Why settle for dipping a toe in to see how cold the water is? Clear solar covers heat the pool better than blue solar covers because they allow more of the sun’s heat to penetrate more efficiently. Note: A solar cover option very similar to rings and squares is solar mats. AquaCal Tech support. The higher the wind speed above your water, the more water will evaporate. How Can I Make My Swimming Pool Heat Pump More Energy Efficient? Hope you are doing well. Run your filter during the hottest part of the day. Your email address will not be published. All of these variables are a function of the local weather data. While that might be entertaining, it won’t be efficient. If the unit is a heat/cool unit, it will run in lower ambient air temps and build up some frost. When the sun sets and the night air cools, a lot of the heat your pool gained during the day is lost. Tip: Don’t ever leave your solar cover out to dry on your lawn. Required fields are marked *. Tired of the high electric bills to keep your pool warm? You can typically raise your pool temperature 1 deg/hr with a heat pump. It is certainly possible. Contact the factory at 727-823-5642 for more information regarding indoor installations. Generally speaking, if the night time lows are in the 50’s & 60’s and inclement weather isn’t a factor(wind, rain, cold fronts, etc.) For example, if the outside temperature is in the 40s, you can expect the pool to warm up only to the 70s. And not just any lid but a solar pool cover. I just purchased a house with this awesome piece of equipment; the water is quite cold; how long does it generally take to heat average size pool. This energy will heat the pool by about 0.7°F per hour under the noontime sun. It must be completely removed to avoid this risk. Every time you lose water, through splashing or evaporation, you have to replace it. But regular bubble wrap is too flimsy to use for this purpose. A solar blanket can cut evaporation by about 95 percent. Once you have it spread out flat, use a soft push broom or soft scrub brush and clean water to scrub away dirt, algae or buildup, then rinse. The more debris you can keep out of your pool water, the less you have to run your pump on high to vacuum, and the more you can save in energy costs. Heat loss. Learn how to set it, maintain it, and save money. The number you need to cover your pool’s surface will depend on the sizes of both your pool and the rings. Thanks However, the ambient temperature greatly affects the ability of air-source heat pumps to produce heat. Note: While it’s not a good idea for your pet to drink pool water on a regular basis, liquid solar cover is safe for the occasional sip or two your dog might decide to take when you’re not looking. The pump does get frost on it. Get our FREE cheat sheet to help keep your pool clean without messing with confusing water chemistry. Live in coastal Connecticut and had an icebreaker installed on my 17,000 gallon gunite last season. However, you’ll need to weigh this practice against power use during peak hours. Pull about four feet out, then fold that section in half. The chillers, as well as the heat and cool units, can be used to create cold plunge pools for therapy as well. AquaCal Tech Support. Have you found the perfect pool temperature yet? That’s basically how liquid solar cover works. Whatever your pool heating/cooling needs, AquaCal® can help! To move the heat, heat pumps work like a refrigerator in reverse. It depends on the size of your pool and the size of the heat pump. First, unfold it next to the pool. For an indoor swimming pool, the pool area can be taken as completely enclosed. Running the heat pump indoors may actually cool the room down. Matt Giovanisci is the founder of Swim University® and has been in the pool and spa industry since 1995. A white plaster pool averaging 4.5 feet in depth absorbs approximately 60% of the sun’s energy. / 9C – 24C. A light-colored, clear cover will allow the sun’s UV rays to pass through to the water, thereby heating it. indoor swimming pools, formulas and methods are also provided for the calculation of evaporation for the following: † Outdoor occupied and unoccupied swimming pools † Pools with hot water, such as spent nuclear fuel pools † Decorative pools † Pools used for heat rejection from refrigeration systems † Vessels/tanks with low water level There will be gaps, even when they’re connected by their magnets. Robert, I have a the Icebreaker model SQ 156R. Swimming Pool Covers. However, keeping it on through the night prevents water and heat loss via evaporation. 40’s & 50’s DEGF. Call a pool heating expert at 800-741-9956 or provide us with some information about your pool on the form below and we will respond in 24 to 36 hours. Knowing how to troubleshoot it can help prevent further damage and save you money. Then store the container somewhere cool and out of direct sunlight to prevent the cover from shrinking, and the plastic container from deteriorating. It should sense when ambient air temps are too low for it to run & shut itself down. Evaporation would cause the same pool to lose about 5°F for every ¼-inch of water evaporated. We’ve got a few extra tips to help you save even more money. Sunheater Liquid Heat Shield helps your pool retain heat and reduces chemical loss by forming an ultra-thin, invisible barrier on top of your pool water that reduces evaporation. In addition to bottles, you can also find liquid solar cover in special dispersal packets, sometimes shaped like a cute little fish. Nope, we’re actually adding a chemical cost with this one. Depending on the color, opacity, and type of solar blanket you use, you could very well get some actual heating benefit from it. And guess what causes 75% of heat loss? Yup. Could this be a reason for the problem? If you don’t have a solar reel, you can pull the cover off and “accordion fold” it. Thanks for sharing. Thanks It prevents heat loss and evaporation. Disrupt the wind with a pool cage, plants, patio furniture, or privacy screens. In addition to warming your pool water, solar blankets offer some money-saving benefits. For a latent heat (Y) of a value of 2330 kJ/kg and with a speed of air (V) at 0,10 m/s and while multiplying by a factor of activity (Fa) to reduce the rate of evaporation estimated according to the corresponding level of activity, the equation is reduced to the following expression: Is It Too Cold To Use My Swimming Pool Heat Pump? Solar pool covers are available in several thicknesses. Please call us at 727-823-5642 and we will be happy to assist you. Do this before you deflate them to make sure nothing gets trapped in any folds or wrinkles. All the links are affiliate links which means if you click a link and make a purchase, we earn a commission at no additional cost to you. You can extend the lower temperature limit for your heat-only swimming pool heat pump by winterizing it when the temperatures drop. 2737 24th Street North The dark color will absorb the sun’s heat and will transfer that heat to the water they’re touching. Prevent additional water evaporation due to wind by creating a windbreak around your pool. We haven’t used our pool yet – every time we turn heater on, it ices up so we turn it off. If your reel didn’t come with a cover, you can always pick one up. In the UK, inland waters can be as low as zero in winter to as high as the mid 20s in … I started loosing efficiently due to evaporation in early Oct but starting using a liquid solar cover which drastically decreased the evaporation and improved efficiency. We are so glad to hear you were happy with the service. Tip: If you remove the solar blanket temporarily, be sure to keep it covered or in the shade to prolong its life. Heat pumps will start to ice up with air temperatures in the low 50’s and 40’s. Use multi-purpose scissors to trim the excess so the blanket fits inside the pool. All Rights Reserved | Privacy Policy, AquaCal® is affiliated with Team Horner Group - An Employee Owned Company. When the swimming season is over, long-term storage is easy, too. Hello! In this article, we will answer that question, and provide you with some information to help you get the most out of your unit. If you need more detailed information on heating please contact Aquacal technical support. Follow the instructions to be sure you add enough packets for your pool. Vanishing edge swimming pools and waterfalls can double your water evaporation rate because they create more surface area by constantly moving the water. Hi Matt, if it is 50 or 60 degrees outside will a heat pump sized properly heat my pool to 80 or above. The temperature in these days 48F – 76F. A dark, opaque cover may still let some through if the material is thin, but not as many as the light, clear cover. I keep arguing to just leave it on and let it defrost / run it’s course. While they’re not as efficient as a solar blanket, they can still reduce pool water evaporation by about 50 percent, which can still save you money on water, chemicals, and heating. Concrete can damage the bubbles, making the blanket less able to float and do its job. And it keeps children from accidentally falling into the pool. Commercial Heat Pumps can someone call me back regarding my heat pump please as it is quite urgent! We have been having temperatures in the teens at night and not getting above freezing during the day. ..otherwise the room will become a refrigerator. Evaporation in swimming polls in kg/h m2 according to the type of activity in the covered swimming pools . Realistically, we are only looking to heat from early May – late Sept. How realistic is it to expect a mid-80’s pool with a heat pump? I have an indoor 10,000 pool, the room is 20×40 with 30 foot ceiling sloping to 8 feet. It’s for this reason that solar rings and squares are not as effective as a solar blanket at either heating your pool water or preventing evaporation. Apart from this, you can prevent heat loss from the swimming pool using pool covers. I recommend them very highly. These can even be decorative because some of them have patterns and images such as palm trees printed on them, while others come in fun shapes such as flowers. The high concentration of chlorine will damage them. We usually run the pump for 8 hours a day (10am-6pm). If the unit is a for heating only, then it should not build clear ice. If you click this link and make a purchase, we earn a commission at no additional cost to you. Dark blue solar covers are great for heat retention. Run water features only when you’re around to enjoy them. At the end of pool season, it’ll be time to break out the safety cover, and store the solar blanket. But before you do that, you must make sure the solar blanket is clean and completely dry so you don’t get a nasty, moldy surprise when you open it up next season. Always check the safety notes for the brand you choose before using it, and before letting your pets into the pool. They’re measured in mil, which is the standard United States unit of measure for one-thousandth of an inch. By entering your email address you agree to receive emails from Swim University. If not will the heat pump be trying to heat the water even when there is no flow after 6pm? Conclusion Then simply place them on the water and let them do their job. If your blanket does trap debris, use a hand skimmer to scoop it out before removing the cover. If it works for me in CT, should work in most places where folks own swimming pools! Once a city and state are selected the monthly temperatures will populate. Now that the heat pump is in the new location the heat pump is not able tho warm the pool more than 77F / 25C. A solar blanket floating on the water keeps some of that heat from dissipating. Remove your solar blanket or rings before shocking your pool. Even though they don’t cover the entire surface of the inground or above ground swimming pool, they do still help the water retain some heat overnight as well. This reduction of evaporation is environmentally friendly, save you time, and money. Multiply the surface area of your pool by the temperature difference you recorded in "Step 3" by the number 5. You can use any kind of solar pool cover in tandem with an electric or gas heater, which will help you save money on utilities, water replacement, and pool chemicals. Keep them out of the wind, though, or they may end up all over the pool deck and yard. It will be easiest to do this by hand. Therefore, they can be two to three times more energy efficient than conventional electric resistance water heaters. Since then, his mission is to make pool and hot tub care easy for everyone. There are three types of solar covers: blankets, rings, and liquid. And don’t worry if you have a unique pool shape—you can trim a solar blanket to perfectly customize it to your pool. This is especially helpful if you live in an area where temperatures drop dramatically during the winter. There are a number of factors to consider when heating a pool so the answer to this question will vary depending on the circumstances. We do have special units called IceBreakers that are able to keep heating when temps get in the mid to low 30’s. He explained the concern and made the correction…… this is a very customer driven company. The addition of a pool cover makes it easier to maintain your pool. We have just turned on the heat pump and are running the pump continuously to allow the water temp to rise. This can help mitigate heat loss from evaporation. It helps us keep the lights on . AquaCal® has been the leading swimming pool heat pump manufacturer since 1981, offering a full range of units to meet any heating need. Easiest solution: put a lid on it. If you opt to use this heating method, you’ll have to stay on top of things with your handheld skimmer and vacuum. At 24F the unit will spend more time defrosting than transferring heat to your pool. Besides stopping heat loss, a cover saves on pool chemicals, too, by keeping them from evaporating with the water. Good for both inground, above ground, and Intex pools, the solar reel is placed at one end of the pool. Once you have the rings out of the water, spray them off and, if necessary, use a soft push broom or brush to clear any debris from them. If you have additional questions, please feel free to call us at 727-823-5642. Hope you are doing well. And each year, he continues to help more people with water chemistry, cleaning, and troubleshooting. NOTE: These solar pool covers are available to buy on either Amazon and InTheSwim.com. Get a reliable pool thermometer, and always know what you're diving into. Compared to indoor heated swimming pools, which vary in temperature from around 26 to 31 degrees Celsius, you are likely to be exposed to a much wider range of temperatures when swimming outside. To get the most heat transfer from a solar blanket, look for one that is white or clear on top, with dark or black bubbles. Hope you are doing well. Great feedback….thanks for posting. Hi, I have an Aqua Cal heat pump installed in Mexico city. What temperature can I expect to get the spa to during those months at night considering it does go down into the 40s and dips into the 30s here and there? Ask for Josh. Hi Mr. Clifford, A pool that is uncovered can lose up to 5 degrees f overnight; More so this is like asking how longs a bit of string…. Check both sites for availability. Taking a leaf blower to solar rings may just blow them right back into the pool, or into the neighbor’s yard. Image via Pool Supplies Reduce heat loss and evaporation. These devices often use black plastic tubular panels mounted on a roof or other support structure. Robert Brown Please feel free to call customer support at 727-823-5642 for additional guidance. Are you running the heat pump 24 hrs/day? For temporary storage, such as when you’re swimming but you’ll be putting the rings back on the pool later, you can simply stack them near the pool. For such a modest upfront investment, you can’t afford not to have one. Most of them spring open and twist closed, just like a windshield sun shade. After you wash and dry your solar blanket, reel it up. There is, however, a reversible unit on the market that has the ability to create almost a half a million BTUs with just one heat pump: The Great Big Bopper (GBB). If you’d rather not cut the blanket up, a convenient alternative is a solar cover reel. What size heat pump or gas heater do I need for my pool? For a 20 by 40 foot pool, an inch of water amounts to 500 gallons – roughly, a heat loss of more than 30 therms every seven days. Heat Pumps 5 Best Pool Heat Pump Reviews 2018 - Ultimate Pool Guide.