Pool heat pumps: tropical pool paradise for your home
Heat pumps for the pool - what do you need to know?
Having your own pool in the garden is a real blessing.
When the sun is shining, you can take a dip in the cool water and simply relax.
But sometimes the cool water is a little too cool, which is why a pool heater is essential. It ensures that you can enjoy your pool even at slightly lower temperatures.
There are certainly many forms of pool heating, but a pool heat pump is an excellent solution.
It works energy-efficiently, powerfully and environmentally friendly. A heat pump for the pool is also easy to install.
We'll show you how pool heat pumps work and which model is the right choice here at Poolstark.de .
At a glance:
How it works is briefly explained:
What types of pool heat pumps are there?
Factors for the purchase decision
The best manufacturers at a glance
What are pool heat pumps?
Heat pumps are actually known from the household, because they heat the hot water, which is then distributed in the heating system.
However, a heat pump can also be used for a pool, although its functionality is relatively simple.
Pool heat pumps extract heat from the environment.
This means that heat is removed from the air, groundwater or soil. This heat is then brought to a higher temperature level using a refrigeration cycle and then output via the electricity-powered compressor.
As a rule, the outside heat heats a boiler with water, but with pool heat pumps it is a little different. Here the heating water is heated directly and does not have to be distributed using a heat pump.
How it works is briefly explained:
- There is a refrigerant inside the heat pump. This removes heat from heat sources such as the air, groundwater or soil. The refrigerant then evaporates.
- The refrigerant is fed into a compressor in gas form. Here the temperature is further increased.
- The heat from the refrigerant is then transferred to the water via a heat exchanger.
- As the heat is released, the refrigerant becomes liquid again and, thanks to an expansion valve, it loses all pressure.
- Then the cycle can start again. In this respect, the heat pump works like a reverse refrigerator.
What types of pool heat pumps are there?
You can use different types of heat pump pools, although there are of course some shapes that are much more suitable.
We will briefly introduce you to the three main types, which are also very popular in the home.
Geothermal heat pump:
The geothermal heat pump is also known as a brine heat pump because it draws its heat from the ground. It is ideal as a heat pump pool because there is no need for complicated installation; the pool is already embedded in the ground.
However, geothermal heat pumps have a major disadvantage because they require a relatively large amount of space, depending on the design. This means that there are models with geothermal probes or collectors. If you choose the second option, you will have to plan for more space.
Air heat pump:
The true classic among heat pumps is the air heat pump. This uses the outside air as a heat source.
What is impressive is that the outside air does not necessarily have to be warm. Even at low temperatures, the pool heat pump can extract heat from the surrounding area.
Nevertheless, the effectiveness depends heavily on the current weather situation. This means you have to use more electricity and wait longer for the pool water to heat up when temperatures are currently cooler.
Groundwater heat pump:
The groundwater heat pump is the last major type, which removes heat from the groundwater.
First and foremost, the requirement must be met that you have direct access to groundwater. For example, a groundwater heat pump is prohibited in water protection areas. You must therefore find out extensively beforehand whether you can and are allowed to install a groundwater heat pump.
Factors for the purchase decision
Heat pumps are an independent heating system. This means that they are not coupled to an existing heating system, such as the house heating system.
They get about 80% of their energy from the air and about 20% from the grid.
Therefore, heat pumps for pool heating are considered ecological, economical and powerful.
Despite this, or perhaps precisely because of this, various factors must be taken into account and weighed up when selecting the most suitable pool heat pump:
- Required power
- technology
- design
- Price
Required power of the pool heat pump:
It is essential that you do not buy the first inverter heat pump pool you come across, but rather that you take some time to purchase it. After all, the range is large, which is why there are also some inferior products that do not meet your needs.
First and foremost, you need to find out about the performance.
The water volume of your pool, the likely period of use and the desired water temperature determine what performance the pool heat pump must deliver.
Output power is measured in kilowatts (kW) and indicates the amount of energy delivered by the heat pump to the pool water.
The output of the pool heat pump changes depending on the air temperature, the water temperature and the humidity.
To compare different pool heat pumps, the COP value is helpful as a performance coefficient.
The COP value corresponds to the ratio of the energy that is delivered to the water to the electrical energy that is used to operate the pump.
So, as an example:
5 kWh of energy delivered / 1 kWh of electrical energy = 5 -> COP = 5
The following applies: the higher the COP value, the more efficiently and economically the pool heat pump works.
Example calculation of COP value of the Z400 iQ MD4 Zodiac pool heat pump:
Air temperature: 28°C
Water temperature: 28°C
Humidity: 80%
Electrical power consumption: 1.67 kW
Power output to water: 9.83 kW
COP value = 9.83 kW / 1.67 kW = 5.89
The electricity requirement is significantly lower compared to many other heating methods, but the pool heat pumps cannot function without electricity.
The electricity requirement depends on the performance, although an inverter heat pump pool generally requires slightly less electricity.
New technology: A full inverter pump
The three heat pump pools mentioned above are the basis, but if you are looking for an innovative model for your pool, choose a full inverter pump pool.
It is not a separate type, but a function that more and more pumps are offering.
The inverter technology ensures that the performance of the pool heat pump is adapted to your heating needs.
The pool inverter pump regulates the temperature fully automatically and guarantees that the correct flow temperature is always present. The flow temperature describes the temperature of the water that should be reached before it can be distributed in the heating system.
The problem with a classic heat pump pool is that the control of the flow temperature depends on the pump being switched on and off. In this respect, the water cools down completely when the pump is not switched on.
The situation is different with a full inverter pump pool, because it guarantees that a uniform level of flow temperature is achieved.
This means you don't have long idle times, but the pool water is always at a pleasant temperature.
What are the advantages of a full inverter pump pool?
Of course, you are wondering whether a classic heat pump is sufficient for the pool. But you forget the numerous advantages that a full inverter pump pool brings.
First and foremost, they increase the lifespan of the heat pump. Although most models are designed to last for several years, if you constantly switch the device on and off, defects can easily occur. This is exactly what you avoid with the full inverter pump, because it is constantly in use to regulate the flow temperature.
In addition, classic heat pumps run much more often under full load because they have to bring the completely cooled water to the desired temperature after switching on. This is not the case with inverter pumps.
But the lower power consumption is also impressive. You probably think that an inverter heat pump must consume more electricity because it is in constant use. The opposite is the case, because because only very small adjustments are necessary, not much electricity has to be consumed.
This is different with the classic pump, because as soon as it is in use, it runs at full power. In this respect, you save electricity and ultimately money with inverter technology. Practical: If you operate a heat pump using solar power, the heating won't cost you a cent.
Finally: the efficiency of the pump increases with the full inverter technology. Warm water is always available and thanks to the optimized heating process, effectiveness increases.
Pool heat pump design:
Two main points play a role in the design of the pool heat pump:
- Outer shell of the pool heat pump
- Position of the air outlet of the pool heat pump
The shell is primarily responsible for the appearance of the pool heat pump.
This is usually made of aluminum or stainless steel.
And, depending on the manufacturer, you can choose between different colors. Zodiac offers its pool heat pumps in aluminum gray, beige gray and stainless steel.
The second point is the position and direction of the air outlet.
The air outlet is traditionally installed on the front side. This means that if you place the pool heat pump against a wall at a sufficient distance, the cooled air will blow out at the front.
Zodiac also offers pool heat pumps with an air outlet at the top.
Thanks to the vertical air discharge, the heat pump's operation is quieter.
The best manufacturers at a glance
There are many pool heat pumps, but which one should you choose?
A look at the most popular and best manufacturers will help you, as they ensure high quality and a long service life.
We will briefly introduce you to the three best representatives.
Zodiac heat pumps:
Zodiac heat pumps are not the cheapest on the market, but you can be sure that you are getting high quality.
Zodiac pays close attention to the different materials and to ensure a smooth process. The manufacturer also offers extensive customer service in the event of damage.
If the heat pump is open in the garden, you will be happy to hear that Zodiac heat pumps have an elegant design and fit perfectly into any environment.
Two Zodiac heat pumps that are worthwhile for private pools are:
The conclusion
A heat pump for the pool is a wonderful idea because it heats the water cost-effectively and efficiently.
Full inverter heat pumps work efficiently and therefore cost-effectively. And they can be retrofitted or can replace outdated pool heat pumps during pool technology renovations.