Heat Pump Swimming Pool Heaters
Heat pump.
If you want an energy-efficient way to heat
your swimming pool, consider using a heat pump pool heater.
How They Work
Heat pumps use electricity to capture heat
and move it from one place to another. They don't generate heat.
As the pool pump circulates the swimming
pool's water, the water drawn from the pool 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.
Example of how a heat pump
operates.
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 more energy they use. However,
since most people use outdoor swimming pools during warm and mild weather,
this usually isn't an issue.
Selecting a Heat Pump Pool Heater
Heat pump pool heaters cost more than gas
pool heaters, but they typically have much lower annual operating costs
because of their higher efficiencies. With proper maintenance, heat pump
pool heaters typically last longer than gas pool heaters. Therefore, you'll
save more money in the long run.
When selecting a heat pump pool heater, you
should consider its:
Installation and Maintenance
Proper installation and maintenance of your
heat pump pool heater can optimize its efficiency. It's best to have a
qualified pool professional install the heater, especially the electric
hookup, and perform complicated maintenance or repair tasks.
Read your owner's manual for a maintenance
schedule and/or recommendations. You'll probably need to tune up your pool
heater annually. Because of a heat pump pool heater's many moving and
electrical parts, it will probably require periodic service by an air
conditioning technician.
With proper installation and maintenance,
heat pump pool heaters can last 10 or more years.
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