Pool swim season in Columbus, GA
Columbus, GA: how long the pool season really is
An unheated pool in Columbus reaches 78°F in Jul to Sep, about 3 months a year. The air allows up to 7 swimmable months with a heater (Apr to Oct).
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What each heater buys you in Columbus
| Option | Months | Swimmable | Energy/yr | All-in/yr |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| No heater | 3 | Jul to Sep | $0 | $0 |
| Solar cover only | 4 | Jun to Sep | $0 | $50 |
| Solar panels + cover | 6 | May to Oct | $0 | $283 |
| Heat pump + cover | 7 | Apr to Oct | $167 | $717 |
| Gas heater + cover | 7 | Apr to Oct | $443 | $868 |
For a 450 sq ft pool held at 80°F, at GA prices of 15.5¢/kWh electricity and $20/Mcf gas. All-in spreads the purchase over the equipment's life.
The cheapest way to the full season in Columbus
Solar panels + cover: 6 of 7 possible months for about $283 a year all-in, which works out near $94 for each month it adds.
Before you pay for any heater, buy a solar cover: on its own it adds 1 month 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: Columbus #2, 3.7 mi away (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). Water temperature is estimated from air and sunshine, not measured.
Columbus 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 | 58° | 45° | 2.9 | 47° | 53° | – | – |
| Feb | 62° | 49° | 3.4 | 48° | 54° | – | – |
| Mar | 69° | 56° | 4.5 | 54° | 60° | – | – |
| Apr | 77° | 63° | 5.7 | 62° | 68° | $110 | $284 |
| May | 83° | 71° | 6.3 | 70° | 76° | $31 | $89 |
| Jun | 89° | 78° | 6.2 | 78° | 84° | – | – |
| Jul | 92° | 81° | 6.1 | 83° | 89° | – | – |
| Aug | 90° | 80° | 5.5 | 83° | 89° | – | – |
| Sep | 86° | 75° | 4.9 | 79° | 85° | – | – |
| Oct | 78° | 65° | 4.1 | 71° | 77° | $26 | $70 |
| Nov | 68° | 54° | 3.2 | 60° | 66° | – | – |
| Dec | 60° | 48° | 2.5 | 51° | 57° | – | – |
Heating costs most in Apr (about $110 with a heat pump, $284 with gas). Sunshine peaks in May at 6.3 kWh/m²/day (NASA satellite data, 35.2 km grid cell). Highlighted months are swimmable with no heater.
How Columbus compares with nearby cities
Columbus ranks 36 of 101 Georgia cities for unheated swim months; Phenix City, Eufaula nearby get a longer season without a heater.
| City | Distance | Unheated months | Heat pump months | Heat pump $/yr |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Phenix City, AL | 10 mi | 4 | 8 | $268 |
| Valley, AL | 27 mi | 3 | 7 | $236 |
| Opelika, AL | 31 mi | 2 | 7 | $228 |
| Auburn, AL | 36 mi | 3 | 7 | $181 |
| LaGrange, GA | 37 mi | 3 | 7 | $194 |
| Eufaula, AL | 45 mi | 4 | 9 | $363 |