How to warm an inground pool without a heater?

The most effective heater-free methods are solar covers, solar rings, and simply running the pump during the warmest part of the day. In Phoenix, the sun does much of the work, so pool owners often need only minor adjustments to keep water comfortable through spring and fall. The most common options include: - **Solar cover (solar blanket)** — Bubble-style covers that float on the surface and trap heat ($50-$300 depending on size) - **Solar ring or solar dome** — Floating devices that heat a small section of water ($30-$150) - **Run the pump midday** — Circulating water through the filter and exposing it to sun can raise temperature slightly, using existing equipment at little extra cost - **Dark pool surfaces** — Darker tile or plaster absorb more solar energy than lighter finishes In Arizona, a solar cover used nightly can add several degrees over a few days, which is often enough for comfortable swimming outside summer.

Does putting a tarp over a pool make it warmer?

Yes, a tarp or cover placed over the pool surface traps heat and reduces evaporation, which can noticeably raise water temperature. Solar-specific bubble covers work best; ordinary tarps help less because they may not block evaporation or let heat escape easily. Cover types compared: | Cover Type | Heat Retention | Typical Cost | Notes | |------------|----------------|--------------|-------| | Solar bubble cover | High | $150-$400 | Absorbs sun, traps heat, reduces evaporation | | Standard vinyl safety cover | Low to moderate | $1,000-$3,000+ | Safety focus, minimal heating | | Mesh safety cover | Low | $800-$2,500 | Keeps debris out, little heat gain | | Plain tarp | Low to moderate | $20-$60 | Can trap some heat but may trap moisture and be unsafe | For most Phoenix pools, a solar bubble cover is the best choice for warmth.

What is the typical cost of solar pool heating?

A solar pool heating system for a typical residential inground pool in the Phoenix area usually costs between $2,000 and $5,000 installed. Costs depend on pool size, roof or ground space for panels, and whether a pump upgrade is needed. Typical system options: - **Unglazed polymer panels (most common)** — Lowest cost, works well in warm climates ($2,000-$4,000 installed) - **Drain-down or retrofit systems** — Adds controls and valves for seasonal use ($3,000-$5,500 installed) - **Glazed solar collectors** — Higher output, more costly, rarely needed in AZ ($5,000-$8,000+ installed) Arizona's strong sun makes solar heating efficient, and many owners recover costs through reduced gas or electric heater use.

What is the cheapest way to resurface a pool?

The cheapest way to resurface a pool is a basic white plaster replaster, which typically costs $4,000 to $8,000 for an average Phoenix-area pool. Choosing standard plaster over pebble or quartz, keeping the existing shell and tile in good condition, and avoiding unnecessary extras like new coping or equipment upgrades will keep the cost down. - **Standard white plaster** — lowest material cost ($4,000-$8,000) - **Drain and clean plus acid wash only** — minimal cost if the surface is sound - **Crack and leak repair first** — prevents paying to resurface over a problem - **Skip extras** — tile, coping, and equipment can be done later if not urgent

How long does a pool replaster take?

A typical residential pool replaster takes about 5-10 working days from draining to refilling, though the timeline varies with pool size, prep work, and weather. Most of that time is spent on demolition, curing, and waiting between coats rather than the plaster application itself. Phoenix's warm climate generally helps the plaster cure faster, but crews must still control water temperature and evaporation during the process. Add extra time if the shell needs crack repair, tile replacement, or equipment work, and expect the pool to be out of use for the duration.

How expensive is it to fix a pool heater?

Pool heater repair typically costs between $150 and $800, with most common fixes falling in the lower-middle of that range. Simple issues like a faulty thermostat, pressure switch, or ignition component are usually inexpensive, while replacing a heat exchanger, control board, or gas valve can run considerably higher. If the repair cost approaches 50% of a new heater's price, replacement is often the better value. In the Phoenix area, many owners use heaters less frequently, but gas and electric units still need periodic service to keep them running reliably.

Do you need a heated pool in AZ?

No, a heated pool is not required in Arizona, and many Phoenix-area pools are used without heating for much of the year. Summer water temperatures often exceed 85°F, and spring and fall are usually comfortable without a heater. A heater mainly extends the season into winter, which is short and mild in the Valley. Whether to heat depends on how you plan to use the pool. Most owners in the Phoenix metro find that a heater is useful only for a few cool months, which is why many choose a solar cover or no heating at all.

Can a pool heater be repaired?

Yes, most pool heaters can be repaired, and it is often cheaper than replacement when the heat exchanger, gas valve, igniter, or thermostat is the only failed part. In Phoenix, where heaters run heavily during cooler winter months and sun-heated water rarely needs much help in summer, a licensed pool contractor can diagnose whether a repair makes sense. If the heat exchanger is cracked or the unit is more than 8-10 years old, replacement usually becomes the better investment.

Service · Phoenix metro

Pool Heater Repair

Diagnosis and repair of gas and heat-pump pool heaters, including ignition, thermostat, pressure-switch and heat-exchanger faults, and replacement of heaters that cannot be repaired.

64 listed Valley companies say they do this.

See the 64 companies

Expert technician performing professional pool heater repair and maintenance services

Dead Heater, Cold Pool, Real Answers

A pool heater that won't fire needs a diagnosis, not guesswork. Gas and heat-pump units fail in different ways.

Know the symptoms that mean call a pro
Weigh repair against replacement
Hire a contractor whose ROC licence fits the work

Common problems

Signs Your Pool Heater Needs a Technician

Gas heaters fail at the igniter, thermostat, pressure switch or heat exchanger. Heat pumps work differently. They absorb air heat through an evaporator coil, refrigerant, compressor and condenser, so their faults live in a different place.^[1]

Pool heater unit on a pad beside pool equipment — A pool heater installed beside the pool equipment pad

Symptoms to check first

No heat output, or water that never warms
Heater not firing
Repeated shutdowns or error lights
Unusual noises
Visible leaks or corrosion

Check flow, filter, settings and power first. The pool heater not heating guide walks through those checks.

Stop-and-call symptoms

A gas smell
Scorching on or around the heater
Water leaking from the heater
Repeatedly tripped breakers

Leave these to a licensed technician.

Waiting lets a small fault grow into a failed major component. In Phoenix, Mesa or Chandler, a heater that sits dead can turn a part swap into a full replacement.

How serious is it

Level 1 of 3: Check first
Signs No heat, heater not firing, error lights, unusual noises
What to do Check flow, filter, settings and power
Level 2 of 3: Call a technician
Signs Repeated shutdowns, visible leaks or corrosion
What to do Book a repair before the fault grows
Level 3 of 3: Stop and call
Signs Gas smell, scorching, water leaking from the heater, repeatedly tripped breakers
What to do Leave it to a licensed technician

Sound familiar? The heater clicks but never lights. You reset it twice. Now it won't even try.

What it costs

What Pool Heater Repair Costs

Price depends on heater type, the failed part, labour, and whether the job is a repair or a replacement. One published guide says most common pool-heater repairs fall between $165 and $765, covering gas, electric and solar heaters.^[2]

Price at a glance

Common pool-heater repairs

$165 to $765

Most common repairs (published guide)$165 to $765
Diagnostic or service-call fee$75 to $165

Phoenix-area pool companies' own websites, checked October 2026, show the following:

Item	What the sources print
Diagnostic or service-call fee	Most list $85 to $95; full spread $75 to $165
Equipment repair labour	One company lists $80/Hour + Parts (30 Minute Minimum)
Specific part (igniter, thermostat, pressure switch)	Depends on the job
Heat exchanger or compressor	Depends on the job
Replacement heater	Depends on the job

One Phoenix company's site says general swimming pool repairs run $100 to $20,000. That shows how wide the spread is across all pool work, not heaters alone.

Get a written, itemised quote and compare diagnosis fees before you agree to work.

What to expect

How a Pool Heater Repair Visit Works

The visit follows six steps, from the first questions to a test run.

Step by step

The six steps of a repair visit

Intake
The technician asks about symptoms and the heater's make and model.
Safety and flow checks
Water flow, filter condition and power or gas supply come first.
Fault diagnosis
The cause points to a part or a major component.
Written quote
Approve it before work starts.
Repair
The part is swapped or the fault corrected.
Test run
The heater is cycled to confirm it fires and holds temperature.

Intake. The technician asks about symptoms and the heater's make and model.
Safety and flow checks. Water flow, filter condition and power or gas supply come first.
Fault diagnosis. The cause usually points to a part, such as an igniter, thermostat or pressure switch, or to a major component such as the heat exchanger. That finding drives the repair-or-replace decision.
Written quote. Approve it before work starts.
Repair. The part is swapped or the fault corrected.
Test run. The heater is cycled to confirm it fires and holds temperature.

A contract over $1,000 must be in writing, with the licence number, price and payment terms. It should also say who pulls any permits.

Repaired pool heater on an equipment pad beside a pool — A pool heater after repair, with its panel closed and connections tidy

Repair or replace

Weigh age, repair scope, heat-exchanger condition, efficiency and fuel type. A simple heat-pump part is one thing. A refrigerant-circuit or compressor fault is a bigger repair.^[1]

A replacement heater needs gas and electrical connections done by appropriately licensed contractors.

Permit rules vary by city, so ask your contractor and your city. Mesa lists permits for mechanical or electrical modifications, and Scottsdale and Gilbert homeowners should confirm locally too.

Choosing a company

How to Verify an Arizona ROC Licence

Arizona licenses pool work under R-6, CR-6, B-5, B-6, KA-5 and KA-6. R-6 and CR-6 cover service and minor repair, while B-6 and KA-6 add solar heating.

Gas line and electrical work beyond the first disconnect can need a different licence class.

Search the ROC Contractor Search at roc.az.gov.
Confirm the licence is active.
Confirm the class covers your heater work.
Check bond and Recovery Fund status.

"Licensed, bonded and insured" in an ad proves nothing. ROC requires only workers' compensation insurance, not general liability, so ask for proof of coverage directly. See Is "Licensed, Bonded and Insured" Enough? and R-6, B-5 or KA-5: Which Licence Fits?.

Questions to ask:

Which licence class covers this job?
What is your diagnosis fee, and is it credited to the repair?
Will you give an itemised written quote?
Who pulls the permit, if one is needed?

Owners who hire unlicensed entities have no ROC recourse.

Complaints against licensed contractors are due within two years.

Compare Peoria, Surprise, Tempe and Glendale pros on licence class and quote detail before you book. Tick these off with each contractor you call:

Checklist

Questions to ask each contractor

0 of 4 ticked

Which licence class covers this job?
What is your diagnosis fee, and is it credited to the repair?
Will you give an itemised written quote?
Who pulls the permit, if one is needed?

Tick them off as you go. Nothing is saved or sent.

Questions Valley pool owners ask

The most effective heater-free methods are solar covers, solar rings, and simply running the pump during the warmest part of the day. In Phoenix, the sun does much of the work, so pool owners often need only minor adjustments to keep water comfortable through spring and fall.

The most common options include:

Solar cover (solar blanket) — Bubble-style covers that float on the surface and trap heat ($50-$300 depending on size)
Solar ring or solar dome — Floating devices that heat a small section of water ($30-$150)
Run the pump midday — Circulating water through the filter and exposing it to sun can raise temperature slightly, using existing equipment at little extra cost
Dark pool surfaces — Darker tile or plaster absorb more solar energy than lighter finishes

In Arizona, a solar cover used nightly can add several degrees over a few days, which is often enough for comfortable swimming outside summer.