Villa Pool question

[jnh20knots]

We rented a villa in the Flamands area in November and we loved the place, the only thing was that the pool was chilly. Do I need to look for villas with heated pools? We swim at Saline and Gouverneur and the water is warm enough for us. We are from florida so we are used to warm water. Any thoughts would be appreciated. Thank you

 

[Cwater]

We rented a villa in the Flamands area in November and we loved the place, the only thing was that the pool was chilly. Do I need to look for villas with heated pools? We swim at Saline and Gouverneur and the water is warm enough for us. We are from florida so we are used to warm water. Any thoughts would be appreciated. Thank you

I love our heated pool. Jump in before my first cup of coffee, another dip before bed and of course while it’s raining as long as there is no thunder. Being from Long Island a heated pool is a blessing. Enjoy and see you on the beach

 

[amyb]

I have heard that going forward, no more permits will be issued with pool heaters in the plans. There is a critical shortage of island power and now you are probably seeing the same regarding the need to ration water. That door is closing as well as people have to learn to manage their basic needs and not use more power and water than the island can produce.

 

[TR561]

St Barth has some of the coldest pools in the world somehow. It's one of the great mysteries. I live in Florida and we have had multiple nights in the high 30's and my pool feels like a hot tub compared to every single villa pool i have rented on the island. So the answer is yes, a heated pool is a huge deal when visiting St Barth.

 

[trnorman]

Our return this June is to a villa new to us, with a heated pool. The last two years the pool has been rather frigid unless the sun was directly overhead. Because it was an east facing villa, by 2pm most of the pool was in shadow. Forget swimming at night.

 

[PIRATE40]

This was discussed not too long ago...I get the power problem.......but there are ways to raise the temperature with existing pumps running and directing the water through black piping/solar reflection....even a few degrees is better than nothing if it does not cost hardly anything...

 

[chiz]

Just curious...We see more and more villas being built, more restaurants added, maybe more hotels......all needing additional power and water. Prompts the question...Is there a plan to increase water and power capacity on the island? Also, is there a plan to deal with additional sewage processing, trash disposal, etc.....all of the infrastructure needed to support more people on the island?

 

[shihadehs]

We arrived yesterday and are thoroughly enjoying our “chilly” pool.
To quote Amy...Ahhh St. Barth’s....

 

[KevinS]

Just curious...We see more and more villas being built, more restaurants added, maybe more hotels......all needing additional power and water. Prompts the question...Is there a plan to increase water and power capacity on the island? Also, is there a plan to deal with additional sewage processing, trash disposal, etc.....all of the infrastructure needed to support more people on the island?

There's a proposal for doubling the water production capacity and relocating the intake.

 

[Jim Kelly-Evans]

I could never understand why our previous villa pool was so chilly. Finally the owner installed a heater. I think it was fired by propane, which does not draw on the power grid. Our latest villa has a hot tub. That does draw power but I keep it on low when we are there.

 

[steelpe]

We have rented a few villas in SBH (not as many as some). We have rented two villas with heated pools. One stay was in January the other in November. We found that having a heated pool in November wasn't really needed... while having a heated pool in January was beneficial. That being said, we did find the heated pool in January to be a bit warm for our liking.... but this allowed us to use the pool after dinner before we went to bed.

Getting a villa with a heated pool in our price range isn't easy but doable. Not sure about the more expensive villas though.

 

[DaddyLeCool]

For sure you have to ask before, if the pool is heated. Otherwise ( as a former inhabitant of SBH) you can plunge into your pool only between April ( although …) and October. And even during these months some days after rain, you won’t. New systems are not that energy consuming, so yes, definitely, IMHO your pool has to be heated.

 

[cec1]

For sure you have to ask before, if the pool is heated. Otherwise ( as a former inhabitant of SBH) you can plunge into your pool only between April ( although …) and October. And even during these months some days after rain, you won’t. New systems are not that energy consuming, so yes, definitely, IMHO your pool has to be heated.

Interesting input Daddy. I “get” the point of view that “your pool has to be heated.” Two questions, however . . ,
1. “New systems are not that energy consuming.” It sounds like you’re knowledgeable about pool heating systems. I’d love to have the benefit of your knowledge. Maybe you’re willing to PM me with info?
2. With regard to your opinion that “your pool has to be heated,” I’m interested in your opinion about an acceptable differential in price which would distinguish a Villa rental with heated pool vs. without, if you have an opinion. (In our experience, the cost of installing pool heating equipment, & the projected associated monthly cost, moves the needle for rental rates to a range that moves beyond what’s acceptable to “thrifty” visitors, which comprise many of our guests.)

Thank you for engaging,

 

[Hawke]

Sometimes Marigot bay seems as warm as a pool.

 

[le_reve]

Interesting input Daddy. I “get” the point of view that “your pool has to be heated.” Two questions, however . . ,
1. “New systems are not that energy consuming.” It sounds like you’re knowledgeable about pool heating systems. I’d love to have the benefit of your knowledge. Maybe you’re willing to PM me with info?
2. With regard to your opinion that “your pool has to be heated,” I’m interested in your opinion about an acceptable differential in price which would distinguish a Villa rental with heated pool vs. without, if you have an opinion. (In our experience, the cost of installing pool heating equipment, & the projected associated monthly cost, moves the needle for rental rates to a range that moves beyond what’s acceptable to “thrifty” visitors, which comprise many of our guests.)

Thank you for engaging,

Hey cec...

After a lot of back and forth, we bit the bullet and installed a heater in our pool last month. PM me and I will be happy to share details. It was not as expensive as we thought it would be, and it does not draw as much power as we had thought, either. We thought it was worth it as a selling point to increase rentals in the future. We are in Flamands and the pool was always chilly - even in summer!

 

[Happycamper]

Hotspot makes an attachment for an A/C condenser (the part that sits outside the house with the big fan) that takes the waste heat that is normally blown into the air and routes that waste heat into the swimming pool instead. In theory, that makes the pool heat free, assuming that you run your A/C a few hours a day anyway. Some claim that it is beyond free and actually lowers the cost of the A/C if your pool temperature is lower than the air temperature because then the load on the A/C unit is less, but I doubt one would really see the difference.

I can't use one here in Boston because our A/C is only running a few weeks in July and August and those are the weeks the pool is already perfectly warm so I have no firsthand experience, but on St Barths some people run A/C every day whether for 'cooling' or just to get the humidity out of the air.

https://www.hotspotenergy.com/titanium-pool-heat-exchangers/

 

[cec1]

Hotspot makes an attachment for an A/C condenser (the part that sits outside the house with the big fan) that takes the waste heat that is normally blown into the air and routes that waste heat into the swimming pool instead. In theory, that makes the pool heat free, assuming that you run your A/C a few hours a day anyway. Some claim that it is beyond free and actually lowers the cost of the A/C if your pool temperature is lower than the air temperature because then the load on the A/C unit is less, but I doubt one would really see the difference.

I can't use one here in Boston because our A/C is only running a few weeks in July and August and those are the weeks the pool is already perfectly warm so I have no firsthand experience, but on St Barths some people run A/C every day whether for 'cooling' or just to get the humidity out of the air.

https://www.hotspotenergy.com/titanium-pool-heat-exchangers/

Thank you . . . sounds great & very workable in our situation (3 nearby A/C units blowing hot air so much of the time!).

 

[JEK]

https://www.hotspotenergy.com/pool-heater/

 

[KevinS]

The temperature of the pool depends on how much direct sun it gets. Our former November rental had little direct sun, and always had a cold pool, which on a hot day was incredibly refreshing. It could also be mildly uncomfortable, so I would swim in the bay on those days, which was also a bit cool.

Our April rental has a pool which is in direct sun all day long. With the unseasonably warm temperatures this week (it may not drop below 80F overnight) the pool is very warm.

Bottom line, you don’t need to rent a villa with a heated pool. You need to find out how much direct sun the pool gets.

 

[DaddyLeCool]

The temperature of the pool depends on how much direct sun it gets. Our former November rental had little direct sun, and always had a cold pool, which on a hot day was incredibly refreshing. It could also be mildly uncomfortable, so I would swim in the bay on those days, which was also a bit cool.

Our April rental has a pool which is in direct sun all day long. With the unseasonably warm temperatures this week (it may not drop below 80F overnight) the pool is very warm.

Bottom line, you don’t need to rent a villa with a heated pool. You need to find out how much direct sun the pool gets.

Right, but depends also on the wind that you experience over the pool. Breeze and wind are much appreciated when temperatures are high (no AirCon needed during daytime), and also because is is a good rampart against mosquitoes. But for sure it cools the pool.