Pool swim season in Saratoga Springs, UT
When can you swim in an outdoor pool in Saratoga Springs, UT?
An unheated pool in Saratoga Springs reaches 78°F in Aug, about 1 month a year. The air allows up to 5 swimmable months with a heater (May to Sep).
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What each heater buys you in Saratoga Springs
| Option | Months | Swimmable | Energy/yr | All-in/yr |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| No heater | 1 | Aug | $0 | $0 |
| Solar cover only | 2 | Jul to Aug | $0 | $50 |
| Solar panels + cover | 4 | Jun to Sep | $0 | $283 |
| Heat pump + cover | 5 | May to Sep | $221 | $771 |
| Gas heater + cover | 5 | May to Sep | $322 | $747 |
For a 450 sq ft pool held at 80°F, at UT prices of 13.2¢/kWh electricity and $10/Mcf gas. All-in spreads the purchase over the equipment's life.
The cheapest way to the full season in Saratoga Springs
Solar panels + cover: 4 of 5 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 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: Utah Lake Lehi, 1.5 mi away (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). Water temperature is estimated from air and sunshine, not measured.
Saratoga Springs 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 | 38° | 29° | 2.3 | 29° | 35° | – | – |
| Feb | 44° | 34° | 3.2 | 32° | 38° | – | – |
| Mar | 53° | 42° | 4.5 | 40° | 46° | – | – |
| Apr | 62° | 49° | 5.6 | 48° | 54° | – | – |
| May | 71° | 58° | 6.6 | 57° | 63° | $145 | $203 |
| Jun | 83° | 67° | 7.8 | 67° | 73° | $51 | $81 |
| Jul | 92° | 76° | 7.5 | 76° | 82° | – | – |
| Aug | 89° | 74° | 6.6 | 78° | 84° | – | – |
| Sep | 79° | 63° | 5.4 | 71° | 77° | $25 | $38 |
| Oct | 65° | 51° | 3.8 | 58° | 64° | – | – |
| Nov | 49° | 38° | 2.5 | 44° | 50° | – | – |
| Dec | 40° | 30° | 1.9 | 33° | 39° | – | – |
Heating costs most in May (about $145 with a heat pump, $203 with gas). Sunshine peaks in Jun at 7.8 kWh/m²/day (NASA satellite data, 39.2 km grid cell). Highlighted months are swimmable with no heater.
How Saratoga Springs compares with nearby cities
Saratoga Springs ranks 56 of 67 Utah cities for unheated swim months; American Fork, Vineyard, Bluffdale nearby get a longer season without a heater.
| City | Distance | Unheated months | Heat pump months | Heat pump $/yr |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Eagle Mountain, UT | 5 mi | 0 | 5 | $337 |
| Lehi, UT | 6 mi | 1 | 5 | $221 |
| American Fork, UT | 7 mi | 2 | 5 | $134 |
| Highland, UT | 9 mi | 0 | 5 | $229 |
| Vineyard, UT | 9 mi | 2 | 5 | $139 |
| Bluffdale, UT | 9 mi | 2 | 5 | $130 |