So you have finally decided to purchase a swimming pool heat pump. Congratulations! Now, your heat pump needs to be installed. You should have a licensed swimming pool professional and a licensed electrician install your heat pump in order to ensure that it runs at optimum efficiency and complies with all state and local industry codes. Moreover, you may void the manufacturer’s warranty of your heat pump if you install your heat pump yourself. In this article, we provide a general idea of what to expect when your unit is installed.

If you want to learn more, please visit our website pool heat pump suppliers.

Unit Placement

1. Do not install a heat pump in an enclosed area, next to foliage, or next to other units. Heat pumps require sufficient air flow in order to function properly. For more specific clearance recommendations and requirements, read this article.
2. Install your unit within close proximity of your swimming pool. The further away you install your unit from your swimming pool, the more heat you will lose from the plumbing and the lower the water flow rate will be.
3. Install your unit on a sturdy base made of concrete, pavers, or any other material that can support its weight. Again, you must comply with all state and local industry codes.

Plumbing Connection

1. When connecting your unit to an existing swimming pool plumbing system, place your unit before all chlorinators and chemical pumps and after all filters and swimming pool pumps.
2. Also when connecting your unit to an existing plumbing pool system, make sure you have correctly-sized PVC connections and elbow fittings. Match the size of your new piping to the size of your existing piping.
3. Optional: If your heat pump is so equipped, attach tubing to the drain holes located at the bottom of your unit. This will prevent condensation puddles from forming around your unit by redirecting the condensation to a specific location.

Electrical Connection

Note: a certified electrician should perform all electrical tasks in order to keep swimmers safe and to protect the unit from damage.

1. Check the running and peak electrical currents of your heat pump as well as your electrical supply. If your electrical supply cannot support your heat pump, you will need to run a dedicated cable from your subpanel to your main electrical supply board. You can find specific electrical requirements on your unit’s data plate.
2. Connect your heat pump wiring to your subpanel.

Depending on circulation plumbing system and site conditions, a complete heat pump installation process typically requires one to two hours.

So these are a few things to keep in mind when you have your heat pump installed. Again, you should only a licensed swimming pool professional and licensed electrician to install your heat pump! We at AquaCal cannot stress enough the importance of hiring licensed professionals. If you have any questions or thoughts, leave us a comment below!

Pool Heat Pump Installation Guide

How to Correctly Install a Heat Pump Pool Heater

Your heat pump is not only a great investment, but also the most cost efficient method available for heating pools and spas. Should you ever require help in using or maintaining your heat pump, you will find poolheatpumps.com customer and technical support staff to be the most qualified and easily accessed customer service team in the pool heat pump industry. We are here for you!

It might be necessary to have a licensed electrician or natural gas professional assist you so that your heater is installed properly and safely. Remember that all pool heater models will require varying guidelines in regard to proper clearance and ventilation and all manufacturer specifications should be strictly adhered to.

Refer to your owner&#;s manual for details.

Installation Tips

If you properly install and maintain your heat pump pool heater, it can easily last five to ten years or longer and maximize energy efficiency.

We recommend having a qualified pool professional or electrician install the heater. Especially for electrical wiring and hookups.

Heat pumps need plenty of air circulation and work best outside with plenty of clearance surrounding the unit with no obstructions. Take care in selecting the location for your heater; on level ground near a pool pump or filter and ensure that air flow is unrestricted. Your owner&#;s manual will specify in detail the proper clearance, where the heat pump goes in conjunction with your equipment and the ideal location of the unit.

If you are looking for more details, kindly visit small pool heat pumps.

What distance from my pool should I install a heat pump?

Install the heater as close to the filter as possible and approximately 25 feet away from the swimming pool. Installing the unit any farther may cause heat loss since tubing is underground.

An "ideal" installation will have about 24" of clearance around the unit with no obstructions above. We have seen many exceptions and if you believe you have one, call us and we can go over it.

If you're not sure where to install the heater pump, contact us to make sue that the capacity of the heater is adequate for your pool and the distance between the heat pump and filter.

Operating a Heat Pump or Pool Heater

After you get the unit wired by a licensed electrician and plumbed, you are all set to turn it on. This is where you will need to read your Owner's Manual as every pool heat pump has different controls. Ensure that all valves are open to allow water to get to the pool heat pump. Sometimes valves may look open, but they are actually closed. Your heat pump will only run if your water pump is running. There are instances where the heat pump can still run if the water pump is off, but this is very rare and is only on select plumbing installations where siphoning occurs; this must be corrected.

When the unit is running in heating mode, make sure that the air being exhausted from the top is cooler than the ambient air. This is a sure sign that the pool heat pump is working. If the heat pump is still running when your water pump is off, turn your heater off and call us or the manufacturer. This will sometimes occur if the heater is set well below the water level of the pool or the flow switch needs to be adjusted. Most heat pumps will shut down below 50 degrees Fahrenheit and start up again once the temperature gets above 50. There are some heat pumps that will go below 50 degrees Fahrenheit if they have an active hot Freon defrost. You can improve the performance of your heat pump during cool days by using a solar blanket on the water. In some unique cases the use of a solar blanket is necessary for the heat pump to properly maintain high temperatures.

If possible, run the heat pump for 72 hours straight or during the warmest time of day to allow your pool to reach the desired temperature. If you have a solar cover/blanket, we highly recommend using it. After running the pool heat pump for some time, you will notice condensation water around your equipment pad or in the unit.

If you believe the water to be caused by a leak, there are two ways to test it. Turn off the pool heat pump, but keep your water pump running. You should notice that the condensation will dry up, which proves the water is going through the unit but is not leaking despite water flow. Another way is to take test strips and dip them into a pool of the condensation. The test strips will show that there is not chlorine present, which means no leaks.

View & Download Operating Manuals

FAQ: Does Poolheatpumps.com install heaters?

Poolheatpumps.com does not install heaters but we know great people in many parts of the country and can help find someone for you.

Although Poolheatpumps.com doesn't install heat pumps or do service, we have the experience from years in the field and we want you to get the best possible heater for your application. If you need an electrician, you should get a free quote from 2 or 3 of them, and then you can make the best choice. Usually the quotes start at $150.00 depending on the complexity of the job. Some of the manufacturers also have some people that they like to use too. We can ask them if you can't find anyone that you like.

Find an Installer

To avoid disappointment please have your heat pump installed by a licensed professional. If you have any questions please call us for help. We are here for you. Poolheatpumps.com does not accept returns based on poor performance due to unforeseen conditions or improper operation or installation.

Please follow the manufacturer&#;s recommendations to protect your investment. Always read your owner&#;s Manual.

Download an owners installation manual to assist in proper installation, operation, maintenance and service of your new heat pump pool heater. Poolheatpumps.com is not responsible for any new changes made by manufacturers that we might not be aware of.

Important: Review the maintenance schedule and other recommendations in your owner's manual. Your heater will probably require routine maintenance about once a year.

Are you interested in learning more about heat pump runs continuously? Contact us today to secure an expert consultation!