A heat pump is a device that uses a small amount of energy to move heat from one location to another. Heat pumps used for heating pools transfer heat from the outdoors into the water. Unlike gas heaters that require natural gas or propane, they use heat that is already available and just move it from one place to another, thereby using a cleaner heat via electricity, producing no carbon monoxide.
Heat pumps are perfect for use in warmer climates! Heat pumps are most efficient when they’re heating outdoor air that’s above 50 degrees Fahrenheit. Anything below 50 and a heat pump does start to lose efficiency. In fact, heat pumps work more efficiently the warmer the air temperature gets.
If you want to save on your energy bill, heat pumps provide great value.
Think of a gas heater as a muscle car and a heat pump as a bike. A gas heater will definitely heat your pool faster, but you’ll pay a price for it when the energy bill comes. On the other hand, a heat pump will provide an even and consistent heat once it reaches your ideal temperature, operating with much less effort. The U.S. Department of Energy confirms that if you run an average heat pump year-round at 85 degrees, you’ll experience up to $400 a year in energy savings.
If you’re in the market for a heater, you’re probably already invested in your pool, and making it an enjoyable experience. Why not go the extra mile?
A premium heat pump model won’t just heat your pool, but also keep the water cooler when the weather is too hot outside.
As the pool water circulates through the pool pump, it passes through a filter and the heat pump heater. The heat pump heater has a fan that draws in the outside air and directs it over the evaporator coil. Liquid refrigerant within the evaporator coil absorbs the heat from the outside air and becomes a gas. The warm gas in the coil then passes through the compressor. The compressor increases the heat, creating a very hot gas that then passes through the condenser. The condenser transfers the heat from the hot gas to the cooler pool water circulating through the heater. The heated water then returns to the pool. The hot gas, as it flows through the condenser coil, returns to liquid form and back to the evaporator, where the whole process begins again.
Higher efficiency heat pump pool heaters usually use scroll compressors versus the reciprocal compressors of standard units.
Heat pump pool heaters work efficiently as long as the outside temperature remains above the 45ºF–50ºF range. The cooler the outside air they draw in, the less efficient they are, resulting in higher energy bills. However, since most people use outdoor pools during warm and mild weather, this usually isn't an issue.
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 (hp). 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.
For an outdoor pool, use the following tables to help estimate your annual heat pump pool heater costs and savings compared to using an electric resistance or a gas pool heater.
Table 1 estimates annual heat pump pool heating costs by location, by water temperature, and with or without using a pool cover.
Table 1. Costs by Location of Heating Outdoor Pools with a Heat Pump*
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LOCATION SEASON TEMPERATURE 78° 80° 82° Miami 1/1–12/31 $ $ $ w/ cover 1/1–12/31 $293 $409 $559 Phoenix 3/1–10/31 $927 $ $ w/ cover 3/1–10/31 $49 $116 $158 Dallas 4/1–10/31 $491 $ $ w/ cover 4/1–10/31 $123 $191 $279 Atlanta 4/1–10/31 $ $ $ w/ cover 4/1–10/31 $211 $279 $395 Los Angeles 5/1–10/31 $ $ $ w/ cover 5/1–10/31 $116 $211 $327 Kansas City 5/1–10/31 $974 $ $ w/ cover 5/1–10/31 $198 $279 $368 New York 5/1–9/30 $ $ $ w/ cover 5/1–9/30 $143 $204 $273 Chicago 5/1–9/30 $ $ $ w/ cover 5/1–9/30 $143 $204 $266 Denver 5/1–8/31 $ $ $ w/ cover 5/1–8/31 $95 $136 $204 Boston 5/1–8/31 $ $ $ w/ cover 5/1–8/31 $164 $225 $320 Minneapolis 6/1–9/30 $899 $ $ w/ cover 6/1–9/30 $136 $170 $259 San Fran 6/1–8/31 $ $ $ w/ cover 6/1–8/31 $129 $225 $327 Seattle 6/1–8/31 $ $ $ w/ cover 6/1–8/31 $204 $293 $382*Figures based on a 1,000 square foot, outdoor pool heated with an air to water heat pump with an average COP of 5.0 at $./kwh.
Table 2 estimates the savings for every $ in annual pool heating costs using a heat pump pool heater compared to using an electric resistance or gas pool heater with an efficiency of 55% (baseline).
Table 2. Annual Savings Comparisons of
Gas and Electric Pool Heaters*
*Based on an electric resistance heated pool, which costs $1,000 per year at an electric cost of $./kwh, and using a gas pool heater with a 55% efficiency (baseline) at a cost of $1.09/therm. A seasonal average COP of 5.0 was used to determine heat pump savings.
So you are shopping for a heater, eh? Congrats on extending your pool season or upgrading your equipment. Heaters are required for hot tubs and can make swimming more comfortable in the swim season and allow you to be able to swim all year round if you so choose! Great decision, either way.
Just briefly in a nutshell, both natural gas heaters and electric heat pumps have the same end result. Warm water. They work a bit differently, but the end result is the same. As your swimming pool water is drawn from the skimmer and/or main drain, it passes through all your various pieces of swimming pool equipment. You definitely have a filter. You may also have an in-line chlorinator, salt system, etc. Regardless of which type of heater you have, as the water passes through the heater, it gets warmed a certain amount. This warm water is then pumped back into the swimming pool via your swimming pool pump.
Natural gas heaters require a gas line. If you are thinking of going with a natural gas heater and do not have an existing gas line, you will need to have one installed. The size of your gas line and how long the gas line run is will determine the size of the natural gas heater you can accommodate.
When I say “size” I am not referring to the footprint. A footprint is the actual dimensions of the heater. Generally when talking about heater size we are referring to the heat output. This is measured in British Thermal Units. (BTUs). The higher the BTU, the more heat is expelled and the quicker your water can be heated to your desired temperature.
Pro Tip: Always go with the highest BTU. While the cost may be more upfront, it will save you money in operating costs because you will have to run it less. Again, this depends on the size of your gas line and how long the gas line is.
With a natural gas heater the gas is burned inside the combustion chamber. They contain copper coils that assist with this. Exhaust that is created by the gas is expelled through what is known as a flue. This is on the top of the heater,
Pro Tip: A natural gas heater can be lower in cost and has a quieter operation.
These work a bit differently than a natural gas heater because, you guessed it, they do not utilize gas! They run on electricity. So heat pumps have a fan that will draw the outside air and then it gets directed over an evaporator coil. There is liquid refrigerant in this heater’s evaporator coil. The liquid refrigerant that is in the coil absorbs the heat pulls in the air from outside air. Then this becomes a gas. The warm gas passes through a compressor. Just like with a natural gas heater, as the water passes through, it gets heated. Viola! Heated pool water!
Pro tip: If you have solar, a heat pump is a great way to go!
Heat pumps work in temperatures that do not get below 45-50 degrees. This is because…remember? They utilize the outside air. You will get about 3-5 degrees with every pass of water. Heat pumps are not used for quick heating. They are typically left on to keep an ambient water temperature.
A lot of people are going to heat pumps because of the rising cost of gas. Especially if you live in a high priced State like California. A heat pump could make sense. If you live in a state where electricity is inexpensive, then I would go with a heat pump.
Whether you go with a natural gas heater or an electric heater, it can get costly. ANy sound investment has this commonality. Heat pumps can tend to be more expensive than gas heaters. But you don’t have to pay an arm and a leg. You can get an economical, fast acting, name brand ComforTemp electric pool heater for about half of what you would find for another name brand heater at your local pool supply store. These heaters come in a variety of sizes? (We mean BTUs, remember?) to fit any swimming pool.
These heaters will pay for themselves by cutting the cost of energy. They are BT certified and come with the industry standard 1-year warranty. My favorite part is the self diagnosis and easy-to-use displays. Don’t believe me? Check them out here. https://poolpartstogo.com/collections/heat-pumps
Whatever heater you decide to go with, remember…swimming pools are supposed to be fun! Don’t stress about this purchase. Do your research, like you are doing now, and treat yourself to a brand new heater. An investment you won’t regret as you enjoy it for years to come! See you poolside!
For more Swimming Pool Heat Pumpinformation, please contact us. We will provide professional answers.