Hot Water Heat pumps for swimming Pools
Leomon Technology is proud to offer you a variety of options when it
comes to choosing how to heat your pool. Our goal is to provide the best
solution for your swimming pool and how it is used.
Heat pumps are gaining popularity due to their low environmental impact
and relatively high energy efficiency. Heat pump water heaters can work in
places where solar water heaters are not suitable - places with less sunlight
like the south side of a mountain.
How does a heat pump work?
They use the ambient air around the device to heat your pool. The air
passes through the evaporator coil, which uses the heated refrigerant to heat
the water returning to the pool. This process does not require natural gas,
greatly reducing operating costs.
How efficient is the heat pump?
The energy efficiency of a heat pump is measured by the coefficient of
performance (COP). The higher the COP number, the higher the efficiency. Unlike
many other technical components, there is no standard test for measuring COP.
So you really can't compare the COP of different models unless you know the
manufacturer uses the same test for each model.
Manufacturers typically measure COP by testing heat pump pool heaters
with an outdoor temperature of 26ºC and a pool temperature of 26ºC. COP is
typically between 3.0 and 7.0, which translates to 300%–700% efficiency. This
means that for every unit of electricity required to run the compressor, you will
get 3-7 units of heat from the heat pump. Obviously, the higher the COP, the
lower your operating costs.
Sizing Your Heat Pump
There are many factors involved in sizing a heat pump pool heater.
Basically, the size of the heater depends on the surface area of the pool and
the difference between the pool and the average air temperature. Other factors
can also affect the heat load of an outdoor pool, such as wind exposure,
humidity levels, and cool nighttime temperatures. Therefore, pools located in
areas with higher average wind speeds on the pool surface, lower humidity, and
cooler nights will require larger heaters.
Heat pump pool heaters are rated by Btu output and horsepower (hp).
Standard sizes include 3.5 hp/75,000 Btu, 5 hp/100,000 Btu and 6 hp/125,000
Btu.
To calculate the approximate heater size for an outdoor pool, follow
these steps:
1. Determine your desired pool temperature.
2. Determine the average temperature of the coldest month for pool usage.
3. Subtract the average temperature of the coldest month from the desired
pool temperature. This will give you the desired temperature rise.
4. Calculate the pool surface area in square feet.
5. Use the following formula to determine the Btu/hour output requirement
for the heater:
6. Pool Area x Temperature Rise x 12
The formula is based on a temperature rise of 1º to 1-1/4ºF per hour and
an average wind speed of 3-1/2 miles per hour at the pool surface. For a
1-1/2ºF rise, multiply by 1.5. Multiply by 2.0 for a 2ºF rise.
More benefits of installing a heat pump
1. You will enjoy swimming more. Warm water is more enticing than cold
water, and you can swim in comfort all season long.
2. Extend the swimming season. Why use a swimming pool when you can only
use it for two months of the year, independent of the weather?
3. Automation. Set your temperature and let your heat pump do the work.
4. Efficiency. Our systems are designed for swimming pools, which means
the components used provide the highest efficiency.
Installation and maintenance
Proper installation and maintenance of your heat pump pool heater can
optimize its efficiency. It is best to have a qualified pool professional
install heaters, especially electrical connectors, and perform complex
maintenance or repair tasks.
Like all assets around your home, properly installing a heat pump and
then maintaining it continuously will optimize its efficiency.
Read your owner's manual for maintenance schedules and/or
recommendations. You may need to adjust your pool heater annually. Due to the
many moving and electrical parts of a heat pump pool heater, it may require
regular servicing by an air conditioning technician.
With proper installation and maintenance, heat pump pool heaters can last 10 years or more.
