What is a pool heat pump?
A pool heat pump is an electric heater that takes heat from the outside air and transfers it into your pool water. They are designed to warm your pool efficiently and maintain steady, comfortable swimming temperatures
How does a pool heat pump work?
Heat pumps don't "create" heat. Instead, they use refrigerant and a compressor to pull heat from the air, then move that heat into your pool water through a heat exchanger and an evaporator system.
Are pool heat pumps energy-efficient?
Yes. Because they move heat instead of generating it, heat pumps usually deliver 3-6x more heat energy than electricity they consume, making one of the most ecological and cost-effective pool heating options.
How is a pool heat pump different from a gas pool heater?
Gas heaters burn natural gas to heat pool water directly. Heat pumps use only electricity to transfer heat from the surrounding air to your pool water. Natural gas heaters work very quickly compared to heat pumps but involve a costly installation process and can be very expensive to run long-term. Heat pumps have a longer initial heating period than gas heaters but maintain warm water more efficiently and at a lower cost.
How is a pool heat pump different from an electric resistance heater?
Resistance heaters generate heat directly from electricity similar to how an electric kettle heats water. This means that at maximum, resistance heaters can only transfer up to 1x of the electric energy they consume into heat energy for your pool. Heat pumps use electricity to transfer heat from the air, so they use far less power for the same or greater heating result. Resistive heaters are a crude and brute-force heating method compared to heat pump technology.
How fast will a heat pump warm my pool?
Heating speed depends on pool size, air temperature, wind, sun exposure, and whether you have a cover installed. In good conditions, an adequately sized unit can heat at about 1-2F per hour.
Why does my heat pump heat slower on some days?
Heat pumps rely on heat from the air to transfer into your pool water. Cool weather, wind, rain, and cold nights can reduce heating speed. That's totally normal and doesn't indicate anything is wrong.
What air conditions do heat pumps work best in?
Pool heat pumps work best when the air is warm and humid. They can still run in cooler conditions, but heating takes longer and efficiency frops as temperature and humidity fall.
Can a heat pump maintain temperatures once the pool is warm?
Yes, this is where heat pumps are at their best. They're built to hold temperature efficiently, especially with a cover, rather than reheating from cold repeatedly.
Can FibroPool heat pumps cool water too?
Many models do offer cooling mode. If your unit supports it, they can lower water temperature by moving heat out of your pool into the outside air. However, expect less efficiency and total output in cooling mode than in heating mode.
Is it better to size up my heat pump if im between two options?
Yes. A larger unit will heat faster, work less hard, and perform better in colder and dryer weather. A bigger heat pump will offer better performance and efficiency and allow for a longer and warmer swimming season.
What is COP and why do people talk about it?
COP (Coefficient of Performance) is how much heat energy a heat pump produces compared to the electricity used. Higher COP means better efficiency and lower energy costs. Heat pumps can typically reach anywhere from 3-6x COP in good conditions. Some manufacturers advertise numbers much higher, sometimes up to 15x or higher, but it is important to know this is just a marketing trick that comes from a very specific testing condition measurement and is not indicative at all of real-world use.
Do I need a bypass kit for my pool heat pump?
A bypass kit is recommended. It makes servicing easier and helps fine-tune flow for better heating performance. A bypass kit also allows an easy disconnect point for the heat pump, making it much simpler to remove from your system for draining and winterization.
What is winterization and do I need to do it?
Winterization is the process of disconnecting the heat pump from your plumbing system and draining out all of the water from its internal components. Winterization should be done in cold areas that are prone to freezing and is good practice in general when the pool is closed down for extended periods. When a unit is left connected in freezing temperatures, water in the heat pump will freeze, expand and potentially crack vital internal components like the heat exchanger which is very costly to replace.
