Pool swim season in Southern Pines, NC
When can you swim in an outdoor pool in Southern Pines, NC?
An unheated pool in Southern Pines 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 Southern Pines
| 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 | $257 | $807 |
| Gas heater + cover | 7 | Apr to Oct | $544 | $969 |
For a 450 sq ft pool held at 80°F, at NC prices of 14.9¢/kWh electricity and $16/Mcf gas. All-in spreads the purchase over the equipment's life.
The cheapest way to the full season in Southern Pines
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: Carthage Wtp, 9.5 mi away (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). Water temperature is estimated from air and sunshine, not measured.
Southern Pines 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 | 53° | 42° | 2.6 | 43° | 49° | – | – |
| Feb | 56° | 44° | 3.3 | 43° | 49° | – | – |
| Mar | 65° | 53° | 4.3 | 50° | 56° | – | – |
| Apr | 73° | 60° | 5.5 | 59° | 65° | $140 | $289 |
| May | 80° | 69° | 6.0 | 67° | 73° | $56 | $128 |
| Jun | 87° | 76° | 6.4 | 76° | 82° | – | – |
| Jul | 90° | 80° | 6.1 | 81° | 87° | – | – |
| Aug | 88° | 78° | 5.5 | 81° | 87° | – | – |
| Sep | 83° | 72° | 4.6 | 77° | 83° | – | – |
| Oct | 73° | 61° | 3.7 | 67° | 73° | $61 | $127 |
| Nov | 64° | 51° | 2.9 | 56° | 62° | – | – |
| Dec | 55° | 44° | 2.3 | 47° | 53° | – | – |
Heating costs most in Apr (about $140 with a heat pump, $289 with gas). Sunshine peaks in Jun at 6.4 kWh/m²/day (NASA satellite data, 35.1 km grid cell). Highlighted months are swimmable with no heater.
How Southern Pines compares with nearby cities
Southern Pines ranks 49 of 91 North Carolina cities for unheated swim months; Hope Mills, Laurinburg nearby get a longer season without a heater.
| City | Distance | Unheated months | Heat pump months | Heat pump $/yr |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pinehurst, NC | 4 mi | 2 | 7 | $257 |
| Spring Lake, NC | 23 mi | 2 | 7 | $224 |
| Sanford, NC | 24 mi | 2 | 7 | $248 |
| Fayetteville, NC | 25 mi | 2 | 7 | $224 |
| Hope Mills, NC | 29 mi | 3 | 7 | $185 |
| Laurinburg, NC | 30 mi | 4 | 7 | $164 |