People worship their pools during the warm summer days when they can jump right in to cool off. But when the temperatures start dropping, the pool loses its appeal and transforms into a cold and empty ditch in the middle of your yard. However, if you live in an area with mild or cold weather, adding a heat pump to your pool is sure to add a few additional months of warm water fun.
But that doesn’t mean that people in warmer climates can’t appreciate the benefit of a heat pump too. A domestic pool is all about unwinding, and chilly water temperatures aren’t quite relaxing. But with this kind of addition to your pool, you can achieve that ideal 25 degree temperature we all love so much. And since getting a pool is an expensive investment, why shouldn’t you be able to enjoy it throughout the year, as well as during the night when there’s no sun to heat up the water to a comfortable level?
Both heat pumps and pool heaters are an effective solution, however the two have their differences. Unlike heaters which use natural gas, the electric heating pump is a much safer alternative. Despite costing more than a gas heater, these pumps will end up being a more cost-effective solution in the long run due to their heat generating method of using air. An electric heat pump consumes less energy than burning fuel does, and lasts longer than gas heaters too. Moreover, because it runs on electricity, you won’t need to dig around your garden and install expensive pipes and vents.
The only downside to opting for a heat pump is that it’s ineffective when the air temperature drops below 10 degrees Celsius. This is because the pump’s heating system uses the surrounding air. The air is pulled into the machine, enhanced with the help of an evaporator coil and heated refrigerant and then transferred into the water. The restricted air temperature required for the pump to operate doesn’t sound that bad when you consider that you won’t probably use the pool during the cold winter months.
A small sized pump can easily add up to 8 degrees to the pool, while most larger sized systems can increase pool temperature with up to an amazing 20 degrees rise. If you want something for a home spa or hot tub, there are also pumps which can generate higher water temperatures. Whatever your desired temperature is, you cannot turn the pump on and jump into the pool. The pump’s heating process takes more than a few hours, so you need to think beforehand about when you’re planing to use the pool.
Depending on the climate, pumps for heating can extend the average pool use by up to 3 months. And with Australia’s sunny disposition, you might even get to sneak in a winter day or two. How neat is that?
