Pool Heat Pumps

An alternative to gas heaters, pool heat pumps run by electricity and use the outside air to heat your pool or spa. pool heat pumps move heat from the air and transfer it to the water in your pool or spa using a refrigeration cycle exactly like a refrigerator or air conditioner. They heat more slowly than a gas heater but cost much less to operate so over time, their higher initial price tag is offset by lower energy expenses. Depending on energy costs, a pool heat pump can save you up to 80% over propane gas, 50% to 70% over natural gas, and over 600% against electrical resistance heaters commonly used on spas. This is the main benefit to choosing a pool heat pump over a gas heater. Another consideration is safety and some pool owners prefer not to deal with combustible natural gas or propane heat.

Because pool heat pumps rely on the outside air, they become ineffective once the temperature drops to around 40 degrees or lower. For this reason, pool heat pumps are much more popular in warmer southern climates but pool and spa owners in the north also use them during the spring and summer. If used in conjunction with a solar blanket, a pool heat pump is much more effective and most manufacturers recommend retaining heat by covering the pool when not in use.

Chiller Feature
Several manufacturers, AquaCal, RayPak and Jandy among them, offer pool heat pumps with a chiller that will also cool the water when desired. This is a useful feature in very hot and sunny climates where a dip in the pool at the height of summer may be less than refreshing.

Sizing pool heat pumps
Since pool heat pumps are dependent on air temperature, where they will be located is key to proper sizing. Without sizing the pool heat pump, you could end up with an expensive heater that does not give you the temperature rise you want. We recommend conducting a pool heat pump audit which covers these basic questions about your pool:

What is your zip code and city?
What is the nearest major city?
What temperature would you like to maintain? (82 -85 degrees is standard)
Do you want to heat the pool year round or just extend the pool season by a few months in the spring and fall?
What is the square footage of the pool? (For example, a 40' X 20' pool would be 800 sq. ft.)
What is the average depth of the pool?
Do you have high wind conditions from a lake, ocean or open field with winds over 20 mph consistently?
Will the pool heat pump receive direct, partial or no sunlight?
Will you be using a solar blanket?

With the answers to these questions, the manufacturer can make a recommendation for your specific pool and its location.

Heat Exchangers
pool heat pumps have a heat exchanger which is commonly made of either cupro nickel or titanium. Cupro nickel is an alloy of nickel, copper and iron or manganese commonly used in marine parts. It is a good conductor of heat but does not stand up to chemicals as well as titanium which is highly resistant to corrosion from chlorine. For this reason, we recommend choosing a pool heat pump with a titanium heat exchanger.

Compressors
Another key part of the pool heat pump is the compressor which compresses the air, increasing its temperature. Most pool heat pumps use a scroll compressor which operates more smoothly, quietly, and efficiently than conventional reciprocating compressors that employ pistons. Scroll compressors are also commonly used for cooling in air conditioning units.

COP
A term you might hear in conjunction with pool heat pumps is COP which stands for coefficient of performance. It refers to the ratio of heat output to energy (electricity) used. The higher the COP rating, the lower the operational costs will be. Scroll compressors offer a high COP rating so any pool heat pump with this type of compressor will be more efficient. Of the pool heat pumps we currently carry, the RayPak 8300ti and the AquaCal H155 have the highest COP ratings.

Warranties
Below you will find the summarized warranties of the pool heat pump brands we carry. This information is based on what was available from the manufacturer at the time this was written. It is only a summary and does not include details regarding ownership and installation requirements. It is always a good idea to contact the manufacturer directly or go to their web site to get the complete, up-to-date warranty.

AquaCal
For model 110, one year parts and labor, five years on compressor (part only), lifetime on titanium tubing part only of heat exchanger. For models 120, 121, 135, 155, 156 and 190, two years parts and labor, five years on compressor (part only), lifetime on titanium tubing part only of heat exchanger. This warranty will be voided if pool heat pump is damaged by improper water chemistry.
Click for full description for the following pool pool heat pumps

AquaPro
For models PRO1100E and PRO1300E, five years on any parts excluding the compressor and heat exchanger. The compressor has a 10-year warranty which is limited to the part only in years six through ten and is on a pro rated basis. The heat exchanger has a 15-year warranty. Labor is covered for five years for pool heat pumps installed and sold within the state of Florida, for two years for pool heat pump installed and sold within the state of Arizona, and for one year for pool heat pumps sold and installed in all other states of the USA. Damage from improper pool/spa chemistry will not void the warranty for these two models.

For the PRO400 and PRO600 models, five years on any parts. The limited warranty covers labor for a period of one year on the PRO400 and PRO600. Damage from improper pool/spa chemistry is not covered on the PRO400 and PRO600.

For the PRO1000 model, five years on any parts except the compressor and heat exchanger. The compressor has a ten year warranty prorated from years six through ten. The PRO1000 also carries a lifetime warranty on the titanium tubing in the heat exchanger. The limited warranty covers labor for a period of five years in Florida and one year outside of Florida. Damage from improper pool/spa chemistry will not void the warranty for the PRO1000.

Click here for more information on the AquaPro Heat Pump

Hayward
The HeatPro pool heat pump pool is covered under warranty for a period of two years. The compressor has a five-year warranty. The warranty covers the cost of parts for two years and labor for one year from the date of purchase or within six months of date of manufacture, whichever is first. This warranty is valid for products sold for use outside the state of Florida. Products sold for use within the state of Florida have a warranty of two years for all parts and labor. Hayward will not void this warranty due to improper water chemistry.
Click for more information on the Hayward Heat Pump - HeatPro

Jandy
The Air Energy pool heat pumps are covered by a one year warranty on all parts with the exception of the titanium coils that have a limited lifetime warranty. Jandy's warranty does not cover damage due to improper water chemistry.

Click for more information on the Jandy Heat Pump - Air Energy

Pentair
ThermalFlo pool heat pumps have a five year warranty from the date of installation. This covers parts and labor. Their warranty does not cover damage caused by failure to maintain proper water chemistry.

Click for more information on the Pentair Heat Pumps - ThermalFlo HP

RayPak
For models 5100ti, 6300ti and 8300ti installed in a single family residential dwelling, the warranty period is two years labor and five years parts. The titanium heat exchanger has a limited lifetime warranty on parts only. The compressor is covered for years 6-10 on a pro-rated basis, parts only. If the pool heat pump is installed anywhere other than a single family residential dwelling, the warranty period is one year only. Warranty coverage in cases of damage due to improper water chemistry is at the discretion of the manufacturer.

Click for more information on the Raypak Heat Pump

Hayward Summit
Summit pool heat pumps with titanium heat exchangers are covered by a three-year warranty. All parts and labor to correct any defect in workmanship or materials will be the responsibility of Summit. The compressor has a ten-year limited warranty. During the first three years, the compressor is covered in full for parts and labor. During years 4 and 5, only compressor parts will be covered by the warranty. For the remaining years of the warranty, the compressor is warranted for parts only on a prorated term. The titanium tube portion of the heat exchanger has a limited 10-year warranty. All parts and labor are warranted for a period of three years to the original home owner. After three years, only the titanium tube portion of the heat exchanger part is warranted. Summit's warranty will not be voided due to improper pool water chemistry.

Click for more information on the Hayward Summit Heat Pump

Of all the pool heat pumps we carry, the Summit is one our favorites because it combines all of the features our customers have asked for such as a titanium heat exchanger, scroll compressor, digital controls and a warranty that is not voided due to improper water chemistry. Summit's full parts and labor warranty of three years is another plus. However, Florida residents will want to consider AquaPro's longer warranty for their PRO1000, 1100E and 1300E models sold and installed in the state of Florida.

Installation
The pool heat pump is a single, compact, easily installed package. A 220-volt dedicated circuit and attachment to your existing pool pump is basically all you need. The area must meet a minimum clearance requirement to insure proper airflow. Proper placement is critical to the performance of the pool/spa pool heat pump. A concrete slab may be required, unless there is enough room on an existing slab. Sprinkler heads may need to be moved, capped, or redirected. If you have a chlorinating device, you must make sure it is placed downstream from the pool heat pump and a check valve must be installed, to prevent any chemical damage.

Shipping
Customers often ask us about the cost for shipping a pool heat pump. Since these units are too large for normal UPS or Fedex shipping, they ship by truck line, typically an 18-wheeler with a lift gate to lower the pallet off of the truck. Shipping charges periodically change due to increases in gas prices and other factors but at this time, our shipping and handling fee for pool heat pumps is around $160.00.