Pool swim season in Arkansas City, KS
When can you swim in an outdoor pool in Arkansas City, KS?
An unheated pool in Arkansas City reaches 78°F in Jul to Aug, about 2 months a year. The air allows up to 6 swimmable months with a heater (May to Oct).
- J
- F
- M
- A
- M
- J
- J
- A
- S
- O
- N
- D
Heater options for a Arkansas City pool, side by side
| Option | Months | Swimmable | Energy/yr | All-in/yr |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| No heater | 2 | Jul to Aug | $0 | $0 |
| Solar cover only | 4 | Jun to Sep | $0 | $50 |
| Solar panels + cover | 6 | May to Oct | $0 | $283 |
| Heat pump + cover | 6 | May to Oct | $148 | $698 |
| Gas heater + cover | 6 | May to Oct | $283 | $708 |
For a 450 sq ft pool held at 80°F, at KS prices of 15.3¢/kWh electricity and $15/Mcf gas. All-in spreads the purchase over the equipment's life.
The cheapest way to the full season in Arkansas City
Solar panels + cover: 6 of 6 possible months for about $283 a year all-in, which works out near $71 for each month it adds.
Before you pay for any heater, buy a solar cover: on its own it adds 2 months here for about $50 a year (why a cover comes first). If you get quotes, ask for a heat pump sized to your pool's surface area; here it beats gas all-in (heat pump or gas).
Weather station: Winfield Strother Field Airport, 6.3 mi away (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). Water temperature is estimated from air and sunshine, not measured.
Arkansas City month by month: air, sun and pool water
| Month | Air high | Air avg | Sun kWh/m²/day | Water, unheated | Water, covered | Heat pump $ | Gas $ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 46° | 35° | 2.6 | 35° | 41° | – | – |
| Feb | 51° | 39° | 3.3 | 37° | 43° | – | – |
| Mar | 60° | 48° | 4.4 | 45° | 51° | – | – |
| Apr | 69° | 57° | 5.4 | 55° | 61° | – | – |
| May | 78° | 67° | 6.0 | 65° | 71° | $76 | $152 |
| Jun | 87° | 77° | 6.9 | 76° | 82° | – | – |
| Jul | 92° | 81° | 6.8 | 83° | 89° | – | – |
| Aug | 91° | 80° | 6.0 | 84° | 90° | – | – |
| Sep | 83° | 72° | 5.0 | 78° | 84° | – | – |
| Oct | 71° | 60° | 3.8 | 66° | 72° | $72 | $131 |
| Nov | 59° | 47° | 2.8 | 53° | 59° | – | – |
| Dec | 47° | 37° | 2.2 | 41° | 47° | – | – |
Heating costs most in May (about $76 with a heat pump, $152 with gas). Sunshine peaks in Jun at 6.9 kWh/m²/day (NASA satellite data, 62.5 km grid cell). Highlighted months are swimmable with no heater.
How Arkansas City compares with nearby cities
Arkansas City ranks 1 of 38 Kansas cities for unheated swim months; Ponca City nearby gets a longer season without a heater.
| City | Distance | Unheated months | Heat pump months | Heat pump $/yr |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Winfield, KS | 12 mi | 2 | 6 | $189 |
| Ponca City, OK | 24 mi | 3 | 7 | $266 |
| Derby, KS | 36 mi | 2 | 6 | $173 |
| Haysville, KS | 38 mi | 2 | 6 | $173 |
| Andover, KS | 43 mi | 2 | 6 | $169 |
| Wichita, KS | 46 mi | 2 | 6 | $168 |