How A Heat Pump Works
A heat pump uses electricity to move heat from one place to another. In the winter, it pulls warm air from outside and moves it indoors to heat your home. In the summer, it acts like an air conditioner by moving warm air outside while circulating cool air inside your home.
Dave and Jaclyn explain the different types of air-source heat pumps and which one might be right for you based on your housing type
How Can I Cool My Swimming Pool Water Temperature Heat Pumps And Chillers
Each year about this time I get calls from previous customers making such comments as:
- “I can’t believe you were right.”
- “We haven’t used it much but boy are we glad we have it now.”
- “I can’t believe what a difference it makes on such hot days as these. Wow it’s refreshing!”
So what are these comments referring to? Well, the answer is Heat Pumps with Chillers.
Should I Buy A Solar Pool Pump
Solar Pool Pump
Your pool pump runs for several hours each day of the year. It is often the second biggest energy hog in a Southwest Florida pool home . Your pool pump is important because circulating water in your pool both filters it and disburses sanitation chemicals evenly throughout it. You might wonder about the possibility of using a solar pool pump to circulate your pool water. It is an excellent idea, but may not be the most practical solution.
Solar Pool Pump Components
There are solar pool pumps on the market, and we did sell them at one point. Most solar pool pumps work on a solar-direct principal. That means they connect directly to solar electric panels that turn an efficient DC pump at a speed relative to the amount of sunlight hitting the solar panels. Some employ batteries or utility electric backup. They provided a decent long-term return on investment, and required no electricity to operate.
There are some downsides to solar pool pumps that caused us to start recommending another alternative:
Pentair Intelliflo Variable Speed Pump
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Con: Take Longer To Heat The Pool
Due to the longer heating process, heat pumps take longer to heat the entire pool overall. They are not ideal if you want to shut it off frequently and only turn it on when the pool is in use. If you have this type of pool water heater, its better to keep it running more often so that the pool water is nice and warm when you decide to go for a swim.
Top 10 Best Heat Pumps Consumer Guide In 2021
**Disclosure: As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Heat pumps for pools guarantee the user that the water temperature of the pool is always ready. It is, therefore, important to get a heat pump that is reliable and also energy efficient.
The consumer should be keen on quiet operation since some of these heat pumps are very loud and noisy. Several brands on the market claim to provide the best quality heat pumps. This is why we have compiled this ten products to guide you when shopping.
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This brand guarantees the user of durability, reliability, and performance. It operates very quietly as compared to other similar brands. It has a polymer cabinet that boosts its durability by protecting it from rust and corrosion. The titanium heat exchanger makes the performance of the unit to be high. It also features a corrosion resistant evaporator fin. Installation is very easy when it comes to this unit making it convenient.
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Are Pool Heat Pumps Worth It
The short answer is yes! You will get far more use from your pool, when it’s heated! As previously mentioned, electric heat pumps are a more efficient use of electricity as it transfers the warmth of the air into the water. Coming at a lower annual cost than gas heaters, this inherently makes electric heat pumps popular for those pool users wanting to use their swimming oasis year-round.
Air Source Heat Pump Running Cost
When installed properly by experts , air source heat pumps are definitely cheaper than any oil or LPG boilers.
Coefficient of Performance is a way of defining how much output of energy results from an input of energy. When an air source heat pump uses 1kW of electricity to run, it has a COP of 3kW. The 3kW is thermal energy .
These ratios change depending on the air temperature and also the temperature of water that the heat pump is trying to produce. Because it fluctuates throughout the seasons, an average COP is worked out over the course of a year, known as SCOP .
To give some comparison, a traditional gas boiler COP might be 0.8.
Running costs should be reduced by around £200-£300 a year with an air source heat pump which has a SCOP of 3.4.
These running costs are further reduced when a homeowner is part of the governments Renewable Heat Incentives Scheme, which for air source heating pays back 10.71pm per kW. Over the 7 years, this adds up to a significant help towards payment and over the entire lifespan, you will definitely end up paying less than its counterpart gas boiler.
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Inverter Driven Swimming Pool Heat Pumps
The latest swimming pool heat pumps now use inverter technology.
Inverter technology allows the fan and the compressor in the pool heat pump to run at variable speeds.
The heat pump can therefore adjust its output to exactly match the demand from the pool.
Once the swimming pool has reached its desired temperature, an inverter driven swimming pool heat pump will reduce its output down to typically around 25% to 50% of its maximum power.
When the inverter driven swimming pool heat pump is running at reduced power, the COPs can reach around 14.
This means that for 1kw of electricity used, up to 14kw of heat can be delivered to the pool.
No other method of swimming pool heating can deliver such high efficiency
At HeatPumps4Pools, we sell a wide range of swimming pool heat pumps that we consider to offer the best combination of price, performance, warranty and after-sales support .
Our range includes all of the leading brands of pool heat pumps including:-
- Thermotec Inverter
- Garden Pac
- etc
We are happy to help you select the best option for your pool and budget. Feel free to call us, email us or use our live chat service.
What Is The Coldest Temperature At Which A Heat Pump Can Be Operated
Heat pumps can commonly operate down to 0 degrees, with some able to go much lower to -10 degrees, this again is the Madimack range of heat pumps. Within these cold temperatures you will find defrosting which is a process to protect the heater from freezing over in very low temperatures. This is an automatic process where a reversible valve releases the heated refrigerant at the compressor back to the condenser to stop it frosting.
We have also covered this in more detail when we explored if heat pumps can be used in the dead of winter.
View our Range of Water TechniX Inverter Paradise Heat Pumps
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Why A Heat Pump Is Better Than Solar Pool Heating
There are a number of factors that come into play when tossing up your heater options and It depends on where you live and what your needs are.
The common questions to ask are:
- How often do you swim, daily/weekly?
- What is the volume of water in my pool?
- What is the ambient outdoor temperature?
- How often do you use your pool in autumn/spring/winter?
- Is the pool affected by shade, sun and wind?
Theres no right or wrong answers to these questions. It can depend on the size of the pool, your budget and your preferred energy source.
By far the cheapest way would be a pool cover, these are a small initial investment, $0 ongoing cost, just a bit of effort to roll back and forth over the pool when not in use, and of course it wont hit that warm 28 degrees in winter.
Choosing A Pool Heater
So, in choosing you will need to decide if you want to pay more up front and have lower operation costs, or pay less up front and have potentially higher heating costs. You also need to consider how fast you want the heater to work. And of course, once you choose the type of you want, make sure it is the right size for your pool. Youll need to know how many gallons of water your pool holds.
Your pool contractor can probably make some recommendations and go into further detail about the pros and cons of each type.
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Can I Use A Heat Pump To Heat A Swimming Pool All Year Round
A dedicated swimming pool heat pump is usually used when the ambient air temperature is high and therefore is not always suitable for all year use.
Many of them do not have a defrost cycle as they are predominantly used on outdoor swimming pools in warmer climates, so they may not be suitable for use in winter.
You can however use the more domestic type heat pumps if you have an indoor swimming pool that you intend to use all year round.
Why Choose A Heat Pump For A Swimming Pool
A swimming pool can be heated by a domestic hot water heat pump via a suitably sized heat exchanger or alternatively a dedicated swimming pool heat pump can be used.
A domestic hot water heat pump will usually have a slower flow of water through its heat exchanger and the resultant temperature rise in that water will be higher that a dedicated swimming pool heat pump which will have its own heat exchanger that is plumbed in series with the pool pump and filter system.
The water flows very fast through the heat exchanger and the temperature rise is very low, sometimes under 1°C. This low temperature difference allows the heat pump to be very efficient, often achieving efficiencies of over 500%.
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Sizing A Heat Pump Pool Heater
You should have a trained pool professional perform a proper sizing analysis for your specific pool to determine pool heater size.
Sizing a heat pump pool heater involves many factors. Basically, a heater is sized according to the surface area of the pool and the difference between the pool and the average air temperatures. Other factors also affect the heating load for outdoor pools, such as wind exposure, humidity levels, and cool night temperatures. Therefore, pools located in areas with higher average wind speeds at the pool surface, lower humidity, and cool nights will require a larger heater.
Heat pump pool heaters are rated by Btu output and horsepower . Standard sizes include 3.5 hp/75,000 Btu, 5 hp/100,000 Btu, and 6 hp/125,000 Btu.
To calculate an approximate heater size for an outdoor swimming pool, follow these steps:
Pool Area x Temperature Rise x 12
This formula is based on 1º to 1-1/4ºF temperature rise per hour and a 3-1/2 mile per hour average wind at the pool surface. For a 1-1/2ºF rise multiply by 1.5. For a 2ºF rise multiply by 2.0.
Pro: Heat Your Pool Quickly
Gas heaters are popular among pool owners because it heats the pool quickly and keeps the pools temperature stable, regardless of outdoor temperature. For this reason, gas pool water heaters are ideal for pool owners in cooler climates who use their pool less frequently, particularly at the beginning or end of the summer when the outside temperature fluctuates often.
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Air Source Heat Pump Installation
Air source heat pumps can be installed within 2-4 days. They should always be installed by a fully qualified MCS certified technician. By choosing a verified RECC associated company like Green Square, you can be fully assured that the install will be safe, fully functional and as efficient as possible.
Because Green Square are a national company, we know that we can provide air source heat pump installers to a huge range of locations across the UK.
To see our Air source heat pump installer near me visit our energy centre page
Summary
Were sure youll agree that overall the benefits of an air source heat pump well outweigh any negatives. Low cost heat and hot water are environmentally sustainable and super energy efficient.
For a full no obligation heat pump quotes, or any other upgrade for your property with renewable energy, why not give our expert team a call today. Our passion is to deliver the optimum customer experience at the very best price and value for money. Call us today on or use our contact form to get in touch.
The Truth About Heating Outputsof Different Brands
There are a number of internet sellers who quite simply lie about the output of their heat pump to make you think their unit is bigger and better. Most do not explain what there claims are based on. Those who do show statistics about the power input and heating output prove their claims are untrue :
The heating output is easy to calculate input x COP = outputThe COP of all heat pumps is very similar and this does not increase much even when the temperature is very hot. Efficiency ratings of 7 are not even possible!. Amazingly, even when some sellers provide their input power and and confirm an efficiency rating of 5, they still promote an output that is 40% higher than what it really is! Can you trust someone who makes untrue claims like this?
Another good way to see what the output is is by the model number is the model number is X130 or H13R then it is a 13 Kw heat pump, not 18 or 20.
Our output ratings are based on normal operating conditions and are supported by test reports and show that our heat pumps have the same heating output as brands that claim 40% higher Kw ratings.
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How Can I Heat My Swimming Pool
This is a question that lots of people ask. Generally, the main heating systems available for swimming pools are Gas , Electric or Oil heaters. Some of these heaters can be beneficial from a cost point of view but tend to lose their appeal when it comes to installation costs and this is why a air source or ground source heat pump can be a much better solution to heating a pool.
What Happens When The Heat Pump Reaches The Desired Swimming Temperature
Heat pumps have built in thermostats that monitor the pool’s temperature, when the swimming temperature is reached the heat pump is throttled off automatically, it comes back in operation only if the pool temperature is dropped by 1 degrees less than the set temperature. All inverter heat pumps with this technology allows it to drop to a lower speed and higher efficiency.
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Wait Whats A Pool Heat Pump
Basically, a pool heat pump is another appliance you have the option to hook up to your greater circulation system. It usually has a column shape, with mesh metal and programming options on the side and fan-like blades on top.
According to the Department of Energy, there are typically three energy-efficient ways to heat your swimming pool: gas pool heaters, solar pool heaters, and heat pumps. But dont be fooled by the energy-efficient categorizationthese heating types arent exactly equal.
Solar heaters and pool heat pumps are the most efficient pool heaters on the market, and fairly similar in design. Unlike the gas heater, these heater types transfer heat, not produce it.
Ready to make the leap for the best pool heat pump on the market? That would be the Energy-Saving ComforTemp Pool Heat Pump 95,000 BTU to heat 18,000 Gallonsit works fast, is ultra-powerful, and help you save big. According to customer Brad E., I did my research and could not pass up the ComforTemp heat pump. It ROCKS! I followed the instructions and hooked it up myself- my wife supervised. Started it right up and watched the temperature rise in my pool.
How Long Does A Heat Pump Take To Heat A Pool
An appropriately sized heat pump will usually heat the swimming pool in around 4 to 5 days.
However, you can make a more accurate estimate for a specific swimming pool with this formula:
Seconds = Litres x 4.18 x temperature difference / kW
Therefore if you have a 12kW heat pump on an 8m x 4m x 1m swimming pool that you want to heat to 25 degrees then here is the calculation:
Seconds = 32000 x 4.18 x 20 ÷ 12
This equals 222, 933 seconds, or 62 hours
This does not take into account any heat loss during the heat up time so that needs to be added.
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Keep You Swimming Longer
With a pool heat pump, youre able to extend your swim season by opening your pool earlier and closing your pool laterand actually using it immediately, or up until the very last moment. Until you power it off, youre swimming comfortably into the fall. And if you live somewhere with a super mild winter that doesnt consistently reach below 50 degrees Fahrenheit, your pool heat pump might prevent you from needing to close the pool at all.
