What Size Heat Pump Do I Need for My Pool?

There are various factors to determine before you purchase a heat pump. Heating the pool water makes swimming fun and exciting for everyone. So, there is no direct answer to what size you might need for your pool. And with the different brands and sizes of heaters in the market, you need to get the right size for an effective and energy-efficient solution.

Note that the heat pumps are among the efficient ways to heat your pool. Its energy efficiency is unparalleled; you get to reap countless benefits while utilizing the pump. So, to make sure that you get the most out of it, you have to select one that suits the conditions that it will be based in. Therefore, with that into account, the heater will be more consistent and provide cost-effective performance. 

This article narrowed down on factors to consider to help a pool owner invest in a perfect-sized heat pump.

Factors to consider while sizing the heat pump

You need to correctly size the heat pump to ensure you get the best results! The pool size, temperatures, wind, and humidity levels will determine how quickly the heater warms the pool water. For instance, pools with high wind speeds or cool nights will call for larger heating pumps. 

Swimming Habits 

Though your swimming habits will not affect the sizing, they will influence the heating speed required to warm the pool. In this case, stronger heaters will naturally be in a better position to heat the pool faster. Despite residing in a warm location, you might opt for a powerful heater to match your constant swimming habits. 

And if you are looking to maximize the heat in the pool and keep the electricity bills at bay, you might need to keep the water uncovered for just two hours a day. Yes, you can constantly use the pool, but after every two hours, you have to switch on the heater to replace the lost heat. 

With that said, the pumps are designed to offer reliable and resilient heating in various climates; therefore, a standard-sized heater should suffice.

The surface area of your swimming pool

Before you settle on the size of a pool heat pump to purchase, it's advisable to first measure and calculate the pool's surface area to get the proper size. Most people think that the number of gallons in their swimming pool determines the heat pump size needed. However, some sites use gallons; of course, it's paramount, but let's think about it in a roundabout way. 

That said, the surface area of your swimming pool is critically an important factor. A swimming pool with a bigger surface area creates more space to release heat, and therefore more water will heat up. So, heat pumps should be huge enough to compensate for the pool size and surface area. 

You can get the surface area by multiplying the width by the length. 

Climate

The location of your swimming pool is as important as the size of the pool. Especially the climate. If the location has warm weather all year round, the heater will not be working as much. So, it's vital to consider the climate of the area you will install your heat pump. It influences how hard it has to function to warm the pool water. 

People living in warm areas with average pools can invest in a small-to-standard-sized pool heater, but those in a colder environment must purchase a more powerful pool heat pump. 

Though the heater will function properly in colder climates, they have to work a little bit harder to suffice. Note that your pool's water temperatures in colder months will give you good insights into how hard the heater needs to function. 

Temperatures

It all depends on both the water and environmental temperatures. The environment's average temperature is affected by wind chill, humidity levels, and nighttime temperatures. People living in a dry environment will experience high wind speeds and low night temperatures, and in such a case, you have to invest in larger heat pumps for your swimming pool. 

For water temperatures, the degree that you prefer is a key consideration as well. So, if you are looking to increase the pool temperatures faster per unit time to achieve a greater rise, a larger heat pump will work more effectively than a smaller size. 

Pool owners should be spot on with the heater size by determining the needed increase for their preferred temperature. The majority of people desire temperatures between 82°F and 86°F. 

Cost

If you determine the right size for a pool heater, it will save you a lot of money. Ensure you get the right amount of BTUs to limit your whole runtime and lower the electric expenses throughout the season. 

In the colder months, when you need to use the heat pump most, it's more important to reduce the overall heating time and, in turn, reduce the amount of power needed to run the unit. Pool heaters are less expensive to run than gas heaters by almost half, but their upfront costs are a lot more. Also, a heat pump for the pool might not be a cost-efficient choice for people living in areas where the electricity expense is high. 

Final word

The above factors are the key determinants of correct sizing. With that said, there is no direct answer to the exact size of a heat pump you will need for your pool. However, with all pool heat pumps, going big is golden. Though purchasing a smaller heater is not detrimental, you might need to allow it to run for a longer time, and it can be challenging to maintain the swimming pool warmth. 

Generally speaking, it's advisable to oversize your pool heater as much as you can. Keep in mind that you will never regret buying a big heating device; it all means that you get to warm the pool at a quicker rate in a short while without leaving it for long. 

Bear in mind that heat pumps come with different Coefficients of Performance (COP). Therefore, certain models have different power requirements, so you better get a model that will satisfy your needs, then look for the instructions to determine its size. 

Also of Interest: 

• Are Pool Heat Pumps Worth It? How Do They Work?

• The Right Way to Install Swimming Pool Air Source Heat Pumps

• Air to Water Swimming Pool Heat Pumps vs. Traditional Pool Water Heaters