It’s time to gather the family, get the braai going and enjoy summer by the pool with an Aqua Pro Heat Pump! This article will discuss the basic anatomy and maintenance of a heat pump as well as some frequently asked questions and considerations when installing a heat pump.
Anatomy of a Heat Pump
There are two types of Aqua Pro Heat pumps: the on/off heat pump and the new Aqua Pro Inverter Plus Heat Pump. You may be wondering the difference between the two. The on/off heat pump contains a scroll compressor which only allows the unit to be switched on and off, and it only runs at one particular setting. Whereas, the Aqua Pro Inverter Plus Heat pump contains a rotary compressor which enables the unit to change between modes and adjust the speed as necessary. This is what makes this heat pump more energy efficient in comparison to the on/off of heat pump.
The Aqua Pro Inverter Plus Heat Pump range is South Africa’s premium and leading pool heating solution. With a full range of heat pumps, the Inverter Plus range provides you, your family or business with the ultimate swimming experience.
The Aqua Pro Inverter Plus Heat Pumps have a powder-coated steel casing which is sturdy and has been tried and tested against the harsh South African weather conditions. They are factory pre-set for optimal running efficiency, ensuring plugin and play, easy installation and premium components such as a titanium heat exchanger, a high-performance state of the art rotary compressor; as well as standard built-in Wi-Fi functionality. This makes it easy to heat up the pool from anywhere, at any time.
Maintaining a Heat Pump
Maintaining a heat pump is far simpler than one may think. Follow our recommendations and your heat pump can last as long as 20 years!
- The Pool Team recommends re-gassing the Aqua Pro Inverter Plus Heat Pump once every 5 to 6 years.
- Even though the heat pump would generally be switched off during the winter, it is recommended to switch it on for two to three hours, once a month in order to get the gas flowing through the unit and prevent the heat pump from freezing up.
Considerations when Purchasing a Heat Pump
When purchasing an Aqua Pro Heat Pump, it is imperative to purchase a heat pump suitable for the size of the pool in order to ensure maximum efficiency. Have a look at the table below to help you determine which size heat pump is suitable for your pool.
|
Pool size (Litres) |
Filter size (Bags) |
Pump size (kW) |
Heat Pump size (kW) |
Phase & Voltage |
|
35 000 |
2 |
0.6 |
9.5 |
220V- Single phase |
|
50 000 |
3 |
0.75 |
12.5 |
220V- Single phase |
|
70 000 |
4 |
1.1 |
17 |
220V- Single phase |
|
100 000 |
5 |
1.5 |
21 |
380V – 3 phase |
Another major consideration when purchasing a heat pump is the electrical supply from the house to where the heat pump will be installed. The larger the heat pump and the further away from the house it is installed, the larger the cable needed in order to carry the power load to the heat pump. If the cable size is too small, this could damage the heat pump when turning it on and off.
Frequently Asked Questions
Below are a few frequently asked questions.
- Why does my heat pump switch off by itself?
This could be a result of one of three things:
- An electrical supply issue - This would require a qualified electrician who is familiar with the installation of a heat pump to assess if the cabling and power supply is correct.
- A water flow issue – This would present as an error code on the display stating “EEO4”. This indicates that there is a lack of water flowing through the unit. This is a safety feature in order to prevent the heat pump from burning out. This can be addressed by ensuring the pool pump is running efficiently. The Pool Team also recommends emptying out the weir basket to alleviate any water flow restrictions.
- Alternatively, if your heat pump has reached the desired temperature, it will automatically go into standby mode while the water continues to flow through it. When the water temperature drops, the heat pump will switch on again and resume heating the water to the desired temperature. This feature was designed for energy efficiency.
- Why is there water leaking out the bottom of the heat pump?
- Although it may look like the heat pump is leaking, this is condensation that is caused by the running of the heat pump. This happens when the heat pump goes into a defrost cycle which is activated when the water is warmer than the outside air temperature.
Pro Tip
When installing an Aqua Pro Heat Pump, we recommend using it in conjunction with a solar blanket in order to retain the heat created by the heat pump. Although it may seem unnecessary to take a solar blanket on and off when there is a heat pump installed, it is certainly worth the effort as approximately 75% of the heat created by the heat pump can be retained in the water with the use of a solar blanket.
Head down to any of The Pool Team stores and chat to one of our professionals for further advice on your personal heat pump solution.
2 years ago
