FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS - Aqua Comfort Solutions

No, your AquaComfort heat pump was designed to be outside. Covering the heat pump will only make a warm, dry place for animals looking for a home. If you feel that falling tree limbs are a direct threat, you can cover the fan grate only. Only cover your AquaComfort Heat Pump when it is inoperative.

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This does not mean you need service. An AquaComfort’s heat pump LPS switch will turn the heater off and show a code of LPS when temperatures fall to around 40 degrees ambient air temperature or lower. This does not indicate a leak. This indicates that the outside air temperature has become too low for the heater to run. The heater will come back on when the outside air temperature warms up.

In most cases an intermittent FLO code is caused by your filter pump being turned on and off by the filter pump timer. The FLO code is indicating that the filter pump has stopped the flow of water to your heat pump. The heat pump cannot heat without water flow so it will turn itself off until the filter pump timer turns back on giving the heat pump the water flow it needs.

When the ambient air temperature gets cooler it can cause the condensation to freeze on the evaporator coil. The heater has a defrost cycle that will initiate and melt the ice from the coil. The defrost cycle often takes little time to defrost the coil which means you may not always see it happen.

Yes, there are two major factors that affect the ability to heat a pool.
One is how much heat you’re able to put in the pool. When the ambient air temperature gets colder there is less free heat available for the heater to transfer into the pool water. When it’s colder, allow your heat pump to run as long as it needs to achieve the temperature you desire. You may need to adjust the filter pump clock to run longer so the heat pump does not shut itself off as a result of no water flow.
The second is how much heat you’re able to retain in your pool. The greatest cause of heat loss from a pool is ambient air temperatures colder than your pool water removing the heat from the pool. You may want to invest in a solar cover. A solar pool cover will insulate the surface of your pool greatly reducing the amount of heat loss. This will also save you money.

We highly recommend that you have a Pool professional winterize your pool equipment and heat pump. Any Freeze Damage that occurs from a homeowner winterizing their own heat pump is NOT covered under warranty and will void the warranty of the heat pump.
To winterize your heat pump you need to turn off the power at the electrical panel (breaker). You MUST ensure that you have drained all of the water from the heater. Water left in the heater will freeze causing significant damage to your heat pump. The plumbing must be left in such a way that it will not collect any water or be accessible to animals over the winter. If you are not confident that you are able to achieve any of the above guidelines please seek help from your qualified pool care professional.

No, AquaComfort heat pumps work by absorbing the heat from the surrounding air and exhausting the colder air out of the top of the heat pump. If our heat pump were installed inside of a building the Heat pump would absorb the heat from that space and exhaust the colder air into that space which would cool down that space until the unit could no longer operate.

All of AquaComfort’s heat pumps have what is called a data plate on the front panel to the left of the display. This data plate indicates all of the mechanical and electrical specifications necessary for installation and service. However, if you or your electrician would like to view these specifications then please view the product guide for this information.

Swimming pool heat pumps offer warm pool water at a fraction of the cost of gas pool heaters, and unlike solar heaters, continue to heat the pool during cloudy, rainy periods.

Advantages of using a heat pump

Pool heat pumps work similar to a home heat pump. It acts like a reverse air conditioner, removing the ambient temperature in the air, with the use of an evaporator coil, liquid refrigerant and a compressor. The heat from the outside air is transferred to the pool water moving through the heat pump.

• No emissions and very low energy use
• Reliable heater, requires no maintenance
• No dangerous gas or flames used
• Easy to install, operate and troubleshoot
• Highly efficient, cheap to operate.

This blog will help you select the best pool heat pump for your pool size and usage patterns, and answer some questions about heat pumps along the way:

Sizing a heat pump

Pool heat pumps are typically matched to the number of gallons in your pool. If you don't know or aren't sure how many gallons you have, measure your pool, and use this pool volume calculator tool.

Some heat pump manufacturers don't list the gallons, but list their heaters in terms of the BTU output. Most models are in the range of 50K (50,000) BTU's - to 125K BTU's.

50K BTU heat pumps are meant for small pools, or aboveground pools, under 12,000 gallons. It will work on larger pools, but heating will be slow and total temperature rise may not be what you desire.

You'll need to consider pool size and the desired temperature change when selecting a heat pump for your swimming pool. Other factors, such as the average air temperature, humidity and wind speeds, will also influence a heat pump's ability to warm the pool water. Figuring on a temperature increase of 1-1.25 degrees per hour, you can use the following equation to get an approximate heat pump BTU requirement:

(Surface Area) x (Temperature Increase) x 12 = (Minimum BTU Needed)

For example, we'll use a rectangular pool 14 ft. wide by 28 ft. long. During the coldest month of use, the pool owner wants to increase the water temperature by around 20 degrees Fahrenheit.

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(14 x 28) x 20 x 12 = 94,000+ BTU

BTU Guidelines

If you happen to know the volume of your pool in gallons, you can also follow this general guideline for heat pump BTUs:

Heat pumps max out around 135,000 to 150,000 BTU, so larger pools will take longer to heat. It's important to purchase a properly sized unit in order to maximize energy savings. Using a solar pool cover can also help reduce heat loss and boost efficiency.

The larger the BTU output, the faster the heating (still slow by gas pool heater standards) - and the greater temperature rise the pool heat pump can achieve. A nice sized heat pump can bring the pool up 30 degrees (or from 50 to 80 degrees).

Another factor that could affect the size of heat pump that you buy; if you have high winds and no pool cover, you will suffer from a great deal of heat loss off the top of the pool. If you do have wind blocks and/or an automatic pool cover, you could potentially buy a smaller heat pump.

Selecting a heat pump brand

With so many on the heat pump bandwagon, there are a lot of brands to choose from. Many of the names you may not recognize, like TropiCal and AquaCal. These companies are the originators of pool heat pumps, selling thousands throughout the  80's and 90's. As sales increased, big brands like Hayward and Pentair took notice, who are now making pool heat pumps as well.

To make it easier to choose from, we list 6 different pool heat pump models, from 4 manufacturers. Prices vary according to the features installed on these different models. Some of the most popular options out there that all models have is:

• Titanium Heat Exchanger
• Thermoplastic jacket or exterior
• Digital display, electronic controls
• Environmentally friendly R410A refrigerant

Some models will have more advanced diagnostic indicators (idiot lights), a super-quiet Scroll compressor, or a more compact design. Warranty is another point of differentiation between our 6 models of heat pumps. Finally, the high end pool heat pumps have the ability to also cool the pool, in the event that summer heat brings the pool water to unbearable temperatures!

Installing a heat pump

There's not much difference in installation methods among our pool heat pumps. There are some size considerations, so if you have a smaller space, look to the product dimensions in the brochure or the owner's manual (linked from our heat pump pages).

All heat pumps will need to be installed on a level platform or slab. You cut the pipe after the filter and any chlorinator, then connect the pool plumbing in and out of the heat pump. Heat pumps require a 30-60 amp breaker, depending on their BTU output size.

Your heat pump installation may require bringing more power to the equipment pad, or if you're lucky, you have enough room left to add the required breaker size to the panel. To be safe, use a qualified electrician to perform the electrical hook-up on your new heat pump.

Pool Heat Pump Buyer's Guide

Aqua Cal

One of the oldest and largest manufacturers of heat pumps. Aqua Cal does not make any other products besides heat pumps for pools in both residential and commercial applications. Their heat exchanger is titanium. Aqua Cal has an easy to read digital display, dual thermostat and whisper quiet fan motor. The thermostat has a lockout option, which prevents anyone from adjusting the pool temperature.

Aqua Pro

The AquaPro heat pump has a titanium heat exchanger with a 5 yr. warranty on the heat exchanger. Most of the units have a digital display with a dual thermostat. The housing on the heat pump is very durable and is weather resistant. Aqua Pro is one of the leaders in pool heat pumps, and one of the first manufacturers in Florida.

Pentair UltraTemp

The UltraTemp is Pentair's original heat pump with a titanium heat exchanger to help prevent and protect against chemical corrosion. The cabinet on the UltraTemp is weather resistant and will help ensure optimal performance during any climate. Available in three sizes, and comes in a heat/cool model to both heat and cool the pool, and comes with many advanced features and benefits.

Hayward HeatPro

Hayward purchased EUS in , and added the Heat Pro, which has a titanium heat exchanger to help prevent from chemical damage and also Hayward Quiet technology built into their heat pump. The compressor and fan blade helps reduce noise. Hayward Heat Pro has an Ultra Gold corrosion resistant evaporator coil which helps provide excellent durability even in coastal environments.

Raypak Classic Series

These heat pumps feature robust construction, and full featured design elements. Easy-to-use digital controller and simple water line hook ups make operation and installation a snap! ETL Listed and AHRI Certified. We also carry the Raypak Heat Cool Heat Pumps, to allow you to heat or cool the pool water, as needed.

TropiCal

An economical and environmentally-friendly way to heat your pool. Using titanium heat exchangers and TropiCal’s patented counter-flow water management system, this pump harnesses the power of its sealed ventilator motor. Microprocessor controlled auto defrost keeps the TropiCal running even when temps dip into the 40s.

For more information, please visit pool heat pump manufacturer.