Pool heat pumps are among the most crucial pieces of equipment that a pool owner must operate. These heat pumps are invaluable in all pools because they allow us to enjoy a longer swimming season and a more pleasurable and warmer swimming experience. However, since they are costly to install and operate, you may be wondering how to use your heat pump efficiently, both in summer and winter.
To help you achieve greater heat pump efficiency, we’ve produced the following article detailing five of the most important ways in which you can maximise your heat pump’s efficiency. We’ll examine the best practices and heat pump settings for winter use, offer alternative heating methods to pair with your heat pump, and address other important considerations that will maximise the efficiency and minimise the costs associated with using your pool heat pump.
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Adjust Your Water Temperature
When you’re looking to heat your pool, intuitively you would assume that a higher temperature would require greater energy to be used, and as a result, this will cost you more in your electricity bill. Hence, adopting the most efficient heat pump temperature settings is a very simple and effective way to reduce the costs that you encounter and make your system work more efficiently. While you may be wondering whether there are ideal heat pump settings for summer and winter, it’s more important to consider whether your pool is in use, regardless of the time of year.”
To make the most of your heat pump, you should strategically alter your pool’s temperature with respect to whether you are using it or not. When your swimming pool is in use, the best temperature for your heat pump is typically anywhere between 26° and 28° celsius. However, when your pool is on standby and not being used, reduce the temperature to approximately 25°. This small adjustment in your heat pump settings can have a very positive financial impact, potentially reducing your electricity bills by up to 30%.
Consider Pairing Your Pump With Other Heating Tools
A highly efficient way to use your pool heat pump is also to combine it with alternative heating systems. To maximise the efficiency of your heat pump usage, you may consider the installation of a solar pool heater which can be used alongside your heat pump for a personalised heating experience. Solar pool heaters almost exclusively use solar energy from the sun to heat a pool, making for a very cost-effective operation that is best used on warm, sunny days.
Conversely, your pool heat pump can be used on colder days with less exposure, as these systems operate independently of weather conditions. This will result in a more efficient use of your heat pump, reduce the ongoing costs you incur throughout the summer, and allow you to enjoy an extended swimming season.
For more economical and efficient heat pump usage, you may also wish to consider using a solar pool cover when your pool is not being used. While turning your heat pump off at night may appear to be a good way to reduce your costs, it can see your water temperature plummet if the weather conditions are not favourable. However, by using a solar pool cover when your heat pump is not in use, you’ll benefit from its great heat retention. These specialised covers capture solar energy within the bubbles on their surface, allowing you to heat your pool at minimal cost. This means that when your heat pump is used, there is less strain on it to vastly increase your water temperature, making for much more efficient heat pump usage.
Don’t Forget About Your Pool Pump
Central to maintaining the temperature of your pool water is ensuring the water continues to circulate. However, when your pool heater is switched off, the water will no longer circulate, and as a consequence, it will lose some of its heat. While the installation of a solar pool cover can go some way to preventing this, it’s most advisable to keep your pool pump switched on when your heat pump is turned off, but at a lower speed.
This will make sure your pool temperature remains at a relatively consistent level at all times. Additionally, your pool heat pump will be able to operate more efficiently when it is operated, because it will not have to work as intensively to raise your pool’s temperature.
While many pool owners wonder whether they should turn their heat pump down at night, it’s strongly advised to keep the system in operation throughout the night. At these times, electricity usage is subject to off-peak rates, and this means a lower cost is encountered for the same electricity use if it were conducted during the day. Consequently, keeping your heat pump in operation throughout the night is an effective way to minimise the costs you encounter and ensure your heat pump is not subject to extreme heating demands due to significant heat loss overnight.
Ensure Your Heat Pump Undergoes Regular Maintenance
While there is a range of innovative and cost-saving methods to operate your pool heat pump more efficiently, there’s simply no substitute for a comprehensive maintenance schedule. If you’re looking to maximise the efficiency of your heat pump and ensure it doesn’t encounter any problems, you must regularly clean its filters and baskets. Clogged filters are one of the major culprits of inefficient heat pump systems because no matter what temperature settings you opt for, your pool water must circulate effectively for efficient operation to occur.
Regular cleaning of the coils and vents of your pool heater should be completed every few months, and you should always carefully inspect the vents to ensure there is adequate airflow. It’s important to also clean both the skimmer and pump baskets each week, and regularly clearing leaves and debris from the surface of your pool is essential. This ensures the water is able to smoothly move through the pool, allowing for greater heat distribution and therefore allowing your heat pump to operate more efficiently.
Learn How To Use Your Heat Pump In Winter
While the maintenance of our swimming pools and hence our pool heat pumps may be at the top of the agenda in the summer months, it’s important that they are not neglected in cooler winter months. Contrary to popular belief, your pool heat pump will remain effective throughout the winter months, particularly in Australia where we mostly benefit from relatively mild winters. However, it is important to remember that your heat pump will need to work harder in winter, and you should alter your use accordingly.
Efficiency and output may be sacrificed in cooler months, so naturally, your heat pump settings for winter may need to be altered. Instead of increasing your heat pump usage, you may wish to lower your desired temperature to combat this loss of efficiency. Regular maintenance also becomes pivotal in these times, as cool weather may see an increase in debris collecting in your pool. To ensure adequate airflow and efficient heat retention, make sure this is cleared on a regular basis
Your heat pump will also be more efficient in winter when it is paired with a solar pool cover. Their heat retention qualities become hugely important throughout cool winter days, acting as a layer of insulation that also prevents costly water evaporation from occurring. By taking the burden away from your pool heat pump, these pool covers will boost your heat pump’s efficiency throughout the winter, making for a pleasant year-round swimming experience.
