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The mild climate makes heat pumps a good fit for a lot of pools here. Gas still wins for spas and quick heat. How to choose.
Most San Diego pools are heated one of two ways: a gas heater or an electric heat pump. Both work. They suit different habits.
A heat pump pulls heat from the outside air and moves it into the water. It works best when the air is mild, which describes much of the year here. It heats slowly but steadily, and it is usually cheaper to run per degree than gas.
A gas heater burns natural gas or propane and heats the water quickly, whatever the air temperature. That makes it the better choice for a spa you want hot in 30 minutes, or a pool you only heat now and then.
If you want the pool warm for months at a time, a heat pump usually makes sense. If you mostly heat a spa, or want the pool warm for a weekend, gas is simpler. Some pools have both: a heat pump to hold the pool and gas for the spa.
Salt air is hard on heater parts either way. Keep the unit clear of plants, keep the area around it clean, and have it checked yearly. If a heater past 10 to 12 years stops firing, we'll tell you plainly whether it is worth repairing.