What the heck is a “heat pump”?
Blog
A pool heat pump uses electricity, and works like an air conditioning condenser, but in reverse. The heat pump has a fan which draws in the outside air. Liquid refrigerant within the evaporator coil absorbs heat and transforms it into a gas.
The warm gas in the coil then gets pumped into the compressor which increases the heat, creating a very hot gas, which transfers its heat into the pool water as it passes through, and then the warmer water flows back into 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.
Heat pump pool heaters work efficiently, as long as the outside temperature remains above the 50-60ºF range. The cooler the outside air they draw in, the more energy they use and the longer it takes to heat the pool.
Although heat pump pool heaters do use electricity, and do need to run much longer than fossil fuel pool heaters to achieve desired water temperatures, they ultimately use less energy overall. Therefore they have been designated as Energy Star appliances by PSEG and are eligible for a $1000 rebate.
Use of a solar blanket or automatic pool cover is highly recommended to hold in heat and prevent evaporation. With a covered pool, many homeowners simply set the heat pump to the desired water temperature and leave it on an automatic setting.
An important installation consideration is the electrical capacity of your pool equipment power panel. The heat pump generally requires a 50-amp breaker, so an electrical upgrade is often required in addition to the investment in the heat pump itself. On the other hand, a fossil fuel heater (propane or natural gas) will require gas line connection and either propane tank(s) or a possible upgrade to the existing natural gas valve.
We recommend taking all the long-term considerations into account when deciding on how to heat your pool. What time of year do you want to use the heater? What are your expectations as to how fast you want the water to heat? Are you willing to keep the pool covered when not in use?
Please call us with any questions at 631-242-2667 main office or on the East End 631-728-1929!