There are many factors that should be considered when sizing a heat pump for your swimming pool.

These include:-

Also bear in mind that your heat pump needs enough power to heat your pool from cold at the start of the season.

In addition, the heat outputs quoted by each manufacturer are the maximum obtainable under optimum temperature and humidity conditions. In reality, the output that you achieve may be less than that stated.

For the reasons given above, it is therefore always advisable to oversize a heat pump whenever possible. A pool heat pump can never be too large, it will just heat up your pool more quickly ! If you undersize your pool heat pump, it will just run for many hours and may never raise your pool to the desired temperature.

This is where we can provide our expertise to consider all of these factors and help you choose the best size unit for your pool.

We therefore strongly recommend that you contact us to discuss the size of heat pump that you require before making a purchase.

Each of our product listings has a sizing chart that shows the maximum number of cubic metres (m3) of water that each heat pump model supports.

Compare the volume of your pool in m3 to the sizing chart. If your pool volume is near the maximum size supported, then choose the next model up.

Always allow some "headroom" with the power of your heat pump. This will ensure that the heat pump can still produce enough heat to maintain your required pool temperature

Not at all, the heat pump needs a solid concrete base or can be laid on paving slabs. The unit then needs an electrical supply and it is best to get a qualified electrician to install this.

The plumbing is straightforward and the pipes are glued together. The heat pump only needs a flow and a return pipe.

You should install 3-valves to create a "bypass".

The heat pump should be installed after the filter and as the last item before the water returns to the pool.

If you want to install the heat pump alongside your existing heater, then the water should flow through the heat pump and then through the existing heater before returning to the pool

See our Installation section for lots more tips on installing your heat pump

Each product listing states the warranty offered.

All of our new heat pumps include an on-site parts and labour warranty.

All heat pumps shipped outside the UK are supplied with a parts-only warranty. Outside the UK you will need to employ a local contractor if required and we will courier any necessary spare parts to you

All Heat Siphon and Heat Perfector units have 2" male pipe outlets. Duratech have 50mm outlets. Other units are stated on the specifications page for each make.

We can supply adaptors to go to different pipe sizes if required.

Digital models have a digital display that allows you to set the required temperature using the buttons on the control panel. The unit then automatically maintains the pool temperature at the required temperature.

Analogue units use a simple knob to set the required temperature and work in the same way as digital models.

See our How they work page

See our Savings page.

There is also a calculation on the savings page showing how a 32kw heat pump costs only  £3.33 per day to run !

Each product listing states the physical sizes of each model.

Yes, we can ship to anywhere in mainland Europe and the UK.

Please email us with your required heat pump model and address and we will get a competitive shipping quote for you.

The units are delivered on a lorry with a tail lift. The units are on a pallet and will only be delivered to your driveway. You must arrange to carry the unit to where you require your pump to be located. Note that the units are heavy and will require two or three people to move them safely.

The COP is the Coefficient of Performance. It is the ratio of energy input to output. Eg a unit with a COP of 5 would provide 5 units of heat for every one consumed.

For example a heat pump with a COP of 5 would use about 4kw of electricity and output 20kw of heat (ie 5 x 4kw =20kw).

Bear in mind though that there is no international standard for stating COPs and therefore each manufacturer will state the maximum COP obtainable for their units under optimum temperature and humidity conditions. In reality you may not therefore always acheive the COP rating stated.

This is another reason why you should always oversize your heat pump

Most heat pumps should be installed outdoors as they require a good flow of fresh air to operate properly. The Competition RA range, DPL, Solar Bear and Waterco range of products can however be installed in a pump-house or shed using the through the wall ducting kit.

See the listings for Competition, DPL, Solar Bear and Waterco for more information

We recommend that you cover your heat pump during the winter. However, you must use a suitable cover. The cover must allow the heat pump to breathe so that mositure and condensation can escape, otherwise corrosion can occur to the components in your heat pump causing permanent damage.

We sell a special range of heat pump winter covers that are custom made for each heat pump model and incorporate ventilation mesh panels to allow air circulation.

Heat Pump Winter Covers

Smaller heat pumps can be disconnected and carried into a garage or shed for the winter.

If you have an existing heater (eg gas, oil, electric etc), then we recommend that you install the heat pump alongside your existing heater.

This will allow you to run both the heat pump and the existing heater if required for a rapid pool heat up, or to provide a backup heater in case the heat pump develops a fault (unlikely). You can also switch to your existing heater when the air temperature becomes too cold for the heat pump to operate efficiently eg right at the end of the season.

If you want to install the heat pump alongside your existing heater, then the water should flow through the heat pump and then the existing heater before returning to the pool for maximum efficiency

All heat pumps include a water flow switch. This means that they will only operate when your pool pump is turned on and water is flowing through the heat pump.

You can therefore control when your heat pump operates by using a time clock on your water pump.

Some models (eg Duratech and Solupiscinas) also have a timer built into the digital control panel. This allows you to turn the heat pump on and off at set times independantly from the pool pump. Note that the pool pump always needs to be operating for the heat pump to work.

Our prices are some of the cheapest on the internet and we always aim to provide highly competitive prices.

However if you see the same product cheaper elsewhere,  then please let us know and we will always try to match or beat any pricing you have seen

This refers to the electrical supply that the heat pump needs.

Most properties have a single phase supply (eg a live and neutral wire) .

Some larger properties or commercial properties have 3-phase supplies.

The smaller heat pumps are single phase and larger ones, generally over 30kw require a 3-phase supply.

If you are not sure what electrical supply you have, ask your electrician to check this before ordering your heat pump

Just like the boiler in your house, the heat pump will run for different amounts of time each day depending on the weather. 

On warm summer days when the pool is up to temperature, the heat pump may not need to run at all. Whereas on cooler days, the heat pump may run for a few hours.

In extremely cold weather (eg below +5c) the heat pump may need to run for 12 hours a day or more.

When you keep a solar cover on your pool, this will give the pool some heat gain on warm days and will supplement the heat pump.

As the weather gets colder the heat pump will need to run for longer.

You can control how long the heat pump runs for each day by using a time-clock on your pool pump.

Other factors that affect how long the heat pump will run for each day include:-

• The power of the heat pump - a more powerful heat pump will heat the pool more quickly and so will switch off sooner than a smaller heat pump
• How well insulated your pool is
• If you have a high water table around your pool, then this will drain away the pool heat and cause your heat pump to run for longer to replace the lost heat
• The pool water temperature that you require - a higher pool water temperature will need the heat pump to run for longer to maintain the temperature
• Pool cover - an uncovered pool will lose 2-3 times as much heat as a covered pool

As a guide, on warm summer days the heat pump would typically run for between 0-3 hours

On cooler days between 3-8 hours should be sufficient but this depends on the factors mentioned above