Pool swim season in Chapel Hill, NC

Chapel Hill, NC: how long the pool season really is

An unheated pool in Chapel Hill reaches 78°F in Jul to Aug, about 2 months a year. The air allows up to 7 swimmable months with a heater (Apr to Oct).

1. J
2. F
3. M
4. A
5. M
6. J
7. J
8. A
9. S
10. O
11. N
12. D

What each heater buys you in Chapel Hill

For a 450 sq ft pool held at 80°F, at NC prices of 14.9¢/kWh electricity and $16/Mcf gas. All-in spreads the purchase over the equipment's life.

The cheapest way to the full season in Chapel Hill

Solar panels + cover: 6 of 7 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: Chapel Hill Williams Airport, 1.3 mi away (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). Water temperature is estimated from air and sunshine, not measured.

Chapel Hill month by month: air, sun and pool water

Heating costs most in Apr (about $145 with a heat pump, $299 with gas). Sunshine peaks in Jun at 6.4 kWh/m²/day (NASA satellite data, 63.1 km grid cell). Highlighted months are swimmable with no heater.

How Chapel Hill compares with nearby cities

Chapel Hill ranks 46 of 91 North Carolina cities for unheated swim months, and no nearby city gets a longer unheated season.