Pool swim season in North Augusta, SC
North Augusta, SC: how long the pool season really is
An unheated pool in North Augusta reaches 78°F in Jun to Sep, about 4 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 North Augusta
| 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 | 7 | Apr to Oct | $0 | $283 |
| Heat pump + cover | 7 | Apr to Oct | $73 | $623 |
| Gas heater + cover | 7 | Apr to Oct | $160 | $585 |
For a 450 sq ft pool held at 80°F, at SC prices of 15.9¢/kWh electricity and $17/Mcf gas. All-in spreads the purchase over the equipment's life.
The cheapest way to the full season in North Augusta
Solar cover only: 6 of 7 possible months for about $50 a year all-in, which works out near $25 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 gas as well as a heat pump: once the purchase price is counted, gas comes out cheaper all-in here (heat pump or gas).
Weather station: Augusta Daniel Field Airport, 6.1 mi away (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). Water temperature is estimated from air and sunshine, not measured.
North Augusta 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° | 49° | 2.9 | 50° | 56° | – | – |
| Feb | 62° | 52° | 3.5 | 51° | 57° | – | – |
| Mar | 69° | 59° | 4.5 | 57° | 63° | – | – |
| Apr | 78° | 67° | 5.8 | 66° | 72° | $73 | $159 |
| May | 85° | 75° | 6.2 | 74° | 80° | – | – |
| Jun | 91° | 81° | 6.4 | 81° | 87° | – | – |
| Jul | 94° | 84° | 6.2 | 86° | 92° | – | – |
| Aug | 92° | 83° | 5.6 | 86° | 92° | – | – |
| Sep | 87° | 78° | 4.9 | 82° | 88° | – | – |
| Oct | 78° | 68° | 4.0 | 74° | 80° | – | $1 |
| Nov | 68° | 58° | 3.1 | 63° | 69° | – | – |
| Dec | 60° | 51° | 2.5 | 54° | 60° | – | – |
Heating costs most in Apr (about $73 with a heat pump, $159 with gas). Sunshine peaks in Jun at 6.4 kWh/m²/day (NASA satellite data, 42.4 km grid cell). Highlighted months are swimmable with no heater.
How North Augusta compares with nearby cities
North Augusta ranks 1 of 42 South Carolina cities for unheated swim months, and no nearby city gets a longer unheated season.
| City | Distance | Unheated months | Heat pump months | Heat pump $/yr |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Augusta-Richmond County, GA | 13 mi | 4 | 8 | $307 |
| Aiken, SC | 13 mi | 4 | 7 | $172 |
| Grovetown, GA | 15 mi | 4 | 7 | $71 |
| Greenwood, SC | 48 mi | 3 | 7 | $202 |
| Lexington, SC | 53 mi | 4 | 7 | $153 |
| Newberry, SC | 56 mi | 2 | 7 | $235 |