A pool heat pump is an efficient method to heat water in swimming pools. As a result, swimming season extends a few more months beyond summer. It makes the most out of your investment as it provides more time for fun, enjoyment and fitness activities by keeping the water warm and comfortable almost all year round. Some may feel that a heating system is unnecessary and additional cost for the pool’s owner. The smart homeowner however, has a different opinion about getting more value for money.
It is easier to install heat pumps than set up a gas-powered or solar-powered heater. Electrical wiring can be done by a skilled homeowner or an electrician. New models already have electronic or digital controls for more accurate temperature settings, communication and interface with other control systems for pools. Pipes are set on level ground near the swimming area for better efficiency and easier access for maintenance and repair work.
Since pool heat pumps draws heat from the ambient air, the downside is that it loses some efficiency when the ambient temperature falls below 45 degrees Fahrenheit. It will keep running at lower efficiency as there is not much heat to transfer from the surrounding air. Warm outside air makes a pool heat pump operate more efficiently and this probably explains why it is a practical application in warmer regions like the southern states in the US. Using a pool heat pump is also feasible in the colder states of the mid-Atlantic area as it can extend swimming season by at least a quarter of a year.
Benefits of pool heat pumps are long term that you may not get returns on your investment right away but it will pay off after a few years. For example, it has low operating cost that will not heavily dent your electricity bills. A pool heat pump is controlled by a temperature sensor so that it only runs when needed to heat the pool’s water. Once it reaches the desired water temperature, the pump stops until the temperature sensor requires it to run its cycle again. Just like an air-conditioning and refrigeration system, it runs a certain vapor compression cycle but it does not need to run twenty four hours in a day. Pool heat pumps runs similar vapor compression or fundamental refrigeration cycle in reverse. In addition, a pool heat pump not only heats the pool’s water, it can also cool water if the ambient temperature is too warm especially during summer time.
Going green has also become the direction of most consumers. A gas heater emits carbon monoxide or nitrous oxide into the air although these days there are models that now have low-nox emissions. A pool heat pump does not emit any of these gases since it runs on electricity.
Most owners will also have to agree that pool heat pumps has low maintenance requirements. It has less moving parts compared to a gas heater. This makes operation less prone to maintenance and repairs. It also guarantees long service life, heating your swimming pool’s water for up to 15 years