Pool swim season in DeLand, FL
When can you swim in an outdoor pool in DeLand, FL?
An unheated pool in DeLand reaches 78°F in Jun to Sep, about 4 months a year. The air allows up to 11 swimmable months with a heater (Feb to Dec).
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What each heater buys you in DeLand
| Option | Months | Swimmable | Energy/yr | All-in/yr |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| No heater | 4 | Jun to Sep | $0 | $0 |
| Solar cover only | 6 | May to Oct | $0 | $50 |
| Solar panels + cover | 8 | Apr to Nov | $0 | $283 |
| Heat pump + cover | 11 | Feb to Dec | $423 | $973 |
| Gas heater + cover | 11 | Feb to Dec | $1,357 | $1,782 |
For a 450 sq ft pool held at 80°F, at FL prices of 15.3¢/kWh electricity and $25/Mcf gas. All-in spreads the purchase over the equipment's life.
The cheapest way to the full season in DeLand
Heat pump + cover: 11 of 11 possible months for about $973 a year all-in, which works out near $139 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: Deland 1 SSE, 1.1 mi away (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). Water temperature is estimated from air and sunshine, not measured.
DeLand 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 | 69° | 57° | 3.2 | 59° | 65° | – | – |
| Feb | 72° | 60° | 3.9 | 59° | 65° | $141 | $438 |
| Mar | 76° | 64° | 5.1 | 64° | 70° | $93 | $304 |
| Apr | 81° | 69° | 6.1 | 69° | 75° | $38 | $135 |
| May | 86° | 75° | 6.4 | 75° | 81° | – | – |
| Jun | 89° | 80° | 5.8 | 80° | 86° | – | – |
| Jul | 91° | 82° | 5.8 | 84° | 90° | – | – |
| Aug | 90° | 82° | 5.4 | 84° | 90° | – | – |
| Sep | 88° | 79° | 4.9 | 82° | 88° | – | – |
| Oct | 83° | 73° | 4.3 | 77° | 83° | – | – |
| Nov | 76° | 65° | 3.4 | 69° | 75° | $40 | $135 |
| Dec | 71° | 60° | 2.9 | 62° | 68° | $111 | $345 |
Heating costs most in Feb (about $141 with a heat pump, $438 with gas). Sunshine peaks in May at 6.4 kWh/m²/day (NASA satellite data, 57.0 km grid cell). Highlighted months are swimmable with no heater.
How DeLand compares with nearby cities
DeLand ranks 164 of 173 Florida cities for unheated swim months; Deltona, DeBary, Sanford nearby get a longer season without a heater.
| City | Distance | Unheated months | Heat pump months | Heat pump $/yr |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Orange City, FL | 6 mi | 4 | 11 | $416 |
| Deltona, FL | 9 mi | 5 | 12 | $402 |
| DeBary, FL | 10 mi | 5 | 12 | $402 |
| Sanford, FL | 16 mi | 5 | 12 | $402 |
| Daytona Beach, FL | 16 mi | 5 | 11 | $338 |
| Port Orange, FL | 18 mi | 5 | 11 | $338 |