A Guide to Electric Inverter Heat Pumps

If you own a pool, you know the difference a heat pump can make. While the joy of being in the heated pool is perennial, the process of getting the electric heat pump for your pool can be daunting. You have to evaluate the size of your pool, budget, and features! Don’t worry; we have you covered. Here is an ultimate guide to electric heat pumps!

For people who want to heat up their pools quickly, gas heaters are no doubt the way to go, but they can be rather expensive to run. In this simple comparison chart, you can see the pros and cons of different heating options:

Electric heat pumps use the same fundamental concept as applied to air conditioners. It draws latent heat from the atmosphere and transfers it to your pool. They are extremely energy-efficient, and while they are commonly used in warmer, more humid climates, there are other factors to consider that could make them an effective heating solution in other environments and situations. 

Are all heat pumps the same? You might ask. The short answer is no. 

What is the difference between fixed output and inverter heat pumps?

Credit: Thermal Earth

The difference between a fixed output and an inverter heat pump lies in how they deliver the energy needed from the heat pump to meet your heating demands.

A fixed output heat pump works by continuously either being turned on or off. When turned on, the fixed output heat pump works at 100% capacity to meet the heating demand. 

An inverter heat pump, however, uses a variable speed compressor that modulates its output increasing or decreasing its speed to match exactly the heat demand requirements of the pool as the outdoor air temperature changes. When the demand is low, the heat pump reduces its output, limiting the electricity usage and the exertion placed on the heat pump’s components, limiting the start cycles. 

Inverter Heat Pumps

With the above explanation, it’s not hard to understand why inverter heat pumps achieve far greater energy efficiency. The Inverter technology allows set temperatures to be reached and maintained more precisely and efficiently than other heating systems so that you can optimise your heating with the lowest operating costs possible. 

Some of the most efficient pumps in the market, like the Viron Inverter Heat Pump, can lower your energy consumption for the pool by up to 30%. This particular heat pump comes with a WiFi control feature that helps you remotely control pool temperature using your mobile device. Our Eco Inverter Heat Pump, on the other hand, comes with a higher COP (Coefficient of Performance) value, thus making it even more energy-efficient. For people with limited space, the Top Discharge Inverter Heat Pump would be a perfect choice. This heat pump has a vertical exhaust design which makes it ideal for installing in tight spaces.

Here’s a matrix to help you compare the differences between AstralPool heat pumps:

Choose the right heat pump for your pool

Our new heat pump calculator has been designed to give the most accurate heater recommendation on the market. By combining Bureau of meteorology data via an API, historical average temperature sets for a specific location can now be used to more accurately determine the delta temperature difference (the difference between the desired heat temperature and the average ambient temperature) used to calculate the heat pump recommendation. We’re offering 2 versions of the calculator tailored to the needs of our consumers and dealers:

If you are looking to purchase a heat pump, head to our consumer website to find the right product for you or ask your local AstralPool dealer for more info.