You bought your pool for many reasons…exercise, entertainment, family fun, and maybe even therapeutic reasons. But even in hot weather, he’s probably found that on some days, his pool is too cold! Pool heat pumps allow you to use your pool regardless of the weather outside, so you get the best return on your investment.

So how do they work?

Heat pumps run on electricity, but do not generate heat. They use electricity and air that has been heated by the sun. Basically, they are a form of solar heater. Heat from the air is extracted, heated by a compressor, and then transferred to the pool water.

The pool pump you already have circulates the water through the heater and heats the entire pool. The fan moves air through the outdoor evaporator air coil, which acts as a heat sink. The air coil absorbs heat from the air and transforms it into gas. This gas is pumped into the compressor, which concentrates the heat and intensifies it. This now superheated gas goes to the heat exchanger condenser, where the actual heat transfer occurs. As the pool water is pumped through the heat exchanger, the super hot gas transfers its heat to the cooler pool water. Then the process starts again.

Heat pumps tend to work most efficiently when the ambient air outside is 45-50 degrees Fahrenheit or higher. The colder the air, the more energy the heat pump will need to heat the air and then the pool water.

However, pool heat pumps are more efficient than gas pool heaters. Although electric models cost more, they have much lower annual operating costs…about a dollar of heat for every 20 cents of electrical input.

They also last much longer, saving you more money in the long run. When properly installed and maintained, they will last you at least 10-15 years or more. They require service from time to time by a professional air conditioning technician, to make sure everything is running smoothly and to perform general maintenance. The typical warranty on a heat pump is 5-15 years, so if there is a problem, you’re covered.

Pool heat pumps are the preferred method of heating pools for sports training and therapeutic treatments. This is because a heat pump will maintain any temperature between 80 and 90 degrees Fahrenheit, regardless of the weather outside.

Your heater will work even better when you also use a heated pool cover. This ensures that the heat you are pumping into your pool stays in your pool…not escaping into the air! Think of the pool deck as the roof of your house… without a roof, all of your heating or air conditioning would go through the top of your house. A heated pool cover will increase the efficiency and therefore reduce the operating costs of your pool heat pump.