Heat Pumps

Work from water volume. A useful rule of thumb is around 0.2 kW of output per cubic metre for a covered pool — so roughly 5 kW for a 25 m³ pool, or 8 kW for 40 m³. Add capacity if the pool is uncovered, on an exposed or shaded site, or if you want to swim from early April to late October. Send us your pool dimensions and we will size it properly rather than by rule of thumb.

For a typical 25–30 m³ above-ground pool held at around 28 °C with a solar cover, expect roughly £300–£700 across a six-month season. Without a cover the figure can easily double, because most heat is lost from the water surface overnight rather than through the walls.

It can operate at low air temperatures, but efficiency drops as the air gets colder, so heating a pool through a British winter is rarely economic. Heat pumps are best used to extend the season at both ends — April to October rather than December to February.

An inverter model running at part load is roughly comparable to a domestic air-conditioning unit and quieter than a garden pump. Because inverters spend most of their time at low speed rather than cycling on and off at full power, they are considerably less intrusive than older on/off units — worth considering if the pool is close to a neighbour.

Yes. A pool heat pump needs a dedicated weatherproof outdoor supply with appropriate protection, and that work must be done by a qualified electrician. The plumbing side — connecting into the circulation after the filter — is straightforward and most customers handle it themselves.