What Size Heat Pump For 15000 Gallon Pool

How Much Is A Pool Heater

pricepool heaterheaterpriceheatersprices

Petrisor Espases

Kourtney Voshage

Determining Heat Pump Swimming Pool Heater Efficiency

The energy efficiency of heat pump swimming pool heaters is measured by coefficient of performance . The higher the COP number, the more efficient. However, there is no standard test for measuring the COP. Therefore, you really can’t compare the COPs of different models unless you know that the manufacturers used the same test for each model. For example, the same heat pump will operate at a higher COP when the outside air temperature is higher.

Typically, manufacturers measure the COP by testing a heat pump pool heater with an outdoor temperature of 80ºF and pool temperature of 80ºF. COPs usually range from 3.0 to 7.0, which converts to an efficiency of 300%700%. This means that for every unit of electricity it takes to runs the compressor, you get 37 units of heat out of the heat pump.

How Many Btus Do I Need For A 10000 Gallon Pool

Or approximately 100K BTUs for every 10,000 gallons of pool water. For inground pools less than 20,000 gallons, small gas heaters like the Raypak 206K BTU output are suitable. Pools up to 30,000 gallons should look at the Pentair 300K BTU or higher, and pools over 50,000 gallons should look at the Hayward 500K BTU.

You May Like: How Do I Vacuum My Intex Pool

How Does A Heat Pump Work

If you search the internet, you will find hundreds of websites that try to explain how a heat pump works. Unfortunately, most are misleading. So Im going to explain it in a way that will help you understand the principles. Ill keep it short, stick to simple terms, and skip the complexities.

Well start with a simple, practical exercise. Reach behind your refrigerator while its running, and carefully feel the temperature in the cooling fins. Where the gas enters the fins, its warm enough to scald you. The technical name for these cooling fins is a condenser. To explain how it becomes so hot and how it relates to a heat pump, lets first mention two interesting phenomena:

• When you release compressed propane from a tank, its icy where the gas escapes because it absorbs heat from the air as it expands.

These two principles form the basis of the refrigerator cooling system. A special refrigerant gas in a closed system is compressed to the point where it becomes a warm liquid . The warm liquid then moves through the condenser , this allows it to lose some of the latent heat. The cooler pressurized liquid then progresses through a restrictor, at the entry to the evaporator inside the refrigerator. The fluid expands into the evaporator to become a gas and, in doing so, absorbs heat from the inside of the refrigerator. Then the gas moves back to the compressor to complete the cycle.

VIDEO| Learn the Principles on how a heat pump works

Solar Pool Heater Sizing: Other Factors

Inground or Above Ground? Above ground oval pools, without a deep end, have as much surface area as an equally sized inground pool, but without a deep end, there is much less water to heat. However, above ground pools have more heat loss through the sides or walls of the pool, which is reduced on inground pools. So, it may equal out.

Windy or Calm? As with all of our pool heater types, we ask how much your pool receives. Pools in coastal or mountain areas, or other windy areas may think about adding an extra solar panel to compensate for the winds heat theft. Using a cover, or installing windblocks of fences or hedges can help reduce the problem.

Manual or Automatic? Solar pool heaters can be operated with a solar controller, which increases performance and efficiency. It does this by bypassing the solar panels when conditions are not optimum for heating during cloudy or rainy periods. Sensors monitor the temperature of the water and of the panels, and an automatic valve sends water to the solar panels when the sun is shining. A thermostat allows you to set a desired temperature for your pool.

Most above ground pools dont install a solar controller, although they could. I always recommend the solar controller to anyone with a larger solar system, because it really maximizes heat output and makes it automatic! Without a controller, many heat gains are offset by heat losses during cloudy, rainy, windy periods of the day.

Read Also: Murray Aquatic Center (outdoor Pool)

Pool Heat Pump Buyers Guide

We currently sell 8 models of inground heat pumps, heres just a few to choose from:

Aqua Cal Is one of the oldest and largest manufacturers of heat pumps. Aqua Cal does not make any other products besides heat pumps for pools in both residential and commercial applications. Their heat exchanger is titanium. Aqua Cal has an easy to read digital display, dual thermostat and whisper quiet fan motor. The thermostat has a lockout option which will prevent anyone from adjusting the pool temperature.

Aqua Pro the AquaPro heat pump has a titanium heat exchanger with a 5 yr. warranty on the heat exchanger. Most of the units have a digital display with a dual thermostat. The housing on the heat pump is very durable and is weather resistant. Aqua Pro is one of the leaders in pool heat pumps, and one of the first manufacturers in Florida.

Pentair UltraTemp The UltraTemp is Pentairs original heat pump with a titanium heat exchanger to help prevent and protect against chemical corrosion. The cabinet on the UltraTemp is weather resistant and will help ensure optimal performance during any climate. Available in three sizes, and comes in a heat/cool model to both heat and cool the pool, and comes with many advanced features and benefits.

If you have questions about pool heat pumps, if they are right for you, your location or your pool, or concerns about installation Leave a Reply below or call our customer service reps who can answer product use and installation questions.

What Size Pool Heater Do I Need An Easy Guide To Sizing

Would you like to extend the swimming season in your swimming pool? Maybe open it a month or two earlier and close it a month or two later? Wouldnt it be great to have it available for more than just a few months in the summer?

Well, you can. But no one wants to swim in ice water unless youre a member of the Coney Island Polar Bear Club and you like torturing yourself in freezing cold water so, to extend the swimming season, you need to heat the water. But what size what heater do you need?

Thats what were here for. Weve already done all the hard work for you, so just sit back, receive our words of wisdom, and youll be able to make an informed decision on the heater thats best for you.

Don’t Miss: How Much Is Salt Water Pool

The Size Of Your Pool

It probably comes as no surprise that your pools size is a key consideration when it comes to heating efficiency. A small or weak heater will take much longer to heat a large pool than a high-capacity heater.

A general rule of thumb is that you should increase your pool heater size by 50,000 British thermal units for every 5,000 to 10,000 gallons of water your pool holds. If you live in a cold climate, you may need to increase that to 100,000 BTU.

Make sure to ready my article on what size pool heater you need to figure out the right size for your pool.

What Size Variable Pool Pump Does A 22000

• How to Link a Pool Heater to a Filter

Bigger is not better when it comes to pool pumps. An oversized pool pump can cause premature equipment failure, while an undersized one won’t do the job. Pool pumps must cycle all the pool’s water in roughly eight hours. A variable pool pump provides homeowners with an efficient, energy-saving choice because it operates at different speeds, drawing less energy overall. When calculating minimum and maximum flow rates with feet of head for a 22,000-gallon pool, you need a variable speed pool pump rated between 1 and 1 1/2 horsepower with a 46 gallons-per-minute minimum flow rate.

Read Also: What Hotel Has The Best Swimming Pool In Las Vegas

A Swimming Pool Chemical Calculator

Adjust sliders to calculate the time needed to heat the pool.

This calculator is approximate because it doesnt account for the many factors that impact heat loss in the swimming pool. The exact time needed to change the pool temperature will vary based on evaporation rate, convection losses, thermal radiation losses and conduction losses . One of the easiest ways to reduce heat loss is by using a pool cover it can reduce convection losses between 15%-25%. Always oversize when purchasing a pool heater. An undersized pool heater takes longer to heat and cost more money to operate.

More About Pool Heat

Pool Heat Evaporative Losses:

Swimming pool water on the surface is continually transitioning to water vapor. The heat energy used during the transition to water vapor is lost from the body of water reducing the overall temperature. Evaporative losses can account for 50% of swimming pool heat loss.

Convection Losses

Convection losses are similar to evaporative losses in that they are both related to environmental conditions impacting the surface area of the pool. Convection losses occur when air contacts the surface area and heat energy is transferred. This effect is similar to the chill felt on the skin from the breeze when exiting the pool. Convection losses can be responsible for 15%-25% of heat energy loss. These losses can easily be reduced with the use of a pool cover.

Thermal Radiation Losses

Solar Pool Heater Sizing Guide

Second in our series on sizing a heater to your pool, we now look at my favorite heating option, solar pool heating.

In sizing a solar pool heater to a pool, we consider pool size, in area and gallons, your desired temperature gain, and other environmental factors such as wind and sun exposure.

Solar pool heaters work well in all parts of North America, and in fact, many solar pool heater manufacturers are based in Canada, where solar pool heating is very popular.

But not all houses or yards lend themselves to solar heaters, because you need a good amount of space, which has unobstructed sun, for 4-6 hours per day.

Solar panels can be placed on a sunny roof of the house, garage or shed or a rack or shade structure can be built facing the sun. For smaller above ground pools, they can simply be laid on the ground next to the pool.

Here are the factors to look at when sizing a solar pool heater.

Read Also: Clean Calcium Off Pool Tile

What Size Pool Heater Do I Need For A 30000 Gallon Pool

Therefore, the minimum size heater that is recommended for a 15 x 30 pool is 150,000 BTUs. Keep in mind, this is simply the recommended minimum size. Meaning, I wouldn’t go lower but I might need to go a little higher. When it comes to gas heaters, you always want to oversize the unit.

Similarly, can a heater be added to a pool? Although it may be possible to install a pool heater on your own, it is recommended to hire a professional, especially for a gas or electric heater.

Also to know is, how much does it cost to run a pool heater per month?

For a typical size 400,000 BTU pool heater, that’s 4 therms per hour. Currently, natural gas runs about $1.50 per therm near Tampa. The average cost to heat a pool for one hour on natural gas is around $ 7.00. To heat, an average pool with no solar cover typically takes 8-14 hours.

How long will it take to heat my pool?

Overall, a heat pump usually requires between 24 and 72 hours to heat a swimming pool by 20°F and between 45 and 60 minutes to heat a spa by 20°F . So now you know some factors that affect your swimming pool’s or spa’s required heating time.

Reasons To Use A Heat Pump

1.) Theyre eco-friendly

Using R410A refrigerant and non-combustive heating, heat pumps emit zero harmful emissions. This makes them very environmentally friendly. Unfortunately, the same cant be said about gas pool heaters.

2.) Theyre way more energy efficient than other pool heaters

Just how much is way more? Well, heat pump pool heaters are four times more energy efficient than gas, and nearly six times more energy efficient than electric resistance.

3.) They last a long time

As we mentioned earlier in the post, most heat pumps can easily last 10-20 years, which is impressive compared to other pool heater types. But whats more impressive is knowing how easily a heat pumps lifespan can be extended with good maintenance habits.

4.) Theyre quiet

For the most part, almost all heat pumps operate at a fairly low volume. Usually quiet enough to fade into background noise.

But for those who appreciate silence in all its golden glory, there are some heat pumps that are even quieter, operating at volumes as low as 50db.

5.) Theyre affordable

Heat pumps may be the only type of pool heater thats affordable in both the short term and long term. By this, we mean that theyre fairly low-cost to both install and operate.

This is important because while other pool heaters may be cheaper off the bat, the savings is usually offset by expensive monthly heating costs. With heat pumps, that isnt a problem.

6.) They extend your pool season

7.) Theyre easy to maintain

Don’t Miss: How Much Do Small Fiberglass Pools Cost

How To Calculate The Volume Of Your Pool

To calculate the volume in cubic feet you multiply the surface area by the average depth.

example : 800 x 3 = 2400 cubic feet.

Convert to gallons

Volume = 7.5 x the calculated pool volume.

7.5 is a constant used to covert the volume to gallons. )

Using our example of a square pool: 7.5 x = 18,000 Gal.

Calculate the BTUs required

For these calculations, lets consider an outdoor pool of 40 x 20 with an average depth of 3. We want to heat it from 60°F to 80°F in about 48 hours while the outside air temperature is 60°F. The wind speed is moderate. We will calculate the total required heat to increase and maintain the temperature:

First, we calculate the BTUs needed to heat the pool to the desired temperature . Next, we estimate the BTUs that are used to contain the temperature losses due to evaporation .

Total BTU = Heat up BTU + Surface BTU

Where:

Total BTU = Total heat load in BTU/hr.

Surface BTU = Heat loss from the pool through the surface mainly through evaporation of water in BTU/hr.ef

Heat up BTU = Heat load required to increase the pool temperature

VIDEO | Watch this informative video Pool Heaters vs Heat Pumps

To heat the pool from cold

To heat one gallon of water by 1°F, you need 8.34 BTU. Therefore:

Heat up BTU = 8.34 x Volume x dTw ÷ H time

dTw = difference between the initial temperature and the final temperature of the pool water

H time = Time to heat the pool we use 48 hours, but a longer period will enable us to use a smaller unit

e.g. 5 x x = 80000

How Long Does It Take To Heat An Average

Many residential swimming pools hold between 10,000 and 20,000 gallons of water. How long it takes to heat this water will depend on a variety of factors, including how many degrees you want to raise the water temperature, the average ambient air temperature outside of the pool, whether youre heating an inground or above ground pool, and what type of pool heater you choose to do the job.

However, when you choose the right pool heater for the type and size of your swimming pool, you can often expect to hit target temperatures within 24 hours or less. Its not uncommon for a gas pool heater to be able to raise temperatures by 5 degrees or more in less than 12 hours.

You May Like: Hanby Outdoor Center

What Size Heat Pump Do I Need For A 1600 Square Foot Home

Sizing a Heat Pump Typical home sizes range from 1 1/2- to 5-ton capacity. Though sizing a system should be handled by a professional, you can get a rough idea of size by figuring about 400 square feet of living space per ton in older houses, so, a 1,600-square-foot house would normally require about a 4-ton system.

Above Ground Pool Heat Pumps

Using a pool heat pump with your above ground pool makes as much sense as using one with an in-ground pool. It will extend the swimming season, and it will be less expensive than a full-blown installation.

Below are two of the best pool heat pump options for above ground pools up to 12,000 gallons. If your above ground pool is bigger than that, use our calculations that follow the reviews to find the best pool heat pump for your pool. Remember that you need an external pump like a filtration pump to provide water flow through the heat pump. If you do not have one yet, its a cost to consider.

50,000 BTU above-ground pool heat pump.

Fast and efficient heat pump.

Features:

• Independent lab certified performance ensures value of purchase
• Round design easily fits through gates and takes up less space on equipment pad
• 2 x 2 1/2 CPVC union plumbing connections
• Common union for installation or service, adapts to larger plumbing recommended for greater efficiencies
• 190 lbs.

Overview

This is simply a smaller version of the Hayward Heat Pro. The injection molded UV-resistant acoustic cover of the Hayward HP50TA looks the same as its big brother. It uses the same profiled fan blade to ensure quiet operation. It also uses the same Ultra-Gold corrosion resistant evaporator fin to extend its life expectancy way beyond standard aluminum fins. It also uses the same type titanium heat exchanger.

Many great features built-into this heat pump.

Typical Installation |Hayward HP50TA

Features:

Recommended Reading: How To Reduce Cyanuric Acid In Pool