Most heat pumps shut down when the outside temperatures go down below 55° degrees, some can continue to operate down to the mid to low 40's, and some can operate in temperatures of mid to low 20's.
It is not advisable to heat your pool at night because of the time and energy it will consume. You're advised to heat your pool during the day for more efficiency, and if you can, buy a solar blanket to retain the temperature of your pool.
The efficiency of the heater? Physicist: The correct answer is always to leave the heater off for as long as possible, as often as possible. The one and only gain from leaving a pool heater on is that it will be warm when you get in. The same is true of all heaters (pool, car, space, whatever).
A pool heat pump should not be left running all the time. For one, you are wasting electricity by keeping it on when your pool is already warm enough. Also, this will lead to an increase in energy costs month after month.
It depends on a few things to determine how long it takes a heat pump to heat a pool. However, overall a heat pump generally heats a pool after 24 to 72 hours by 20-degrees Fahrenheit. For smaller pools like a spa pool, the heat pump can heat a pool between 45 and 60 minutes.
The best answer would be to run your pool's filter system 12 hours a day, during sunlight hours when using solar to heat your swimming pool. The idea is to run all the water in your pool through the filter system at least once a day.
Set your pool heater's thermostat to a temperature between 78°F and 82°F (26°C and 28°C) to keep the majority of swimmers comfortable. Maybe a little cooler if you're in an area with very hot summers, or a little warmer if you live in a milder climate.
You should never leave your pool heater on overnight. Doing so is not efficient and will cost you more than it would if you just turned the pool heater off. While many of us know that heating a pool can take up to several hours, running it overnight defeats the purpose of heating it at all.
If you want to get as much time as possible out of your pool, however, a heater is a good investment. With a pool heater, you can easily be swimming May through mid-October, giving you a good five months of use out of your pool. That's literally double the amount of time you'd get without one.
A pool that is uncovered can lose up to 5 degrees F overnight; a good cover can cut that loss by half. Used at night or whenever your pool is not in use, the pool cover can help save fuel costs by cutting heat loss regardless of the type of heating you utilize.
As long as you are willing to wait for the pool to heat, it is cheaper to turn off the heater when you aren't using the pool. BTUs are BTUs. The pool needs a certain amount to heat to a certain temp and will lose a certain amount.
Day Heat Warms the Water
Sunshine warms the water starting in the later morning until the late afternoon so that by nightfall, the water is at its highest temperature.
According to the National Oceanographic Data Center, 70-78 degrees is where most people feel comfortable swimming. I have found that a water temperature of 70-78 degrees is a bit cold for most of us north Texans.
Run your pool pump continuously when temperatures are near or below freezing. You don't need to run your heater, moving water likely will not freeze. Disconnect any aerators and lines to slides. Booster pumps for pool cleaners don't need to run continuously.
However, on average, the type of swimming pool that you would find in a leisure centre or gym being heated by a standard commercial boiler would typically take between one and two days to be completely heated up.
The fastest way to heat your pool is to use a gas pool heater and a solar cover. It's like heating up your coffee in the microwave and putting a lid on it. No matter how you plan to heat your pool, you should at least have a solar cover (or liquid solar cover) to help you retain the heat.
Water Temperature of the Sea Below 22°C (72°F)
For swimming this is considered fairly warm and should be enjoyed by most, though some people may still find it a little too cool for their liking.
So, how much electricity does a pool heat pump use? About 5 kilowatts per hour per 100,000 BTU heat pump. For a general 100,000 BTU pool heat pump, the power you`ll utilize is approximately 5,000 Watts per hour. Typically, the National average for power stands at 13 cents for every kilowatt-hour.
On average you'll need between $200 to $500 to run it monthly with a pool cover. Electric heat pumps from trusted brands can last between 10 and 20 years. They're energy-efficient, and their use of surrounding air qualifies them as one of the most energy-efficient heating systems.
This could be as a result of low gas pressure, inadequate air supply, or improper venting. Ensure that the gas is turned on, and for propane, make sure the tank has fuel. Also, check for water run-off from the roof or sprinklers that may be flooding the pool heater.
According to the World Health Organization, water temperatures ranging from 78 to 86 degrees Fahrenheit are generally comfortable and safe for those engaging in moderate physical activity in a pool.
DON'T leave your heat pump running all day
Instead, make the most of your heat pump's timer. In winter, set your heat pump to turn on before you get up in the morning, so your kitchen is toasty and warm come breakfast time. Then, set it to come on just before you get home in the evening.
When pool water evaporates, it carries with it heat and therefore cools the pool water down. So if evaporation is prevented, then there will be much least heat loss. So simply put, covering your pool you will help warm the water up.