Pool water heater: how to heat pool water in the country

The heat pump is an efficient device for heating pool water

What types of heaters are there

With the arrival of the summer season, the owners of sealed reservoirs and reservoirs in their summer cottage will sooner or later face the question: how to heat the water in the pool with their own hands? For this, one of the following options can be used:

1. Heat exchanger.
2. Solar collector.
3. Heat pump.
4. Instantaneous electric heater.
5. Wood heater.
6. Gas heater.

If small children swim in the pool, then the water temperature should be raised to 30 ° C

Each of the types of equipment has its own operating characteristics, as well as advantages and disadvantages. It is worth choosing a heater tin depending not only on the volume pool, but also on the features of communications in the summer cottage, the amount of water that will need to be regularly heated and personal preferences.

Features of flow heaters

Instantaneous pool heaters are one of the most economical and easy-to-use options. They heat running water with small pressure drops, boast compact dimensions and ease of installation. And to install a flow heater, you just need to equip a small booth on the site. This type of case is made of plastic, stainless steel or titanium, and the heating element is made of a special stainless steel alloy that can withstand high temperatures. Due to this, the flow heater is durable and resistant to all kinds of negative influences.

Instantaneous heater for heating pool water

The power of the model must correspond to the volume of water that will need to be heated. This means that to heat water in a small pool with a shallow depth, only 3 kW of power is enough for you, but for a large tank you will need a more powerful unit.

The maximum power of the instantaneous heater is 18 kW, so it will be a good choice for small pools.However, if you are the happy owner of a tank with a volume of more than 36 m³, then it makes no sense to buy a flow-through device.

Useful advice! Buying this model will also be impractical if your house has a restriction on electricity consumption or poor wiring.

If the water in the pool is too cold, swimming is not particularly pleasant, and the risk of colds is quite high

Electric instantaneous pool heaters boast the following advantages:

• quickly heat water in a small tank;
• some models have a flow sensor that turns off water heating if it does not circulate;
• temperature can be adjusted using built-in thermostats;
• there is an automatic control system;
• compact dimensions.

It is important that the water temperature in the pool is comfortable, especially if children are swimming in it.

They also have disadvantages:

• impossibility of installation with limited power consumption or weak wiring;
• low power indicators;
• high power consumption.

Swimming pool water heating using a heat exchanger

A heat exchanger is a variant of the heater that does not consume electricity at all. It connects to the general heating system of the house and uses the heat from there. The design of such a model is extremely simple. The body is a flask with a coil. It is supplied with water from the heating system using a circulation pump. The coil is washed by cold water, which heats up as a result. This simple design guarantees the reliability and durability of the unit.

Installation diagram of a heat exchanger for heating water in the pool

When installing a heat exchanger, you only need to set the required temperature on the thermostat, and it will be maintained using automatic systems. A nice feature of the heat exchanger is its high power level, it can be from 13 to 200 kW. Power is selected depending on the volume poolas with any other type of heater.

When first warming up, it is very important to avoid sudden changes in temperature that could damage the equipment. That is why the first time do not expect a quick result, the water will heat up for about 28 hours. After the water has warmed up to the set temperature, the equipment will simply maintain it, which will save you money.

The temperature of the water in the pool must be maintained taking into account the air temperature

If you want to know how to heat the water in the pool using a heat exchanger and position it optimally, then this should be done in such a way as to avoid equipment breakdowns due to the presence of chlorine in the water. This means that the unit must be installed between the disinfection system and the pumping station. If there is too much chlorine in the water, then it is better if the heater is made of titanium, it tolerates long-term exposure to an aggressive environment well.

It is worth buying a pool heater that works on the principle of a heat exchanger because of the following advantages:

• high power level and the ability to heat water in a large pool;
• saving finances as a result of the operation of the unit not from electricity, but from the heating system;
• ease of use.

Typical heat exchanger connection diagram

The only drawback of this type of heater is the long heating time of the water at the first start. But later you will not have to wait long, since the temperature you set will be maintained automatically.

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Children's pools for summer cottages: lots of fun for kids. Features and Benefits. Slide pool options. Product care, review of popular models. Where to buy children's pools.

Heating water with the sun

Of course, the pool is open-air and itself warms up under the influence of the sun.But this process can be accelerated by using a solar collector or solar system. This type of heater is a system of flasks, screens or pipes that absorb the sun's rays and convert them into thermal energy.

Useful advice! Each of the solar system modules is designed to heat about 30 m³ of water. This means that the larger the tank volume, the more modules will need to be installed.

solar collector for heating the water in the pool

The solar collector works by absorbing the sun's rays from the surface. There is a coolant inside the device, which heats up to a temperature of 140 ° C. The circulation pump is then started in the pool water heater. The advantage of such a system is that it can be used not only to heat water in the pool, but also as a heating system in a private house.

Some models of solar systems are equipped with special sensors and an automatic valve that directs water to the heat exchanger. If the set pool water temperature has already been reached, then it passes by the heating element and gradually cools down. As soon as the temperature reaches the minimum mark you have set, the valve opens and water begins to flow back into the heat exchanger.

If the water temperature in the pool is comfortable, then you can swim on a cool day.

The advantages of solar pool heaters are as follows:

1. The water heats up very quickly.
2. You can use the system to raise the temperature of the pool water, to supply hot water to a private home, or to heat rooms.
3. Simple and convenient control system.

If you read user reviews about the Intex solar pool heater on the Internet, you can understand that the only serious drawback of such a water heating system is that in cloudy weather the efficiency decreases and the heat exchanger does not work as efficiently. This means that it is advisable to install the solar system where there are more sunny days per year than cloudy ones.

The main types of solar collectors for swimming pools

Heat pumps as a new heating technology

One of the innovations in terms of how to heat the pool water is the heat pump. This type of equipment is far from the most popular due to its rather high price, but in terms of efficiency it can compete with all other options.

The principle of operation of a heat pump is rather complicated and is based on multi-stage heat transfer from different sources. The initial source of heat for the pump can be groundwater or thermal springs, flue gases, and in general anything that is even slightly warmer than the water in the pool.

The structure of the heat pump for heating water in the pool

The external piping of the heat pump is located underground. A working fluid is driven through it with the help of a circulation pump, which heats up by several degrees due to the ambient temperature. The liquid then enters the evaporator where it heats the refrigerant. The latter immediately boils and is transformed into steam, which in turn enters the compressor.

The compressor compresses steam to 20-25 atmospheres, resulting in the release of a large amount of thermal energy. It is this energy that is used to heat the water in the pool.

How to heat the water in the pool in the country so that the energy from the heater is also enough for other needs? To do this, it is enough to fork out a little and install a heat pump. The system works so efficiently that it can effortlessly heat private houses up to 300 m². In addition, the system works in a circle, that is, the working fluid, after it gives up the accumulated heat, cools down and circulates again through the pipeline.

You can keep your pool water at an optimal temperature with a heating blanket

If you are interested in the question of how to quickly heat the water in the pool using a heat pump, then you should know its advantages:

• very high power;
• free energy sources are used to heat water, which can significantly save money;
• water heats up in a very short time.

The disadvantage of such a system is its high cost. For the same money, you can buy several instantaneous water heaters for the pool.

Useful advice! If you think that a heat pump is a waste of money, then think about how much money you will save by using free energy sources. This is especially true if you use the system not only for heating water, but also for heating a large private house.

The principle of operation of a heat pump for heating pool water

Wood or gas pool water heater: how to heat pool water in the country

Woodburning pool heaters are one of the simplest and most economical designs. In fact, it is a spiral along which water moves. A fire is made under the spiral, it heats up and gives off heat to the water. As fuel, you can use not only wood, but also peat, dry garbage, coal and much more. This type of unit is good because it can be used in suburban areas where there is no electricity and gas. The pump, which is responsible for the circulation of water in the spiral, can be powered by an independent generator.

When purchasing a wood-fired pool heater, the main selection criterion is its power. It directly depends on the dimensions of the heat exchanger, as well as on the type of fuel used. Most models allow you to adjust the intensity of combustion, and you can easily connect a wood-burning unit without special skills.

Installation diagram of a gas heater for a pool

Advantages of a wood-burning heater:

1. Saving money by using cheap fuel.
2. Easy to operate.
3. Fast heating of water.
4. Ease of installation.

The lack of heating the water in the pool with your own hands using a wood-fired unit is the lack of automatic systems. This means that the system must be constantly supervised, keep the fire in it, and prevent fading. Also, the absence of an automatic thermostat means that you cannot accurately set the temperature to which the water should be heated.

The recommended temperature in outdoor pools is 24-28 ° С

Gas heaters for a pool are fundamentally different from wood-burning ones only in that they use natural gas as a fuel. This makes the system a little easier to operate and allows you to leave it unattended. The advantage of a gas heater is its relatively low cost, but in this case, you will receive a lot of gas bills, so before buying you should think about whether you need this type of heater.

Heating blanket

We should also mention such an interesting type as a heating blanket for the pool. In fact, this is a special cover that can be made of polyethylene or tarpaulin, and also made in the form of blinds. Special heating covers for the Intex pool not only prevent leaves and other debris from getting into the water, but also accumulate solar energy to heat the water. Of course, it is impossible to heat water with the help of a blanket as efficiently as with the help of instantaneous or storage heaters, but it does give a rise in temperature by several degrees.

Intex pool heating blanket

Device selection criteria

When choosing a pool heater (Intex, Bestway, Behncke or any other company), you should consider a number of general parameters.

Power... This parameter depends on the size of the pool and the amount of water that will need to be heated. Also, the power of the heater directly affects the rate of temperature rise.For example, the Intex pool water heater has a power of 3 kW, and the Bestway pool heater has 2.8 kW. The power required for efficient heating can be calculated using a very simple formula: the volume of the pool is divided by two.

Heating method... Instantaneous water heaters are a popular option if you need to heat the water in the pool in the country. As a rule, the main advantage of any flow heater is its relatively small size, due to which such a device can be mounted in a small area. The principle of operation of a flow-through system is that water passes through a heating element, which gives off heat to it. Most of these systems operate in cycles. A flow-through model, for example, an Intex pool heater, is good for small tanks, for which water is taken from a central water supply system, a well or a well.

Water temperature is one of the key components of pool comfort

Energy source used... Here you need to take into account the availability of this or that fuel, as well as your financial capabilities. For example, a solar-powered unit is the most efficient, but it is quite expensive, and it makes no sense to use it in an area where there are more cloudy days than sunny days.

Of course, you can always assemble a water heater for the pool with your own hands; there are a sufficient number of ready-made schemes on the Internet for this. However, buying a factory product will not only save you time and effort, but also get a reliable and durable device with the possibility of warranty service.