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Solar Heater or Heat Pump: Which is Right for Your Pool?
Although pools are usually used during the summer to cool off on hot, sticky days, sadly, the sunshine won't be enough to warm the pool up to a comfortable temperature.
Using equipment such as a swimming pool heat pump or solar heater can provide an economical and eco-friendly solution, making your swimming experience much more enjoyable.
If you're interested in extending your swimming season, you might want to take a look at our selection of swimming pool heaters; we stock an array of equipment such as:
Solar pool heaters use thermal energy to warm up a swimming pool. The pool’s water is pumped through a filter to the solar collector, typically mounted on a roof. The collector absorbs heat from the sun and transfers it to the water, which circulates through the system.
Because of the nature of a solar heater, they are incredibly cost-efficient and eco-friendly. Most solar heaters include flow control valves and automated sensors. These features will detect the water’s temperatures.
If the pool’s water is cold while the weather is sunny, the flow control valve will direct water through the solar collectors to help warm it up. If the pool water is too hot, the control valves will prevent any additional hot water from entering the pool.
A heat pump works by using electricity to suck in the heat from the outside air. The temperature of the air is then converted into a much higher temperature. This temperature is then transferred to the water, heating the pool.
Heat pumps, whether they're inverter heat pumps or on/off heat pumps, can warm the pool up using less energy than gas and electric heaters, whether the air is cool or warm. However, because they rely on the outside air's temperature, they can become less efficient and effective than usual if the temperature drops.
For more information, check out our article Do I Need a Swimming Pool Heat Pump?
Like any equipment, solar pool heaters offer a myriad of advantages, but they also harbour some cons. To find out whether a solar pool heater would work best for your pool, take a look at our list of pros and cons below.
Similar to solar pool heating, swimming pool heat pumps offer an array of different pros and cons. Take a look below to see if your pool would be better suited to a pool heat pump.
We've collated frequently asked questions about both swimming pool heat pumps and solar pool heaters. If you require any more information about heating your swimming pool, take a look at our article: How to Heat your Swimming Pool, where we explore various swimming pool heating methods.
If the conditions are right, a solar pool heater can be an effective way to warm up your pool without impacting your wallet or the environment. Even on a cloudy day, the solar heater will be able to absorb the passing UV rays.
Solar pool heaters should be accompanied by a solar pool cover, as these will help the heater retain as much heat as possible during the evenings, aiding its efficiency.
It is worth considering that solar pool heaters are similar to swimming pool heat pumps; they take time to generate heat, unlike gas or electric heaters.
Yes, solar pool heaters work well in the UK; they can still absorb UV rays through cloud cover. However, they are usually supported by a solar cover to help retain the heat overnight.
If you are interested in investing in a swimming pool heat pump, you'll want to work out what size heat pump you'll need for your pool. Find out more information in our article What Size Heat Pump Do I Need?
We hope this article has helped you choose an environmentally friendly pool heater that is suited to your pool. If you require any more information or advice, refer to our blog or contact a member of our team.
