As a pool owner, you will enjoy many benefits when you purchase a pool heat pump. Indeed, such equipment is particularly efficient and reliable, even if it is quite expensive to buy. However, choosing a heat pump (HP) adapted to your pool can seem rather complex since many technical criteria have to be studied in detail. Here is a summary of the different criteria to be taken into account when buying a heat pump, with a reminder of its characteristics and the different existing models.
Features of the pool heat pump
The Aqualux pool heat pump is the most commonly used heating device for heating pool water. It consists of compressor, expansion valve, evaporator and condenser. It works very simply but very efficiently. This air-to-water heat pump captures the calories contained in the outside air and transfers them to the refrigerant, which then heats up by multiplying them. The heat obtained is then transferred to the bathing water. It is therefore a totally ecological system. There is also the ground/water heat pump, which is just as environmentally friendly, and which takes the heat from the ground using the principle of geothermal energy. It is important to know that the air/water heat pump is the most widely used model. And that only 1/5 of the energy required for the heat pump is supplied by electricity; the remaining 4/5 is drawn from the ground or supplied by the air. Furthermore, if the house already has a geothermal heat pump as a means of heating, it can also be used to heat the swimming pool. Be careful, you must always connect your heat pump to a by-pass differential circuit breaker so that it is short-circuited in the event of a problem and that it is autonomous.
The different heat pump models
The air/water heat pump is a thermodynamic unit that has the advantages of extending the period of use of the pool, reducing the electricity bill and offering an efficiency 4 to 5 times higher than other pool heating systems. It is available in several models:
- the horizontal pool heat pump is the most common with its fan located on the front of the pump. Unfortunately, this position increases the perception of noise when you are close by, as well as that of the icy air discharged by the fan.
- The vertical pool heat pump is the most imposing and requires a lot of space. Its fan is located on the upper part of the pump, which makes it less noisy and reduces the perception of the icy air escaping from it.
- The reversible pool heat pump heats the water and can also cool it when the outside temperature is very high. This prevents the proliferation of algae and bacteria that grow when the water is too high. Please note that depending on the configuration of the location, the Aqualux pool heat pump can be installed without any problem in a location that is not easily accessible. In this case, it will be necessary to purchase a heat pump with remote control that will allow easy access to the panel.
Criteria for choosing a swimming pool heat pump
An Aqualux swimming pool heat pump is not an easy choice, so if you are unfamiliar with the heat pump system, it is best to contact a swimming pool professional for advice. Be aware that a heat pump must be chosen according to the following criteria:
- the volume of water in the pool
- the power that will determine the time for the temperature rise (taken into account according to the duration of sunshine)
- the coefficient of performance (COP) which represents the ratio between the power consumed by the CAP and the power it delivers. Generally the COP indicated is that for 15°C.
- the bivalence point, which provides information on the outside temperature below which the heat pump no longer recovers calories from the air.
- the water flow rate that influences the optimum output of the CAP
- the CAP noise level which is expressed in decibels at a certain distance (example: 34 dB at 10 metres). It is very important for the users of the swimming pool and for the neighbourhood. So before buying a heat pump, it is necessary to refer to the indications of the professionals (especially for the power which depends on the region of installation). They are very easy to understand and really within everyone's reach. Thus a person will not choose the same CAP, depending on whether it is in the Pyrenees or in the Vosges. It is important to know that a CAP with a power of 16 kW will be suitable for a 120 m² underground swimming pool in the south and in an area with little exposure to the wind, or for a 120 m² pool with a shelter, regardless of the region. A 22 kW heat pump will heat a 120 m² pool without shelter in a colder climate or in an area with a high wind exposure.
The time of use of the pool is also important. If it only operates for a short period of time during the year, the heat pump will need to be powerful enough to allow the water temperature to rise quickly and make the pool operational very quickly. It is important to know that the difference between the ambient air temperature and the water temperature affects the efficiency of the heat pump. That is why the power of the heat pump must take into account the region where the pool is installed.
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