Heater & Chiller Systems

Your Questions Answered

• WHAT IS THE DELIVERY AREA FOR HEATER SYSTEMS?

  Our Cowboy Pools and heaters are available for delivery and installation within 50 miles of our warehouse in Austin and Houston (this includes San Antonio & Galveston).
  

  For The Honcho, delivery is available nationwide, and you can add on a TempTamer or a 110v electric heater which will be pre-assembled to your pool package!

  Questions? Ask us here or email us at howdy@cowboypools.com. Sign up for our email list to keep informed of any updates!

• CHOOSING THE RIGHT HEATER OR CHILLER

  Which heater or chiller is best for my pool?
  We offer several heating and cooling options to fit different needs:
  
  TempTamer (110v Heater/Chiller
  Turn your Cowboy Pool into an all-in-one hot tub, cold plunge, and soaking pool—right from your phone.
  

  • Works best for 6’ & 8’ Cowboy Pools.
    Cools to below 40°F and heats up to 104°F.
    
  • Raises or lowers temps about 1–2°F per hour.
    
  • Requires one dedicated 110v/15amp outlet within 15–20ft of the pool pump (plus a separate outlet for the pump)
    
  • Easy to install—A dedicated outlet is recommended for best performance, but in many cases, an electrician is not required if your existing outdoor outlets meet the load requirements
    

  Crosswind (240v Heater/Chiller)

  • Best heater/chiller for 10’ pools or frequent heating/cooling.
    
  • Cools down to ~50°F and heats up to 104°F.
    
  • Changes temp 2–4°F per hour.
    
  • Requires a 240v junction box within 6ft of the pump + a 110v/15amp outlet for the pump.
    More efficient than TempTamer.
    

  11kW Electric Heater (heats only)

  • 240v dedicated outlet required.
    
  • Heats at 5–8°F per hour, similar to Crosswind, but does not chill.
    
  • Lower price point.
    

  Natural Gas or Propane Heater (Pentair MasterTemp)
  

  • Fastest option: heats an 8’ pool in 1–2 hours (about 6–10°F per hour).
    
  • Propane requires a 100lb+ tank (not 20lb/40lb grill tanks).
    
  • Requires plumber connection.
    Max output: 125,000 Btu/Hr.
    

  
  Do all systems reach hot tub temps? Depending on outside conditions, pool size, and run time, all heaters and heater/chillers can reach up to 104°F. We highly recommend purchasing our Inflatable Hard Cover for best insulation.

  
  What is the delivery area

  Our Cowboy Pools and heaters are available for delivery and installation within 50 miles of our warehouse in Austin and Houston (this includes San Antonio & Galveston).
  For The Honcho, delivery is available nationwide, and you can add on a TempTamer or a 110v electric heater which will be pre-assembled to your pool package!
  
  Tips for best performance:
  Use the Honcho insulated pool and our Inflatable Cover to retain heat and reduce energy costs.
  Heating a pool takes time and power, especially in cooler climates. 
  To chill your pool more efficiently in the summer, consider keeping your pool at least partially shaded.
  Questions? Ask us here or email us at howdy@cowboypools.com. Sign up for our email list to keep informed of any updates!
  

• ABOUT THE NATURAL GAS HEATER OPTION

  If you're looking to heat your pool often and you have access to natural gas at your home, we suggest our Natural Gas heater options.

  Natural gas systems hook directly into your natural gas line (by a plumber), and propane heaters require refilling propane tanks. If you're choosing the Propane version of the Mastertemp heater you will need to have it connected to a large propane tank on your property by a plumber 100 lbs or more - the heater will not work with small 20 lbs or 40 lbs tanks. The maximum power output of the Natural Gas Heater is 125,000Btu/Hr. 

  If you need to move your natural gas line closer to your pool and equipment, we recommend getting a couple of quote from plumbers before committing to purchasing a Natural Gas Heater System. You can expect to pay a plumber $1,500+ since it is not always straightforward to run a gas line. 

  The gas line can be installed either before or after we come install your heater system. After we install your heater, a plumber will need to connect the heater unit to the natural gas line so it is usually better to have the gas line installed after we install your heater.

  You can reach out to our recommended plumber in the Austin area: Ryan Waits at (512) 965-4524.

  We suggest getting a couple of quotes ahead of time, as it may get pretty pricey to extend your gas line.

  Electrical Requirements for an upgraded gas heater or propane heater: The gas or propane heater will need to have its own dedicated 120v 15amp outlet and cannot run off an extension cord. This is in addition to the 120v 15amp outlet you'll need for the pool pump.

• WHICH HEATER SHOULD I GET FOR MY POOL?

  We have heaters that operate on natural gas, propane, and electricity. Keep in mind heating a heated pool is a luxury that doesn't come cheaply.
  

  Here's a little more info on each! 🔥

  The TempTamer heater/chiller combo and Crosswind heater/chiller combo can reach temperatures up to 104 degrees, and can also chill your pool as low as 50 degrees! This means they can double as a cold plunge or hot tub, and you'll be able to regulate temperatures year round (outside of deep freezing climates)!
  - The TempTamer heater/chiller only required a standard 110v dedicated outlet for this unit, which means an electrician is not required for this unit, and should yield about a 2-3 degree change in temperature per hour. The Crosswind is more efficient at 5-8 degrees per hour but requires an upgraded 240v outlet.
  - These models are energy efficient, and the average cost of running your pool system and your Crosswind is about $1-2/day while both heating and chilling. Because the TempTamer is a lower powered unit (110v) we can expect the energy cost to be lower.
  - They can both be controlled remotely with an app!
  - You will need two outlets near the pool pump location. The TempTamer requires one dedicated 110v-120v 15amp outlet within 15-20ft of the pool pump in addition to the dedicated 110v 15amp outlet for the pool pump. The Crosswind requires a 240v junction box installed within 6ft of the pool pump location and a designated 110v 15amp outlet for the pool pump.

  Our highest powered electric heater is the 11kw Heater requires a 240v upgraded dedicated outlet and should yield about a 5-8 degree rise in temperature per hour, similar to the Crosswind. The 11kw Heater is at a lower price point because it only heats.

  The Natural Gas MasterTemp heater can heat an 8’ pool in 1-2 hours, and you should see a 6-10 degree raise in temperature per hour. This same heater can be adapted to use propane, if that is preferred. Gas heaters are very effective, quick to heat and also relatively energy efficient.

  All of the above heaters have the potential to reach hot tub temperatures, depending on the temperature outside and the size of the pool. For any of these units, we highly recommend the Honcho pool and adding on the inflatable cover to trap the heat and help your heater work more efficiently.

  In deep freezing temps, these units need to be winterized and drained, and the filter pump system winterized and drained as well. To do this: Turn off the filter pump and loosen the union fittings to drain the water from the unit. You may plug your pool from the inside with the provided plastic plug fittings to keep the water in your pool.

  Our heaters and heater/chiller units can be added later if you decide not to install them right away.

  • If you need an electrician in Austin, you can reach out to Albert at 512-766-3828.
  • You can reach out to our recommended plumber Ryan Waits at (512) 965-4524.

  We suggest heating an insulated Honcho pool, and purchasing our Inflatable Cover to keep the heated water warm longer and to prevent heat loss / evaporation.

• HOW HOT DO THE HEATED POOLS GET?

  The heated temperature of your pool water depends on the starting temperature, the time, and type of heater system you choose.

  The natural gas or propane heaters will heat more quickly and you will see a 6-10 degree raise in temperature per hour.

  The electric heaters and the heater/chiller will raise the pool temp 2-8 degrees per hour depending on the system.

  Exceptions may include deep freezing temperatures over an extended period of time.
  
  The TempTamer 110v Heater & Chiller can chill water to below 40 degrees F and heat up to 104 degrees in most conditions. And changes temperatures 1-2 degrees per hour. The TempTamer works best for 6ft & 8ft Honcho Pools and with outdoor conditions above 40 degrees. Only requires a dedicated standard 110v outlet.
  The Crosswind 240v Heater & Chiller can chill water to below 50 degrees F and heat up to 104 degrees in most conditions. And changes temperatures 2-4 degrees per hour. The Crosswind is more efficient and works well for any size Cowboy Pool and best with outdoor conditions above 45 degrees. 
  
  You'll have an easier time reaching and maintaining hot tub temperatures with our Inflatable Cover and our lined and insulated pool, The Honcho. 

• SEASONAL CARE & PERFORMANCE

  How quickly will my pool heat or cool?

  • TempTamer: 1–2°F per hour.
    
  • Crosswind: 2–4°F per hour.
    
  • 11kW Electric Heater: 5–8°F per hour (heat only).
    
  • Gas/Propane Heater: 6–10°F per hour.
    

  What temperatures can I expect?

  • All heaters/chillers: Up to 104°F.
    
  • TempTamer: Down to ~40°F.
    
  • Crosswind: Down to ~50°F.
    
  • Actual performance depends on outdoor temps, pool size, and runtime.
    

  What happens in freezing temps?

  • Below 47°F: Electric Heater/Chiller units cannot heat effectively.
    
  • Below 32°F: Units must be winterized and drained.
    

  How to winterize:

  1. Turn off the filter pump.
     
  2. Loosen union fittings to drain the unit.
     
  3. Use the provided plugs inside the pool to keep water in.
     
  4. Drain the filter pump system as well.
     

  📺 Watch our How to Winterize Your Pool video.

• BENEFITS OF COLD PLUNGE & HOT TUB

  Our combination heater & chiller systems give you the benefits of a Cold Plunge and Hot Tub:

  Benefits of Cold Plunge (50–60°F):
  Reduced Inflammation & Muscle Soreness
  Improved Circulation
  Boosted Mood & Mental Resilience
  Immune System Support
  Brown Fat Activation & Metabolism
  

  Benefits of a Hot Soak (99–104°F):
  Muscle Relaxation & Pain Relief
  Improved Sleep Quality
  Lower Blood Pressure (in the short term)
  Stress Reduction
  Detoxification & Skin Health