Pool heaters can keep the temperature of your swimming pool at a constant level for long periods. They make swimming pools ever-accessible – hop in for a comfortable swim anytime you want. Unfortunately, the quality of many gas pool heaters in the market is disappointing. Not only do these types of pool heating equipment provide poor value, but they also lose their efficiency fairly quickly.
What causes a pool heat pump to lose or retain its efficiency? Let’s explore.
The Heat Pump’s Location
The location of the pool heat pump is a key factor that impacts its overall functionality. When these pumps are located far away from the swimming pools, they don’t perform efficiently. The more obstacles in-between your pump and the swimming pool, the more airflow issues it will experience. To boost its efficiency –
- Place the pump outdoors, as close as possible to the swimming pool for obstacle-free heating. If you use a solar pool heating system, you’re probably already practising this step.
- Make sure your pool heater receives maximum airflow as efficient airflow boosts its overall efficiency.
- Make sure no air gets re-circulated into your pumps because of obstacles between the equipment and the pool.
The Pump’s Water Flow Rate
The higher your pump’s flow rate, the more efficiently and consistently it will work. Pumps with low water flow rates overheat small amounts of water and then shut down. On the other hand, pumps with high flow rates keep heating the water until the entire pool is warm enough.
The Power Supply
Gas-powered pool heating equipment is more likely to be prone to inefficiency issues. That’s because these devices use a lot of gas. The older they get, the more gas they need to perform effectively. Many homeowners have replaced their gas heat pumps with pool heaters that use electricity.
Electric pool heaters are slightly more energy-efficient than their gas counterparts. But, they still use a lot of energy – just as much as gas heaters in the long run. Users must always ensure that –
- Their home’s electrical systems offer enough voltage to consistently support their heating pumps’ power demands.
- Make sure their home’s wiring system supports the heating pump’s power demands without tripping breakers.
- Follow the heating pump’s installation guidelines and specifications. Asking experienced heating pump installation experts to oversee this process is always the safer option.
Experienced installers of pool heating equipment help homeowners get the best out of their pumps. They modify their installation processes as per the pool’s size to maximize the pool heating system’s effectiveness.
The Dimensions of the Swimming Pool
The pool’s dimensions and its surface area will also determine a pool heat pump’s long-term efficiency. The larger the pool’s surface area, the more place there is for heat exchange. Hence, larger pools lose heat energy quickly to their surroundings. Make sure that your pool heating system is designed to heat your pool quicker than the air cools it. Users are also advised to heat their pools while using pool covers.
Type of Pool Heater
Different types of pool heating equipment offer different levels of thermal efficiencies. Your pool heating tool’s in-built energy efficiency will be the key determinant of your pool’s overall heating efficiency. The most thermo-efficient pool heating system is solar. A solar pool heating system only uses the sun’s solar energy to power the pump. The pump then thrusts water away from the pool. This water is collected in a solar collecting unit.
Homeowners can install solar collecting units on their roofs, backyards, etc. With the right setup, a solar pool heating system is all you’ll need for efficient pool heating. These systems are especially efficient during the summer months. Homeowners concerned about spending too much electricity during these months can benefit from installing solar systems.
However, in tremendously cold conditions, gas or electric heaters are likelier to outperform heat pumps. If the surrounding environment has no heat to offer, the pump may not be able to efficiently heat pools or spas. Thankfully, there are many pool heating experts who offer solar heating systems that add address these issues.
Solar pool heating is by far the most energy and cost-efficient pool heating technique because –
- It doesn’t involve carbon emissions – solar heating systems only use the sun’s renewable energy to warm up swimming pools.
- These systems don’t drain the homeowner’s gas or electric bills.
- These systems are space-efficient. Unlike traditional solar panels, they don’t block out backyard spaces or roofs. The average homeowner only needs to install two to three solar pool heating panels. After that, they can start generating all the heat energy their pools need.
Want instant efficiency? Gas pool heaters are ideal for heating pools for limited durations. But if you want long-term energy and cost-efficiency, a solar pool heating system is a perfect choice. Use this guide to review the efficiency of your pool heating tools!
