As the temperatures start to fall, you may be wondering just how your swimming pool heat pumpis going to work over the winter months. The quick answer is that a heat pump can work in even low temperatures so, as long as the temperature remains above around 5 degrees, your heat pump will continue to work with no issues. Some heat pumps can even work down to around -10 degrees, so if you live in an area that experiences temperatures lower than that, these pumps might be worth considering to ensure year-round pool heating.

So, how does the heat pump actually work?

There are several steps involved so let’s take a closer look at each step in the process of heating your pool…

1. The heat pump needs a constant stream of water, so the filter pump sends cold water through the heat pump to the heat exchanger.

2. When water is flowing through the heat pump, the fan at the top of the heat pump unit will begin to turn which then pulls in warm air from the atmosphere. This air then passes over the evaporator coil.

3. This warm air gradually increases the temperature of the refrigerant in the evaporator coil.

4. When the refrigerant has reached a sufficient temperature from the warmth of the air, the refrigerant turns from a liquid into a warm vapour.

5. This warm vapour then travels to the compressor where it is pressurised. When the vapour is compressed, it increases in temperature, making the warm vapour into a hot gas.

6. The hot gas is then pushed out of the compressor and goes to the heat exchanger which consists of a double layered tube. The outer layer is usually made from PVC with the inner tube being made from titanium.

7. The pool water flows through the outer tube and the hot gas is held within the inner tube, the hot gas on the inner layer then heats the water. The heat is exchanged between the gas and the pool water running through the tube. As the pool water heats up, the hot gas cools down.

8. Eventually, the hot gas in the titanium tube layer cools so much that it returns to its previous liquid state and leaves the heat exchanger.

9. From the heat exchanger, the cool liquid travels through the expansion valve. This cools the liquid further to ensure it is at the correct temperature to go back to the evaporator coil to begin the next cycle.

10. The cycle begins all over again until the desired pool temperature is reached, the process will stop until the pool temperature falls below your pre-set minimum and heating will begin again.

The heat pump is a complex and highly efficient form of heating and it works well for all pools throughout the year. In the cooler months it may be working a little harder than it is in summer as it will have to heat more water in the winter to ensure your pool is pleasantly warm when the air temperature falls. Look after your pool heater and you’ll be able to enjoy your pool all year round.