Several factors need to be considered when assessing the size of heat pump required.
If you choose a heat pump with limited capacity, it will be running for many more hours than one of a suitable size, and you risk being disappointed by the slower rate of heating. And perhaps you will also find that the water does not reach quite the temperature that you would like. Particularly during times of cooler nights.
An inverter heat pump with sufficient capacity, on the other hand, will seamlessly adapt to the heating need of the pool and simply run along, at low sound levels, for long periods and with optimum energy utilisation. The greater capacity the inverter pump has, the shorter will be the heating time for the pool, and the longer periods of low-noise energy-saving mode running in which the desired water temperature is being maintained. This means that - particularly in the case of inverter heat pumps - it pays to choose a model with excess capacity relative to your pool size and type.
Always remember to consider your pool type, its location in the garden and any insulation – in other words, how big a heat loss will the heat pump have to match every night? A free-standing, un-insulated pool subject to wind, for example, will require a higher capacity heat pump to keep the water at the desired temperature during the season.
When in doubt, we always recommend going up a size in terms of kW – especially for the cooler Nordic countries. Generally speaking, you can expect to need 1 kW heating capacity per 2,580 litres of pool water.
How to find the right heat pump
It is necessary to understand that the heat capacity and the performance of the pump depend on the climate you live in. Areas with cold climates have a shorter swimming pool season. Therefore, hot pool water in the north requires heat pumps with higher capacity than in medium to warmer climates.
The illustration is an approximate estimate of the climate differences, and thus an indication of what type of heat pump you should consider buying to get the right performance.
