Electric Pool Heaters vs. Electric Heat Pumps – Which Should You Choose?
September 20, 2010 – 8:30 pmElectric heaters come in two varieties, depending on the mechanism by which they heat up the water in your pool. There are advantages and disadvantages to using either type of electric heating system. Let’s take a look at some of them before you go and buy one.
Electric Pool Heaters
The way electric pool heaters work is similar to the way an electric hot water tank does. The heating mechanism is composed of an electric coil through which water from the pool is passed. When the heating system is turned on, electric current passes through the coil and causes it to heat up. In turn, the water that passes through the coil also gains temperature and heats up.
Though this system can successfully heat up water in a full-sized pool, it does so very slowly. For most people, this is an energy-inefficient way to heat up the pool. If you think about the high cost of electricity in some parts of the world, installing this system may not be practical.
Why do people still prefer electric pool heaters? First of all, they come in two types: there are above ground electric pool heaters and in ground electric pool heaters. An electric above ground pool heater is perfect for inflatable swimming pools.
Another good thing about electric pool heaters is that they are less expensive compared to other types. As a matter of fact, they are the cheapest ones around. They’re also easy to install.
Electric Pool Heat Pumps
In terms of energy-efficiency, electric pool heat pumps are better in design than electric pool heaters. It works by drawing in air from the outside. This air is used to heat up the coolant inside the pump. The heat pump compressor then gets to work, providing extra heat that helps warm up the air more.
This hot air is then channeled into the exchanger where it’s turned in to an even hotter gas. The exchanger then transfers this very hot gas through the water in the pool.
This heating system works by transferring heat instead of creating it. In doing so, it uses up less energy. People prefer to use heat pumps because it helps them save money on energy bills.
The downside is you don’t get the same results during cold weather because the system depends almost entirely on the temperature of outside air. In which case, you would have to use an electric swimming pool heater as a back-up during long cold months.
Tags: above ground electric pool heaters, electric above ground pool heater, electric pool heaters, electric swimming pool heater
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