Heat pumps vs Solar panels
Choosing a heating system for one's swimming pool can be confusing. Below are a few points to consider when deciding between a heat pump and solar panels to heat one's swimming pool.
Swimming pool heat pumps:
- can be set to a specific temperature and this temperature can be maintained with ease
- are highly efficient and can generate heat at a rate of 500% efficiency
- can heat a swimming pool in the colder months and even right through winter (if sized accordingly)
Swimming pool solar heating panels:
- are erratic in terms of heating a swimming pool due to changes in weather patterns
- utilize the sun's power to heat water by absorption of the sun's energy and therefore are limited by this factor
- are limited to the warmer months and need to be switched off during winter to prevent bursting of tubes
When deciding on which type of pool heating system to have installed at one's pool one should ask the following questions:
- what the desired average temperature will be
- how many months of the year require the pool to be at this desired average temperature
- what you're prepared to spend on a monthly basis in order to maintain this average tempareture
On average, a heat pump for an average sized pool (say 6m x 4m) should cost around R 300,00 - R 400,00 p/m whereas solar panels use no extra electricity. If one has a solar blanket fitted to the swimming pool the running cost of the heat pump could be reduced by up to R 100,00 p/m.
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