Why Use Electric Pool Heat Pump to Heat Your Pool
Why Use an Electric Pool Heat Pump for Pool Water Heating?
A heat pump is an energy-efficient device that transfers heat from the air to your pool water. Unlike gas
heaters, which burn fuel, heat pumps use electricity to move heat from the environment, making them a
cleaner, cost-effective option.
Reason #1: Enjoy Your Pool Year-Round
Florida’s warm climate makes heat pumps an ideal choice for pool heating. Heat pumps work best when
the air temperature is above 50°F. Since Florida stays warm most of the year, an electric pool heat pump
operates efficiently and keeps your pool at a comfortable temperature year-round.
Reason #2: Save Money on Energy Costs
A heat pump saves energy compared to gas heaters. While a gas heater quickly warms the pool, it
consumes more energy and increases your utility bill. A heat pump maintains a consistent temperature at
a lower cost. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, a heat pump can save up to $400 annually on
energy expenses.
Reason #3: Heat and Cool Your Pool
Some advanced heat pump models, like the Built Right BR135 XW H/C, GulfStream HE125 TA, and
GulfStream HE150 RA, offer both heating and cooling options. These systems ensure your pool stays
comfortable even in the hottest Florida summers by reducing water temperature when needed.
How a Heat Pump Pool Heater Works
A heat pump pulls in warm air and transfers it to the pool water using an evaporator coil, compressor, and condenser. This process heats the water efficiently, using less electricity than traditional heating methods.
Selecting the Right Heat Pump Pool Heater
Heat pumps have a higher upfront cost than gas heaters, but their energy efficiency leads to long-term
savings. With proper maintenance, heat pump pool heaters typically last longer than gas pool heaters.
Therefore, you’ll save more money in the long run. When choosing a heat pump, consider:
- Size: Measured in Btu output and horsepower.
- Efficiency: A higher Coefficient of Performance (COP) means better efficiency.
- Operating Costs: Lower than gas heaters due to efficient energy use.
Sizing a Heat Pump Pool Heater
Proper heat pump sizing is essential to ensure efficient and effective pool heating. There are many
factors that can be used to calculate the pool heater BTU requirements: pool surface area, pool volume,
desired pool temperature, ambient air temperature, region, wind, pool covered or uncovered, etc…
As a general rule of thumb, here are our suggestions based on pool sizes under standard conditions.
In most cases, we would recommend going with the largest heat pump that your budget will allow. This
will guarantee the best performance and ultimately your satisfaction.
All our heat pumps have roughly the same efficiency rating and will heat the water to your desired
temperature at the same investment. The larger BTU heat will raise the temperature faster but at no
appreciable extra cost to you.
When using a pool heat pump to heat a pool and a spa, we strongly recommend using the heat pump
with the highest BTU rating, since you can never oversize a pool heat pump.
Understanding Heat Pump Efficiency
Heat pumps measure efficiency using the Coefficient of Performance (COP). A higher COP means
better efficiency. Most heat pumps range from 3.0 to 7.0 COP, meaning they provide 3-7 times the heat
energy per unit of electricity used.
Why Choose Pool Heater Direct?
At Pool Heater Direct, we offer high-quality GulfStream and Built Right electric pool heat pumps
designed for Florida pools. These models provide reliable heating, cooling, and energy efficiency,
ensuring you get the best performance for your pool.
Upgrade your pool heating today with a Built Right or GulfStream heat pump and enjoy a warm, energy-
efficient swimming experience all year long!