Heat Pumps Increasingly Popular with Pool Owners

As energy costs continue to increase, swimming pool owners are looking at alternative ways to heat their pools. One option, that is proving to be increasingly popular, is the use of pool heat pump systems.

A heat pump extracts heat from the air or the ground (soil or bedrock) and transfers the accumulated heat energy to the swimming pool water. Most swimming pool heat pump systems extract heat energy from the air by passing the air over heat exchangers, efficiently transferring heat energy to the heat pump evaporator. The heat that is extracted from the air would otherwise be wasted, being dissipated to the atmosphere.

Heat pumps are incredibly efficient. A typical modern system will consume around only 1kW of electrical energy to produce around 5kW of heat energy.

The initial cost of a heat pump system can be a little off-putting as they do cost somewhat more than conventional electric or oil based systems. For example, a typical heat pump system for an in-ground swimming pool may cost R8000. But this cost will be quickly recouped in reduced electricity bills, usually within the first or second year of use. A heat pump system will reduce your ongoing swimming pool heating costs by as much as 70%.

Combine your heat pump pool heating system with some Hi Temp HT50 Solar Panels, to harness some of the sun’s heat energy, along with a Salt Chlorinator and you are well on your way towards having an eco-friendly swimming pool.