So we all know there are costs associated with running a swimming pool and the main cost is heating the pool but how can we reduce this cost?
There are a number of ways that the cost of heating a pool can be reduced; the first thing that needs to be done before you look at the most cost effective way of heating the pool is to make sure any heat that is being put into the pool water is being retained. As 70 percent of the heat your pool loses will be from the water surface and 87 percent of this heat will be lost from evaporation, therefore it is crucial to make sure you have a good pool cover in place. A decent pool cover will be the best investment you make for reducing your pool running costs.
Okay, so we've got a swimming pool cover fitted on the pool, now we need to look at how we are actually going to heat the pool water. So, if the pool is a new build or the existing heating system needs replacing, we would always recommend installing a swimming pool heat pump rather than a boiler or electric swimming pool heater as this is the most green and cost effective way to heat your swimming pool.
So, you already have a pool heater that's working but want to know if it is worth replacing this with a heat pump - this may depend on the type of pool heating system you currently have :
So, very simply, if you have an electric pool heater that uses electric heating elements to heat the swimming pool water, it is definitely worth replacing this for a heat pump!
Due to the very high running costs of an electric pool heater, replace this with a swimming pool heat pump and it will very quickly pay for itself. This is due to the high efficiency of swimming pool heat pumps. Swimming pool heat pumps work by taking heat out of the air - they can do this even at low outdoor temperatures. On average, depending on the outdoor air temperature for every kW of energy you put in to a swimming pool heat pump you will get 4kW of heat out, opposed to a standard electric pool heater where you put 1kW in and get 1kW out. Therefore if it currently costs you £200 a month to heat your pool with your electric pool heater, install a swimming pool heat pump and it will only cost you £50 a month!
If you currently have a fully functional oil or gas boiler heating your pool, it's a little harder to make the argument that you need to pull it straight out and install a heat pump. Yes, the heat pump is more energy efficient, with on average having a 400% efficiency as opposed to even the very best gas boiler having a 97% efficiency. But as a kW of oil or gas is less than a kW of electricity the payback is not so quick as with the electric pool heater. Although it would reduce running costs, the payback time will be longer. Therefore is not quite such an obvious choice.
Positives of Swimming Pool Heat Pumps
- Energy efficient way of heating your pool
- Reduced swimming pool running costs
- No need to remember to keep fuel tanks topped up
- Seen as a green way of operating a swimming pool
- Can be installed where there is no gas lines or oil tanks
- Digital display for accurate constant temperature control
- Can be located outside
Down side of heat pumps.
- Longer initial time to heat pool water up
- Requires suitable electrical supply
- Needs to be located outside or in an area with good ventilation
- Initial cost outlay
