I need a pool heater!

[CarlD]

(Even tho my pool's frozen over right now, I still check in. Come on Springtime!)

I think an important distinction needs to made as to what the source of the heat energy is for the heat pump. Clearly we're talking about using the outside air here. We bought our house with an air-source heat pump (Carrier) and an attractive pellet stove. We thought, 'how quaint, it'll be nice to look at on winter days'. Now we know it's essential to heating the house. As said, when the source of the heat energy drops toward, and below, freezing, efficiency goes out the window.

That said, heat pumps can be a very efficient way to heat if one uses sub-frostline ground temps as the source.
There's lots of info on the internets about 'geothermal' energy (50 to 55 degrees) to feed a heatpump and it's something I'm very seriously looking at.

So, more to the point, I wonder if the same idea doesn't exist for heating a pool as well?

Chuck

I know that there is a constant temp of, I believe, 58 deg F underground, like 3 to 5 feet, depending on location.

But I've NEVER heard of a heat pump that used THAT as the source of heat! Wow--that's a great idea, if it can be made to work--a sufficiently large heatpump would work no matter HOW cold it got.

[ChuckD]

CarlD, you of all people! I woulda thought you'd be all over this.
Start your journey here:
http://www.geoexchange.org

[CarlD]

CarlD, you of all people! I woulda thought you'd be all over this.
Start your journey here:
http://www.geoexchange.org

I hang my head in shame for my ignorance!

[Poolsean]

hmmmm, geothermal heat pumps.

http://www.symbiontservice.com/geo-thermal/index.html

Aqua Cal manufactures these.

[ChuckD]

Bingo!
Got any contacts in upstate NY, ps?
I'm actually more interested in it for the house than the pool. But it seems to be such an 'exotic' technology, it's tough to find someone knowledgable.

Chuck

[hoogie]

I had a zone off my boiler specifically to heat my pool through a heat exchanger. It worked wonderfully on my small pool(11 k gallons) in MA to bring it from 60 to the low 90's in about 20 hours. Oil use was minimal, about 20 gals to heat it for the weekend. not sure how gas would work but we were hap with the setup we had. During the cooler months like may,june and sept to keep it on say 82 the boiler would run a few hours a day depending on ouside temps of course.

[fcfrey]

I know that there is a constant temp of, I believe, 58 deg F underground, like 3 to 5 feet, depending on location.

But I've NEVER heard of a heat pump that used THAT as the source of heat! Wow--that's a great idea, if it can be made to work--a sufficiently large heatpump would work no matter HOW cold it got.

I'm in Central PA and I installed a Geothermal Heat pump for my home back in 1992. BELIEVE THIS!! It paid for itself in 4 years compared to the baseboard electric I had been using. There are Geothermal heat pumps for pool applications. If you are even thinking of a heater in PA I would recommend you look at Geothermal. The size is still determined by surface area and the temperature differential at which you intend to use it.

One other thing I have to mention is whether you asked yourself this question. "Am I going to use the pool when the air temperature is low?"

My wife and I don't go near the pool unless the air temp is above 75 - 80degrees even if the water is the same or higher. Maybe I'm chicken but it's cold out there when your all wet!! Any heater is expensive if you don't swim when the air is cool.