Benefits and Care of Swimming Pool Heat Pump

One common concern of pool owners is how to keep their pool water at a desirable temperature. Typically, pool owners use pool heaters but recently many are turning to using a swimming pool heat pump instead. These devices are more energy-efficient than pool heaters. A swimming pool heat pump runs on electricity and works not by producing heat but by capturing it and using that heat to warm the water. A swimming pool heat pump is truly more efficient because it depends on the warmth of the air temperature, which is perfect since the regular swimming season is during warm weather.

While a swimming pool heat pump is more expensive than a pool heater, its high efficiency gives long-term savings. To indicate efficiency level, a swimming pool heat pump uses a unit called COP or co-efficiency of performance, which can range from 3.0 to 7.0. A swimming pool heat pump with a 7.0 COP generates 7 units of heat per unit of electricity that it consumes. Hence, those with a higher COP are generally more efficient.

When shopping for a swimming pool heat pump, one of the first things to consider is the size. You have to determine appropriate size for your pool. It is best to get a professional to do this but if you want to get an estimate sizing, start by getting the average pool temperature during the coldest month that you are using the pool and then subtract this from your desired pool temperature. The difference is the needed temperature rise. Multiply this with your pool’s surface area and then multiply again by twelve.

Aside from the factors in the above-mentioned formula, wind and humidity levels as well as night temperature also affect the heating capability of a swimming pool heat pump. If you generally have humid or warm nights in your area, a small-sized swimming pool heat pump would be right for you. 

Pool owners must make sure to install and care for the swimming pool heat pump properly to make the most use of it. It is best to hire a professional installation and maintenance service to get the job done. Refer to the owner’s manual of your swimming pool heat pump to find out how often you should have it checked. Typically, a swimming pool heat pump needs yearly tune-ups.

In addition, pool owners must maintain the balance of swimming pool chemicals, remove leaves and other debris that fall into the pool and hose down the external evaporator coil of the swimming pool heat pump to avoid salt build-up if they live near a salt lake, sea or ocean. With proper care, a swimming pool heat pump can last at least 10 years.