Pool swim season in Decatur, AL
Decatur, AL: how long the pool season really is
An unheated pool in Decatur 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).
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What each heater buys you in Decatur
| 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 | 7 | Apr to Oct | $245 | $795 |
| Gas heater + cover | 7 | Apr to Oct | $511 | $936 |
For a 450 sq ft pool held at 80°F, at AL prices of 16.5¢/kWh electricity and $18/Mcf gas. All-in spreads the purchase over the equipment's life.
The cheapest way to the full season in Decatur
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: Decatur 4SE, 3.2 mi away (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). Water temperature is estimated from air and sunshine, not measured.
Decatur 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 | 52° | 42° | 2.5 | 43° | 49° | – | – |
| Feb | 57° | 46° | 3.0 | 44° | 50° | – | – |
| Mar | 65° | 53° | 4.2 | 51° | 57° | – | – |
| Apr | 74° | 62° | 5.5 | 60° | 66° | $141 | $287 |
| May | 80° | 69° | 6.0 | 68° | 74° | $51 | $115 |
| Jun | 87° | 76° | 6.3 | 76° | 82° | – | – |
| Jul | 89° | 79° | 6.1 | 81° | 87° | – | – |
| Aug | 89° | 79° | 5.6 | 82° | 88° | – | – |
| Sep | 84° | 73° | 4.9 | 78° | 84° | – | – |
| Oct | 74° | 62° | 3.9 | 69° | 75° | $53 | $109 |
| Nov | 63° | 51° | 2.9 | 57° | 63° | – | – |
| Dec | 55° | 44° | 2.2 | 47° | 53° | – | – |
Heating costs most in Apr (about $141 with a heat pump, $287 with gas). Sunshine peaks in Jun at 6.3 kWh/m²/day (NASA satellite data, 45.6 km grid cell). Highlighted months are swimmable with no heater.
How Decatur compares with nearby cities
Decatur ranks 53 of 66 Alabama cities for unheated swim months; Athens, Madison, Huntsville nearby get a longer season without a heater.
| City | Distance | Unheated months | Heat pump months | Heat pump $/yr |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hartselle, AL | 10 mi | 2 | 7 | $245 |
| Athens, AL | 14 mi | 3 | 7 | $211 |
| Madison, AL | 16 mi | 4 | 7 | $197 |
| Huntsville, AL | 20 mi | 4 | 7 | $197 |
| Cullman, AL | 29 mi | 3 | 7 | $245 |
| Muscle Shoals, AL | 38 mi | 3 | 7 | $272 |