How to Install Your Pool Heat Pump - Pool Heat Pump Installation

Installing your pool heat pump is a fairly simple task and can be completed either by the pool owner or by one of our experienced installation engineers. The manufacturer's recommendations should however always be followed in order not to invalidate the warranty, or to prevent your heat pump from working properly.

If you would like us to install the heat pump for you, please contact us for a quote

Here are some tips if you decide to install a pool heat pump yourself:-

The heat pump requires:-

1. Location

Choose a location for your heat pump where it can get a good flow of air.

Make sure that the air being expelled by the fan will not hit any obstacles and could be recirculated back into the heat pump.

Pool heat pumps are normally installed outdoors in order to have a good supply of fresh air. Some can be installed in a pump house - see the section below.

Generally the more room around the heat pump the better, but as a minimum, allow 3-metres in front of the fan for the expelled air and at least 300mm around the unit where air is drawn in to the heat pump.

Try to locate the heat pump close to the pool pump to minimise the friction in the pipes. If your pipe run is too long, you may have an insufficient water flow rate through the heat pump and may need to upgrade your pool pump.

2. Water Flow Rate

Most of our pool heat pumps state the required water flow rate. If the water flow rate is too low, then the water in the heat pump will overheat and the heat pump will switch off.

Check the water flow rate from your pool pump and through your filter to ensure that it is high enough for your pool heat pump.

We do sell water flow thermometers that will show you the flow rate through your pipes.

See our "Accessories" section

3. Base

The base for the heat pump should be level and sound. You can use either a concrete base, paving slabs laid on sand or timber decking.

The vibration from the heat pump will be fairly minimal and will not disturb the paving slabs.

Generally the heat pump should not be below the water level, however for above ground pools, it is ok to sit the heat pump on the floor next to the pool

4. Electrical Supply

Check the running current and peak current stated on the listing for your desired model of heat pump.

Ensure that your electrical supply is adequate to support the running and startup current for the unit.

It may be necessary to run a dedicated cable back to your supply board for the heat pump if your existing electrical supply is insufficient for the heat pump.

Most heat pumps will have a slightly higher electrical current demand when they start. This then settles down to the running current for the unit.

The circuit breaker required is normally stated on the listing for each heat pump and is normally slightly larger than the startup current.

You would normally use a type "D" circuit breaker (fuse) with your heat pump. The type "D" circuit breaker allows for the higher current at startup without blowing the fuse.

If you have a "sensitive" electrical supply, then some heat pumps have an optional (or built in) "soft-start" option. The soft-start option "eases" in the startup current up to the running current to avoid a power spike on startup.

The soft-start kit/option is normally only required for installations using a large single phase heat pump (eg 30kw) with a limited or sensitive electrical supply. In extreme situations, the house lights may flicker when the heat pump starts up. The soft-start kit prevents this.

The soft-start option is not normally required in the UK, or on small heat pumps or on 3-phase heat pumps. Please contact us for further information

Armoured cable is normally used to supply the heat pump. This is to prevent the cable from being accidentally damaged (eg by digging through it with a spade)

The size (thickness) of the cable required depends on the length of cable used. A longer cable run will require a thicker cable due to the increased resistance of the long cable.

The electrical work should be completed by a qualified electrican who can calculate the cable size required.

 The heat pump must also be properly earthed.

Most properties have a single-phase electrical supply. 3-Phase electrical supply is normally only found on larger properties or on commercial installations. If you are not sure you probably have a single phase electrical supply, but ask your electrcian to confirm this for you.

Note that most 3-phase installations are 380v, however in France it is possible to find both 380v and 220v 3-phase supplies, so please check which type you have before ordering.

All of our heat pumps are manufacturered to work with 50hz electrical supplies (which are used throughout Europe)

Note that in the USA, they use a 60hz electrical supply. USA specification heat pumps will not work in the UK or Europe. All of our heat pumps (including Heat Siphon) are made to use a 50hz electrical supply.

We supply an electrical connection box with a built in timer for your pool pump - see our "Accessories" section

5.  Plumbing

It is easy to add a heat pump to an existing pool pipework system.

First check to see what size of pipes you have.

In the UK, these are normally 1.5" or 2" pipes. In Europe, 50mm is more common.

Once you know the existing pipe size that you have, you will know what size connectors and elbows you will need.

Please see our Accessories section for a catalogue of pipe fittings.

If you have an existing pool heater eg gas or oil boiler, then if it still works ok, we recommend that you leave it in place and put the heat pump in line with the existing boiler.

This will allow you to run both the heat pump and boiler if required for a rapid pool heat up. The old heater can also help to supplement the heat from your heat pump in very cold weather to help extend the swimming season.

There are only two pipes to the heat pump - a "flow" and a "return" pipe.

We recommend that you install a "bypass" arrangement with your heat pump

The bypass is a series of 3-valves. These allow you to isolate the heat pump to prevent water flowing through it.

This is required in winter when you need to drain all water from the heat pump to prevent damage by freezing, however you may have a frost stat on your pool pump and may wish to continue to circulate the water round your pool pipes.

The bypass setup also allows you to adjust the water flow rate passing though our heat pump. By slghtly opening the bypass, you can reduce the water flow through the heat pump.

Some heat pump models advise that you adjust the water flow rate to achieve optimum performance from the unit.

You must not allow water to freeze inside the heat pump during winter as this can crack the heat exchanger and frost/freezing damage is generally not covered by the manufacturer's warranty. We sell a range of winter covers for pool heat pumpsto protect your unit - see our Accessories section

The pipes to and from the heat pump can be insulated to help reduce heat loss.

The heat pump is normally installed as the last item in the water flow before the water returns to the pool, ie after the filter.

The heat pump can be installed alongside any existing heater that you have (eg gas heater). This allows you to use the gas heater as well as the heat pump if required either to rapidly heat up the pool or if the air temperature is too cold to run the heat pump efficiently eg at the and of the swimming season.

6. Multiple Heat Pumps

For large pools, it is possible to run two heat pumps together

or even larger pools can use four heat pumps

7. Indoor Installations

Normally the heat pump should be installed outdoors. However it is possible to install some models inside the pump house. Ducting kits are available to vent the expelled air out through the wall of the building.

For indoor installations, it is also necessary to allow air to enter the pump house. A vented door or grille should be installed at the opposite side of the pump house to allow fresh air to enter.

For indoor pools, placing the heat pump inside the pool building can help to dehumidify the air by drawing fresh air into the pool room and using the heat pump to expel the humid air.

The disadvantage of this arrangement is that the air temperature inside the pool room will be the same as the outside air temperature. In winter, this may not be desirable.

8. Installation Examples

Below are some pictures taken from our Photo Gallery of installations made using heat pumps supplied by HeatPumps4Pools

Heat Perfector 20kw Installation in Essex UK. Unit installed on paving slabs. Pipework insulated. Existing pipework extended out of poolhouse to heat pump.	Plumbing Arrangement - note bypass valve system to allow the unit to be isolated and drained down in the winter
Heat Siphon unit installed in the South of France in 2009.	Heat Perfector 32kw unit

To see other installation examples, please see our Photo Gallery

For further tips on installing a heat pump, please also see our FAQ page

9. Installation Service - Let us install it for you

We offer a full installation service for pool heat pumps using our fully qualified engineers.

Our engineers are qualified electricians and experienced heat pump engineers that will install your heat pump in accordance with the manufacturer's instructions.

We can install heat pumps throughout most areas of the UK

Please contact us for an installation quotation

10. Queries?

If you have any queries on installing your heat pump, then please contact us at enquiries@heatpumps4pools.com