Are you considering buying a heat pump for your swimming pool? So you are looking for the ideal temperature for swimming, in short, you are aiming for optimal bathing comfort. But there are probably still plenty of questions you have about a pool pass. How many degrees do you gain per day? Is it really that economical? Why not buy an electric heater instead? When to use a heat pump? What is the benefit of a reversible heat pump? So many questions (and many more) to which we will answer you right away.
Want to know everything about managing water temperature with a pool heat pump? Come on, let’s not waste time! We start right away with the first question.
HOW MANY DEGREES DO YOU GAIN PER DAY WITH A SWIMMING POOL HEAT PUMP?
It depends on a number of variables, starting with the weather and the COP of your device. But it is considered that on average a heat pump for a swimming pool can increase the temperature of the water by 1 to 2°C, or even 3°C in the best conditions.
In other words, even with a relatively low water temperature, say 17°C, only a few days can be enough to obtain water at 28°C .
CAN I GET POOL WATER OVER 30°C?
If the weather conditions are not unfavorable, it is then possible to obtain pool water at 30°C or more with a heat pump.
However, it is not advisable to raise the water temperature above 30°C. Indeed, you could damage your liner. Afterward, all liners do not have the same level of resistance. To be seen according to your own coating.
Also, note that the warmer the water, the faster algae can grow in it. This generally leads to using more chemicals in the pool or even scrubbing the walls with a wall brush.
WHY IS THE POOL HEAT PUMP AN ECONOMICAL HEATING SYSTEM?
A swimming pool heater is a heating device that can be more expensive than another when buying. For example, all things considered, a heat pump is more expensive than an electric heater. But in the long term, it is an investment that is well worth it.
Indeed, the swimming pool heat pump restores more energy than it consumes. Obviously, everything depends on its COP. If a heat pump has a COP of 5 for given external conditions, this means that it will restore 5 kW for just 1 kW consumed.
If we take the comparison with an electric heater, this means that the pool heat pump consumes 5 times less. It doesn’t really make sense but to continue the comparison, we could say that the COP of an electric heater is always 1. That is to say that 1 kW consumed restores 1 kW.
The heat pump is therefore much more economical. It consumes much less.
IN THIS CASE, WHAT IS THE INTEREST OF AN ELECTRIC HEATER?
The electric heater allows a rapid rise in temperature. Faster than with a heat pump. On the other hand, its consumption is also much higher. Unless you benefit from exceptional advantages on your electricity bill, this system is therefore not profitable for continuous use.
However, the electric heater remains an interesting solution for auxiliary heating. You can use it, for example, to save time on the initial rise in water temperature and then let the heat pump take over, which will be more economical later on.
The heater can also be the main heating system of a second home that you would only visit in blocks of a few days. You could quickly enjoy hot water. The rest of the time the pool would not need to be heated.
DOES THE HEAT PUMP ALWAYS STAY ON?
We advise you to leave your pool heat pump on for as long as possible if the water in the pool has not reached the desired temperature.
On the other hand, it is not rare that in summer the water is naturally at the desired temperature. In this case, you can of course stop using your Pac.
Keep an eye on the weather though. If it announces bad weather, it is better to anticipate and turn on the heat pump for your swimming pool. Do not wait until your water has already lost 5 or 6°C to act because regaining them could take 2 to 4 days.
IS IT BETTER TO USE THE POOL HEAT PUMP AT NIGHT?
This is a question we can ask ourselves. Wouldn’t it be even more economical to operate your heat pump only at night to benefit from the off-peak tariff?
Contrary to what one might think, it is actually more profitable to operate your heat pump during the day, even outside off-peak hours. Indeed, it is during the hottest part of the day that the heat pump can absorb the most calories. This is where its performance is the highest.
At night it is cooler. It’s a bit like using your day pack at a colder time of year. So the COP of the swimming pool heat pump is lower.
This should not prevent you from using your pool heat pump at night, especially if you are in a period of temperature rise. On the other hand, if your goal is to save on your electricity bill, it would be a bad strategy to bet on off-peak hours at night.
WHY SHOULD YOU COMBINE A COVER WITH YOUR HEAT PUMP?
The role of a heat pump is to heat the pool water. The water passes through the hydraulic circuit necessary for filtration and reaches the heat pump before being discharged a little warmer into the pool.
However, the swimming pool undergoes heat losses via the walls and the ground but especially by the surface of the water. When water is in contact with air, most of the heat escapes because there is no insulation.
In the swimming pool sector, we often make the connection with a refrigerator. Does it ever occur to you to leave your fridge door open all day? Not covering your pelvis is about the same principle but in the opposite direction.
In reality, when your swimming pool is not covered, you lose approximately half of the work provided by your heat pump. Basically, you consume twice as much. 50% of your bill is a breeze! Plus, you might struggle to reach your water temperature goal.
We quickly realize that investing in a hedge is much more profitable. In summer, for example, you can choose a custom-made bubble cover to cover the pool. In addition to insulating, it helps to increase the temperature of the water.
The bar cover or the pool cover is also very good covers to combine with your heat pump. They also have the advantage of providing you with a safety device that complies with standard NF P90-308 (standard aimed at preventing the risk of drowning in children under 5).
WHAT IS A REVERSIBLE SWIMMING POOL HEAT PUMP?
A pool heat pump heats the water in the pool. A reversible heat pump has a second function: to cool the water.
Why cool the water when we went to so much trouble to heat it? In summer, when the sun is beating down, it can happen that the water in the swimming pool naturally rises to 30°C, or even more. It depends on the exposure, the volume, and the specificities of the pool.
Most people appreciate that the water in their swimming pool is not too cold. But if the water temperature is too high, how can you cool off in your swimming pool? Or how to do sports without overheating yourself?
This is where the reversible heat pump comes into play. You can ask it to cool your pool by a few degrees to always maintain optimal bathing comfort.