Most People are familiar with the older style of pool pumps: they use some sort of electric element or other device to add heat to the water. The heat for the water is actually generated by the heating unit (just like a furnace heats the air for your home.)

Swimming pool heat pumps are actually heat ‘movers’ – they do not generate heat, but move it from one location to another. With a swimming pool heat pump the device pulls warm air into the mechanism, extracts the heat energy from the air, and then transfers or ‘pumps’ this extracted heat into the water of your swimming pool.

Swimming pool heat pumps are very energy efficient: they can save you 50% of the cost of using a natural-gas system, and perhaps as much as 75% as compared to a propane-gas system! Swimming pool heat pumps are safer, more reliable, and easier to maintain and repair than traditional devices.

What would a typical installation of a swimming pool heat pump include?

• A thermostat – This will control the operation of the whole swimming pool heat pump
• An air handler – The air handler circulates the air throughout the unit
• The heat pump unit itself – responsible for the transfer of the heat from one location to another – in the case of a swimming pool heat pump, it is from the outside air to the water in your pool
• Air cleaner – This is a filtration unit that screens out pollutants as well as dirt and dust particles present in the air

Preventative maintenance on your swimming pool heat pump

• Clean off the blower fan blades with a soft, moist towel
• Check for loose hoses or wires – notify a pro if you find any
• If you have removable filters, check them regularly and clean or replace them as directed in your owner’s manual.

Be VERY careful when inspecting or cleaning around your swimming pool heat pump — it makes use of electric power and it is near a water source (your pool). ELECTROCUTION can KILL or SEVERELY INJURE anyone!

For this reason, if you suspect that your swimming pool heat pump needs servicing, DO NOT ATTEMPT TO SERVICE THE UNIT YOURSELF. Most of these issues require a service call from qualified professional has the knowledge and tools to do the job properly.

The price you will pay for various swimming pool heat pumps will depend on the size of the unit you need, the type (air or ground source), the manufacturer, warranty type, as well as local labor charge rates.

It is always a good idea to get several quotes when purchasing a new unit, and certainly get a number of estimates when it comes time to service your swimming pool heat pump.

Your PC can be your greatest ally in locating dealers for purchase of your new unit – inquire if they service what they sell.

Swimming pool heat pumps: they are truly a modern engineering marvel!

Swimming Pool Heat Pump

What makes some heat pumps more efficient than others? There are several factors that can help give you the highest efficient heat pump system. Look for models that offer these features in order to reduce energy use and costs as much as possible. As a bonus, the same features that make heat pumps more efficient also contribute to more comfortable heating and cooling. Here are the key factors affecting heat pump efficiency.

Compressor Efficiency

The main reason for one heat pump being a 22 SEER model and another being a 14 SEER model is the design of the compressor. The more efficiently it uses electricity to circulate refrigerant, the less energy it will use. The more efficient a compressor and supporting parts are, the more the unit will cost, due to the complexity of the equipment. This is the reason not all heat pumps use the most efficient compressors available.

Compressor Type

There are 3 types of compressors being used today. A single-stage compressor is the least efficient. When the heat pump is on, a single-stage compressor is running at 100% capacity. This leads to slight overheating and overcooling in every cycle. It’s like a vehicle travelling at full speed and then having to stop quickly – it will overshoot the mark. The effect of running at full capacity all the time is wasted energy.

Two-stage compressors run at low capacity, which is about 65%, most of the time. Therefore, they are going “slower” when the cycle ends, making it much easier for them to stop. The most efficient compressor types are modulating compressors found on models like the Maytag PSH4BI iQ Drive and the Carrier Infinity 25VNAO Greenspeed heat pumps. They run as low as 40% capacity which makes it much easier to control the amount of heating and cooling produced during the cycle.

Currently, the most efficient single-stage compressors offer 16 SEER cooling. The most efficient 2-stage models are 19 SEER. Rotary heat pumps offer SEER ratings as high as 22 in heat pumps or over 24 in air conditioners.

Air Handler Type

The final key factor affecting heat pump efficiency is the type of air handler the system uses. A variable-speed air handler can increase SEER ratings by up to 1.5 points. It’s the same principle of a modulating compressor versus a single-stage compressor. A variable-speed blower will match the capacity of the heat pump to produce longer, lower-capacity cycles that make better use of the heated or cooled air that is produced.

In addition, variable-speed blowers that produce longer cycles do a better job removing humidity in cooling mode. Humidity is a major factor in how comfortable you feel. When it’s less humid, you feel just as comfortable at a higher temperature. With a variable-speed air handler, you can achieve the same indoor comfort by setting your thermostat to a temperature 2-3 degrees higher than you would with air handler that does not have a variable-speed blower.

As noted, the more efficient a heat pump system is, the more it will cost. The upside is greater indoor comfort and lower energy bills. Depending on your climate and the model you choose, a higher-efficiency model will pay you back through lower energy bills in 1-7 years.

Key Factors Affecting Heat Pump Efficiency