Electrically powered heat pump pool heaters are an excellent pool heating option that utilizes both electrical and solar power in order to maintain the temperature of your pool. Essentially, sun heat is taken from the air and converted using a compressor so that it can be used to heat your pool water more efficiently. Moreover, heat pump pool heaters are utilized by serious athletes for pool therapies and are the ideal method of heating a pool when solar power alone is not sufficient.

Heat pump pool heaters are generally regarded as highly efficient and when the proper pump is purchased the temperature of your pool water can be easily maintained at ideal levels of 80 to 90 degrees Fahrenheit. Unfortunately, heat pump pool heaters have some limitations in that the outside air temperature must be at least 45 degrees Fahrenheit in order to operate effectively. Still, their efficiency is inarguable and usually for every dollar spent on electrical input you will receive five dollars of actual heating power. With figures like these, it is easy to understand why many pool owners are turning to heat pump pool heaters to maintain ideal swimming temperatures in their pool.

The Pros of Pool Heating

While many families will choose not to heat their pool in order to save on energy costs, this choice comes with some distinct disadvantages. First of all, the amount of time you can actually spend in the pool is greatly reduced especially for families living in cooler climates. Moreover, in especially cold climates where winter temperatures hover around the freezing mark (or even lower) the risk of water freezing in the pool and ultimately damaging the structure of the pool is enough to require year round heating. Still, chances are that the main reason you bought a pool in the first place is to spend more quality time with your family and by using a heat pump pool heater you can extend your swimming season by several months.

Varieties of Heat Pump Pool Heaters

As any pool owner would expect, there are several different varieties of heat pump pool heaters that can be used for different types of pools and in different climates. Still, you can break down the types of heat pump pool heaters to fit into one of two basic categories: air source and water source. Air source heat pump pool heaters use the air surrounding you pool as the main source of heat. Because of this, it they are usually only appropriate for use in somewhat warmer climates. On the other hand, water source heat pump pool heaters are used for specialized purposes as they derive their heat from natural water sources like lakes or rivers. Typically speaking, a private pool owner will be purchasing an air source heat pump pool heater. Air source pumps are highly efficient as they not only rely on electrical power but also the solar energy that heats the air around your pool.

If you’re considering purchasing a heat pump pool heater you should gather a few important bits of information. First of all, depending on the size of your pool you will need to purchase a particular size of heat pump pool heater. Not all heaters are created equally and smaller heaters are used for smaller pools as the energy required to heat that pool will be much less. Moreover, your ideal swimming temperature will be easier to maintain in warmer climates meaning the size of heat pump pool heater will also vary.

It is also important to keep in mind that there are several different types of pool heating systems that utilize solar, electric, and gas based energy and choosing the ideal heating system will depend on many factors including your preferred swimming temperature, seasonal changes, geography and climate, your personal budget, the size and shape of your pool, and the level of sun exposure on your pool.

Heat Pump Pool Heater Maintenance

Generally speaking you should expect a good heat pump pool heater to last somewhere between 10 and 15 years as long as your pool is properly cared for. In fact, many heat pump pool heater manufacturers often offer warranties of up to 15 years meaning you should expect the pump to survive a good deal longer. In order to keep your heat pump pool heater in optimal operating condition it is recommended that you have your pump serviced regularly by a qualified technician. Moreover, you need to be sure that your pool is kept clean so that impure elements cannot infiltrate your heat pump pool heater and reduce its efficiency. Finally, in cooler climates you should expect warranties and lifetimes of heat pump pool heaters to be marginally shorter as the pumps are required to operate more frequently in order to maintain comfortable swimming temperatures.