Pool swim season in Thibodaux, LA
Thibodaux, LA: how long the pool season really is
An unheated pool in Thibodaux reaches 78°F in Jun to Sep, about 4 months a year. The air allows up to 9 swimmable months with a heater (Mar to Nov).
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Heater options for a Thibodaux pool, side by side
| 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 | 9 | Mar to Nov | $171 | $721 |
| Gas heater + cover | 9 | Mar to Nov | $446 | $871 |
For a 450 sq ft pool held at 80°F, at LA prices of 13.3¢/kWh electricity and $17/Mcf gas. All-in spreads the purchase over the equipment's life.
The cheapest way to the full season in Thibodaux
Solar panels + cover: 8 of 9 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: Thibodaux 4 SE, 3.7 mi away (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). Water temperature is estimated from air and sunshine, not measured.
Thibodaux 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 | 64° | 54° | 3.0 | 55° | 61° | – | – |
| Feb | 68° | 58° | 3.6 | 57° | 63° | – | – |
| Mar | 74° | 64° | 4.9 | 63° | 69° | $86 | $223 |
| Apr | 79° | 70° | 5.8 | 70° | 76° | $32 | $89 |
| May | 86° | 77° | 6.5 | 77° | 83° | – | – |
| Jun | 91° | 82° | 6.1 | 82° | 88° | – | – |
| Jul | 92° | 84° | 5.6 | 85° | 91° | – | – |
| Aug | 92° | 84° | 5.4 | 86° | 92° | – | – |
| Sep | 89° | 80° | 5.1 | 84° | 90° | – | – |
| Oct | 82° | 71° | 4.5 | 77° | 83° | – | – |
| Nov | 73° | 62° | 3.5 | 67° | 73° | $53 | $134 |
| Dec | 66° | 56° | 2.7 | 59° | 65° | – | – |
Heating costs most in Mar (about $86 with a heat pump, $223 with gas). Sunshine peaks in May at 6.5 kWh/m²/day (NASA satellite data, 44.7 km grid cell). Highlighted months are swimmable with no heater.
How Thibodaux compares with nearby cities
Thibodaux ranks 15 of 35 Louisiana cities for unheated swim months; Morgan City, Kenner nearby get a longer season without a heater.
| City | Distance | Unheated months | Heat pump months | Heat pump $/yr |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Houma, LA | 16 mi | 4 | 9 | $181 |
| Morgan City, LA | 23 mi | 5 | 9 | $175 |
| Gonzales, LA | 30 mi | 4 | 9 | $232 |
| Kenner, LA | 37 mi | 5 | 9 | $169 |
| Gretna, LA | 46 mi | 4 | 9 | $176 |
| Baton Rouge, LA | 49 mi | 4 | 9 | $265 |