Pool swim season in Soddy-Daisy, TN
Soddy-Daisy, TN: how long the pool season really is
An unheated pool in Soddy-Daisy reaches 78°F in Aug, about 1 month a year. The air allows up to 7 swimmable months with a heater (Apr to Oct).
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Heater options for a Soddy-Daisy pool, side by side
| Option | Months | Swimmable | Energy/yr | All-in/yr |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| No heater | 1 | Aug | $0 | $0 |
| Solar cover only | 4 | Jun to Sep | $0 | $50 |
| Solar panels + cover | 5 | May to Sep | $0 | $283 |
| Heat pump + cover | 7 | Apr to Oct | $314 | $864 |
| Gas heater + cover | 7 | Apr to Oct | $507 | $932 |
For a 450 sq ft pool held at 80°F, at TN prices of 13.8¢/kWh electricity and $12/Mcf gas. All-in spreads the purchase over the equipment's life.
The cheapest way to the full season in Soddy-Daisy
Heat pump + cover: 7 of 7 possible months for about $864 a year all-in, which works out near $144 for each month it adds.
Before you pay for any heater, buy a solar cover: on its own it adds 3 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: Soddy Daisy-Mowbray Mountain, 4.1 mi away (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). Water temperature is estimated from air and sunshine, not measured.
Soddy-Daisy 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 | 48° | 38° | 2.3 | 39° | 45° | – | – |
| Feb | 51° | 41° | 2.9 | 40° | 46° | – | – |
| Mar | 61° | 49° | 4.0 | 46° | 52° | – | – |
| Apr | 71° | 59° | 5.3 | 56° | 62° | $155 | $244 |
| May | 78° | 66° | 5.8 | 65° | 71° | $69 | $120 |
| Jun | 85° | 73° | 6.3 | 73° | 79° | $8 | $15 |
| Jul | 88° | 77° | 6.0 | 78° | 84° | – | – |
| Aug | 87° | 76° | 5.5 | 79° | 85° | – | – |
| Sep | 81° | 69° | 4.8 | 74° | 80° | – | – |
| Oct | 70° | 59° | 3.7 | 65° | 71° | $82 | $128 |
| Nov | 59° | 49° | 2.8 | 53° | 59° | – | – |
| Dec | 50° | 41° | 2.0 | 44° | 50° | – | – |
Heating costs most in Apr (about $155 with a heat pump, $244 with gas). Sunshine peaks in Jun at 6.3 kWh/m²/day (NASA satellite data, 39.8 km grid cell). Highlighted months are swimmable with no heater.
How Soddy-Daisy compares with nearby cities
Soddy-Daisy ranks 56 of 65 Tennessee cities for unheated swim months; Chattanooga, Collegedale, Cleveland nearby get a longer season without a heater.
| City | Distance | Unheated months | Heat pump months | Heat pump $/yr |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Red Bank, TN | 13 mi | 0 | 5 | $90 |
| Chattanooga, TN | 14 mi | 3 | 7 | $200 |
| Collegedale, TN | 16 mi | 3 | 7 | $200 |
| Cleveland, TN | 18 mi | 2 | 7 | $262 |
| East Ridge, TN | 19 mi | 3 | 7 | $195 |
| Fort Oglethorpe, GA | 23 mi | 2 | 7 | $299 |