Trying to keep your pool warm in all weathers without having to spend a lot of money can be quite the conundrum. If you’ve done a bit of research, you’ve probably run into pool heat pumps.
While pool heat pumps can involve a significant upfront investment associated with their purchase, compared to electric pool heaters, there are numerous long-term benefits related to their use. In this article, we’ll go over the most significant benefits of a pool heat pump.
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Energy-Efficient
An eco-friendly pool heat pump will save both money and energy. It works by capturing external heat and transferring it to the water. Instead of using gas, this heating system does not produce CO2 emissions. It also uses less energy than a traditional gas heater, making it an excellent option for pools.
To put things into context, the coefficient of performance (COP) of a gas or electric heater is often around 1.0, whereas a pool heat pump has a higher COP rating of 6.0. This means that for every unit of energy that the heat pump may consume, it returns six units to your pool.
Heat Pumps Are Cost-Effective
Pool heat pumps have the best energy efficiency rating and are still relatively cost-effective. However, to fully understand this, we need to start from the beginning.
You will initially pay more for a pool heat pump; think between $2k and $4k. This means you could buy three regular pool (gas or electric) heaters for the price. Though you need to consider the ongoing operational costs of these heaters.
While a pool heat pump will cost slightly more to begin with, they make up for it with their lower power consumption over time. This is especially important to take into account as power costs have recently skyrocketed.
The average backyard swimming pool may cost between $300 to $500 per month in the way of energy costs when using an electric or gas heater. Pool heat pumps, in comparison, are far cheaper. You can at the low-end pay around $50 a month in the way of energy costs, and at peak use, it may cost you $150. So, if all you want is to enjoy some time in a warm swimming pool without the risk of having to take out a second mortgage on your home, you should definitely consider a pool heat pump.
It is also worth mentioning that pool heat pumps also have a far lower environmental impact compared to gas and electric pool heaters.
Perfect For The Environment
Anyone who has sat through high school physics class knows that producing heat requires combustion. Gas heaters work by burning gas. That means there needs to be a constant gas supply, which comes with a sizable environmental impact. One of the most known impacts of burning gas is CO2 emissions, which is a so-called ‘greenhouse gas’.
However, pool heat pumps don’t require that anything be burnt to produce heat. The pump has a minimal electrical footprint, often just enough to power the pump, pulling heat from the air. This means that they produce no CO2 emissions and consume far less electricity. They do this while keeping your pool warm, albeit with the drawback that they will not warm up the pool in a hurry; it may take some time before your pool reaches a comfortable temperature.
Pool Heat Pumps Last Long
We’ve established that pool heat pumps will help you save on energy and the environment. But pool heaters aren’t going to be very pocket friendly if they need to be replaced every year!
Fortunately, pool heat pumps are built to last with minimal moving parts. These are amongst the longest-lasting pool heating solutions you’ll find today.
So, the question is: how long will they last? The best way to answer this is to compare it to gas heaters.
While gas heaters are cheap initially, they don’t last very long. On average, with a good amount of care, they can last for up to a decade before they require significant repairs or may require replacement. The same is the case with electric heaters.
Pool heat pumps, on the other hand, last much longer. At a minimum, they will last around ten years, with some models lasting for 20 years and beyond. Good timely maintenance and annual service calls will further extend its lifespan. Most experts advise that you continue to use the heat pump to extend its life. When in use consistently, it prevents the build-up of debris and corrosion in the pump.
Repairability
Now, nobody wants to buy a device that can’t be repaired. There is a whole ‘right to repair’ movement trying to make sure things can be fixed. However, that’s beside the point; the good thing is that most if not all pool heat pumps can be fixed. Also, professionals that can fix them are readily available.
A trained professional can troubleshoot and fix most average pool heat pump issues. A few questions and an inspection later, they will know what should be done to get the thing working again.
If you happen to be an ambitious DIY type of person, you can order the replacement parts online and tinker with it yourself. Then if you run into any trouble, call a professional to finish the job.
In other words, if you are willing to maintain the pool health pump, it will last a very long time, making it an excellent investment.
Final Word
While the above are some of the most significant reasons to own a pool heat pump, there are other reasons for it too. The size and portability of the pump are other reasons to own one. What’s more, is the fact that you don’t have to actively refuel on gas or propane (whichever may be the case) to keep the water warm enough for a swim. You turn it on and can simply come back after a while for your swim.
