Heating a pool with a heat pump

[haynesbob]

Hi,

Im after some info on heat pumps

Has anyone fitted a heat pump to heat their pool, if so :

1. Does it keep your pool warm all year long (25 - 28 degrees)?
2. Approx running costs?
3. Recommended fitters and install cost?

Thanks in advance for any help you can give.

Cheers

Bob

[NickZ]

Wouldn't Spain be the place to put in a combo solar heater? Then you would only have to worry about running costs the darker months.

[snikpoh]

When we looked into it, a heat pump was one of the most expensive options. We eventually went for solar panels that heat the water directly. However, this only works when there is sufficient sun and so only extends the time that one can use the pool.

[el romeral]

Do not have one fitted to our pool, but we got all the pre installation done just in case we ever bought one. This was 12 years ago and still we do not have one as we heard the running costs were very high - not sure how high though? I believe a heat pump will raise the pool temperature by about 4C.
Our pool is now a somewhat brisk 11C, can't imagine the amount of energy required to get it to 25-28C!

[Stravinsky]

Originally Posted by el romeral

Do not have one fitted to our pool, but we got all the pre installation done just in case we ever bought one. This was 12 years ago and still we do not have one as we heard the running costs were very high - not sure how high though? I believe a heat pump will raise the pool temperature by about 4C.
Our pool is now a somewhat brisk 11C, can't imagine the amount of energy required to get it to 25-28C!

This is exactly the reason we never bothered with solar heating. It only raises temperatures by 2 or 4 degrees, and to be honest that will extend the "season" only by a few weeks, if that.

I spent Christmas at a house with an indoor pool, and he uses a heater to bring it up to 25/26 degrees. He said it was quite costly to run but I have no figures.

[snikpoh]

Originally Posted by Stravinsky

This is exactly the reason we never bothered with solar heating. It only raises temperatures by 2 or 4 degrees, and to be honest that will extend the "season" only by a few weeks, if that.

I spent Christmas at a house with an indoor pool, and he uses a heater to bring it up to 25/26 degrees. He said it was quite costly to run but I have no figures.

Ours increased by 7 - 10 degrees but then I suspect much of this was down to having a good solar and/or winter cover.

I can't stress enough the benefit of a good solar cover - these really do work and are relatively inexpensive.

[NickZ]

Originally Posted by Stravinsky

This is exactly the reason we never bothered with solar heating. It only raises temperatures by 2 or 4 degrees, and to be honest that will extend the "season" only by a few weeks, if that.

I spent Christmas at a house with an indoor pool, and he uses a heater to bring it up to 25/26 degrees. He said it was quite costly to run but I have no figures.

The first bit is a function of the size of the system. But even if all it did was raise the temp 2 degrees that would mean your other system would need to raise the temps by two degrees less. That's one of the benefits of solar systems. You can tie them into a second system . When it's too cold/dark for solar to handle 100% of the load it's still giving you a benefit.

[Stravinsky]

Originally Posted by NickZ

The first bit is a function of the size of the system. But even if all it did was raise the temp 2 degrees that would mean your other system would need to raise the temps by two degrees less. That's one of the benefits of solar systems. You can tie them into a second system . When it's too cold/dark for solar to handle 100% of the load it's still giving you a benefit.

Yes, but the point is that even if it raised it 5 degrees, it isn't going to make much of a difference when the colder nights start, especially when you consider the costs of setting it all up. Water temps start to drop dramatically in September, and to keep it to a comfortable temperature you would need to raise it by 10, maybe 15 degrees by the start of October.

[playamonte]

viking dry suit - Bing ImagesBuy a viking dry suit as you will have no need to worry about the water temp.

[Stravinsky]

Originally Posted by playamonte

viking dry suit - Bing ImagesBuy a viking dry suit as you will have no need to worry about the water temp.

I have a friend who I know has been in in his wet suit