keep it all locked up, and then we have to cover the expense of having someone come out, unlock it, turn it on, and then turn it off and lock it when the guests leave. We decided that it's just simpler to charge extra for the heat.

**Sheila** · 11-22-2005, 07:10 PM

Originally Posted by Beach Runner

True.dat. However, another one of our objectives was to keep people not staying at our house from using the heat. We found out this was happening when we had two months with no rentals, yet a huge gas bill. Someone said they saw our hot tub being used, yet they weren't sure that the house was rented. Therefore, we need to keep it all locked up, and then we have to cover the expense of having someone come out, unlock it, turn it on, and then turn it off and lock it when the guests leave. We decided that it's just simpler to charge extra for the heat.

We has some construction workers use our hot tub as a BATHTUB! Soap floating (musta been IVORY!) in the hot tub! We fixed that BS! We knew who it was! BUSTED!!!!!!!

**Beach Runner** · 11-22-2005, 09:15 PM

Originally Posted by gotothebeachmom

We has some construction workers use our hot tub as a BATHTUB! Soap floating (musta been IVORY!) in the hot tub! We fixed that BS! We knew who it was! BUSTED!!!!!!!

OMG!

**rosiee7777** · 11-23-2005, 07:31 PM

My advice to you all that have questions reguarding your pool is to call David at Britannia pools and spa's , he is in Freeport but works on the beach, he has helped me out, and lots of my friends many times and always returns calls
You can reach him at 850-835-7753.

**Shutters** · 11-25-2005, 07:48 AM

The cost of heating a pool is really dependant on two things; the outside air temps. and how much rain we get. (Rain really cools the pool) Our pool is a similiar size and during March it runs about $100/week! That's heating it to 85 degrees. I have heated it to 89 degrees before, which is really nice when it's in the 70's outside, but that can run $125 a week.

In the Spring when you HAVE to have heat we build the cost into the rate. In the fall when people are looking for a deal and there is a chance you won't need heat we make it an extra charge. We usually start heating in the first or second week in October. We turn the heat off in Mid May.

Make sure you stay on top of your bill with Okaloosa gas, and have a lock on the heater box! The gas company will sometimes guestimate your gas usage based on a previous month. Last January we never turned the heat on and still got a bill for $225. The gas company came out, inpected and revised the bill to $7. Oops.

With gas heat you should be able to swim year round. We put in a heater that is roughly twice the BTU's than we needed, I think it was about $500 more, but that way we can get in a 11:00pm, turn the heat on and be ready to swim first thing in the morning.

Here's a picture of my daughter and Auntie Babs on Christmas morning. It was 42 degrees outside!