FAQ - Pool heat pump

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HOW DOES A POOL HEAT PUMP WORK?

When we say pool heat pump, we mean a heat pump which use the energy in the surrounding air to heat the water in the pool, i.e. an air/water heat pump for swimming pools. The pool heat pumps sold by Gullberg & Jansson are thus mainly used only for heating, but the process can also be easily reversed so that the inflowing water is cooled instead of heated.

To sum up the process, electric energy is used to absorb thermal energy from one place (the ambient air) and move it to another (ultimately the pool water). The pool heat pump has a fan, which "draws" the ambient air through the evaporation component. The refrigerant inside the evaporator coil then evaporates because of the higher temperature in the ambient air. The warm gas then passes through the compressor. The pressure in the compressor is increased and with it the temperature and a very hot gas is formed which then passes through the condenser (heat exchanger). In the condenser, the heat is transferred from the hot gas to the cold pool water which circulates through it. The warm water is then returned to the swimming pool. The hot gas, while it travels, is transformed to liquid while passing through the condenser coil, before once again reaching the evaporation component where the process starts all over again. The pool heat pump is very efficient during the months the pool season usually lasts (May-September). The efficiency depends on the ambient temperature and the temperature of the pool water. Since for most people the pool season coincides with our warmest months (May-September), the conditions for the air to water heat pump are ideal.

WHY DOES IT TAKE SO ”LONG” TO HEAT A POOL?

This is because such an enormous amount of energy is stored in the water and this energy cannot be quickly generated with a heat pump without it being incredibly powerful and expensive. You have to consider that a few days of non-stop operation will be required to increase the temperature. It is very individual how many degrees the water in different pools is raised per day, but between 2-3 degrees is the indication we mostly get from our customers which is also consistent with our own measurements. If you want faster heating, you should consider a model at least one step up from what is normally recommended.

WHY IS IT SO DIFFICULT TO HEAT UP THE POOL WHEN IT IS COLD OUTSIDE, E.G. 10 DEGREES?

This is due to the leakage into the air being so heavy, and if there is no isolation around the pool the ground and groundwater will cool the pool even more. Finally, a heat pump is less efficient the colder it is outside. A rule of thumb is usually that the temperature in the pool can be raised by approx. 10 degrees compared to the average temperature during a 24-hour period.

HOW LONG WILL IT TAKE TO HEAT UP THE POOL?

You can expect a rise in temperature of 2-3 degrees per day. If you want quicker heating, you can always select a larger model from our range. So it does take a number of days to heat the pool to the desired temperature, and then we recommend running the pool heat pump continuously. Once the temperature has been reached, the pool heat pump often does not run for more than a few hours a day depending on the weather and energy loss.

HOW MUCH CAN I SAVE WITH A POOL HEAT PUMP?

It is difficult to give a general answer to how much each and every pool owner can save by using a pool heat pump. It depends completely on a series of individual factors. But when compared to the traditional alternative, i.e. electric heaters, you can expect to save approx. 65-80 % of your heating costs.

IT IS DIFFICULT TO GIVE A GENERAL ANSWER TO HOW MUCH EACH AND EVERY POOL OWNER CAN SAVE BY USING A POOL HEAT PUMP. IT DEPENDS COMPLETELY ON A SERIES OF INDIVIDUAL FACTORS. BUT WHEN COMPARED TO THE TRADITIONAL ALTERNATIVE, I.E. ELECTRIC HEATERS, YOU CAN EX

We are often asked this question even though we are a supplier of pool heat pumps. The popularity of pool heat pumps, in our opinion, is based on the fact that it is a sure and reliable option. It works even on days when the sun doesn't shine. So there is no need to worry about the weather. Pool heat pumps are often regarded as easier to install and maintain than solar collectors.

CAN YOUR VERTICAL MODELS REALLY BE COMPLETELY FREE-STANDING, I.E. WITHOUT ROOF?

Yes, they can. There are several holes in the bottom panel so that no rainwater, for example, will remain in the machine. It won't hurt, though, to inspect the heat pump from time to time and remove fallen leaves or other debris from it. If a superstructure is still required, be careful to give the fan plenty of space.

WHAT SHOULD I KEEP IN MIND BEFORE WINTER STORAGE?

The most important thing is to drain the pump! For models sold before 2007-03, there is often a separate drain plug which is easy to unscrew and through which drainage is done. On later models, however, drainage is done by loosening the pipes for in- and outflowing water to let the water flow out easily from the heat exchanger. If unsure, always contact your distributor! Heat exchangers damaged by ice inside are not covered by the warranty. It may also be a good idea to cover the heat pump in winter to protect it from external damage. As of 2007-06 our pool heat pumps always come with a winter cover, which is a simple but tailor-made covering which you thread over the machine.

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WHY SHOULD I CHOOSE TO HEAT MY POOL WITH A POOL HEAT PUMP?

The main reasons we at Gullberg & Jansson would like to emphasize are foremost:

• Energy efficiency and environmentally friendly heating - Expect 65-80 & savings comp. to electric heating.
• Investment rationale - your investment will often pay for itself within a very short period.
• You can extend the pool season considerably - 27 degrees in your pool from May to September when following the recommendations in the product sheet. If you choose a larger model or a split-model, the season can be extended even further.
• The pool heat pump does not directly depend on the number of hours of sunshine like a solar collector does, letting you heat your pool even on overcast days in summer.
• Quick and easy installation - Hook-up of water + electricity installation. Compared to solar collectors or heat exchangers, installation is significantly easier.
• Easy maintenance - Drain ahead of winter and cover with a winter cover. Clean from time to time with a sponge or similar. That's really all that is needed.

WHICH MODEL SHOULD I CHOOSE?

Choosing the right size for a pool heat pump is not always that easy and our recommendation is thus to always contact one of our pool construction distributors or us directly (sales@gullbergjansson.se) if you are unsure. Normally, we take the surface area, aggregated volume and the difference you can expect between outdoor temperature and pool temperature at the intended location to determine the required capacity. In practice, however, a number of other factors also come in: wind exposure, moisture levels, night-time temperature and, last but not least, pool isolation and covering. It is important to understand that there are great differences in the ability of different types of pool designs to retain thermal energy. Most important in our experience, however, is covering the pool surface as a very big proportion of the thermal energy lost evaporates from the pool's water surface. The recommendations listed in our product sheet can be regarded as good landmarks in case your pool is isolated and covered at night. Furthermore, we recommend the vertical models in which the fan blows the air vertically if you do not have any special requirements regarding placement and design. The vertical models muffle the noise at a distance while the construction, in our opinion, is the sturdiest in the market.

WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN YOUR VERTICAL AND HORIZONTAL MODELS?

The main difference is the direction of the fan. In our vertical models, the fan is located on the top and the exhaust air is thus "pushed" right upwards instead of to the side. This results in the noise level being experienced as somewhat lower if you are a few metres away as the noise "disappears" upwards instead of right towards you. Another difference resulting from the vertical design is that one side can be placed right next to a wall if you don't have enough space. With regard to the components, there is no difference between the vertical and horizontal models.

We do, however, recommend choosing the vertical model as in our experience it is the sturdiest in the market.

HOW LONG IS THE ANTICIPATED SERVICE LIFE OF GULLBERG & JANSSON POOL HEAT PUMPS?

Gullberg & Jansson's pool heat pumps in the V series, H series, R series and P series are estimated to have a service life of around 15 to 20 years, which is based on the service life of components that do not normally need to be replaced such as compressors, heat exchangers, evaporators, etc. Our pool heat pumps in the S series, that are intended for indoor pools, are expected to be used all year round and the estimated service life in this case is about 10 to 15 years. However, you can expect that there will be a need to replace other parts of the heat pump as part of normal wear and tear during this expected service life. 
It is important that you maintain your heat pump to ensure a long service life.

HOW DO I LOCATE MY NEAREST DEALER?

Find your nearest dealer directly at www.gullbergjansson.se or contact us at info@gullbergjansson.se or by telephone +46 42 311 15 00 and we will be happy to help you.

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WHAT TYPE OF WARRANTY DO YOU PROVIDE FOR YOUR POOL HEAT PUMPS?

Gullberg & Jansson's pool heat pumps come with a 3-year material warranty for our non-corrosive models in the V-series, H-series and S-series and a 2-year material warranty for the R-series and P-series. Our non-corrosive models, V-series, H-series and S-series, have a 7-year compressor warranty, and our R-series and P-series have a 3-year compressor warranty.

In installations close to coastal locations with salty breezes or in other highly vulnerable environments, the stainless steel (that is no-acid resistant) will eventually be attacked by rust. This will not affect the performance of the heat pump and is therefore not covered by the heat pump warranty.

WHAT CAN I AS THE END CUSTOMER DO IF THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH MY POOL HEAT PUMP?

In the event of a problem, contact your distributor who will help you to correct your problem by yourself, our with our help. In case of defects in the equipment, the digital display and supplied manual can be of great assistance. In the event of a defect in the pool heat pump an error code will always appear on the display, and taking this as a starting-point the defect can then be fixed. You can find details on what the error code means in your manual. Finally, if you have any questions your distributor finds difficult to answer, you are welcome to contact us at: support@gullbergjansson.se.

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CAN I COMBINE A POOL HEAT PUMP WITH A SOLAR COLLECTOR?

Of course you can! We have a number of customers who are doing this. However, be careful not to conduct water that is too hot from the solar collectors directly into the heat pump, as it may then be damaged. If you are uncertain of how the systems should be linked up to each other, we recommend that you ask your local distributor.

WHERE SHOULD I PLACE MY POOL HEAT PUMP?

The pool heat pump should be placed outdoors with access to unobstructed air intake. With our split-models (for indoor pools), however, the separate heat exchanger unit is placed indoors. In the manuals you can find pictures and dimensions to help you find the correct location for your pool heat pump. Manuals can be downloaded here

HOW DO I KNOW WHETHER I HAVE THE CORRECT FLOW THROUGH THE POOL HEAT PUMP?

By fitting a bypass connection (see manual) you can regulate the water flow by yourself. When starting the heat pump we recommend that you let in water slowly until the heat pump starts by itself (our heat pumps are fitted with a flow guard which detects the pressure of the water flowing through the pump). We recommend that before start-up, you set the bypass so that the valve for inflowing water is closed. The other valves are left open. All the water will then circulate out into the pool without flowing through the heat pump. Then slowly open the valve which adjusts the incoming water flow and open it until the pool heat pump starts up. Once the heat pump is running, we recommend you look at parameters A and B on the display (these show the inflow and outflow temperature) and make sure that the difference between these is 0-2 degrees. A high flow results in less difference between parameters A and B, which means that if, for example, you reduce the flow somewhat, the difference between the parameters should increase.

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WHAT MAINTENANCE DOES THE POOL HEAT PUMP REQUIRE?

It's a good idea to keep checking what the intake part looks like. Clean with a sponge or similar. Continuous maintenance will guarantee optimal efficiency.

HOW DO I SET THE TEMPERATURE?

Today, we have a number of different models on the market and a detailed description can be found in the respective user manual. For our non-corrosive models GJPACW1-XX and GJPACW1V-XX, the procedure is as follows:

1. Switch off the machine.
2. Select parameter setting 1.
3. Press and hold the ON/OFF button and the MODE button at the same time.
4. When the pre-set temperature starts flashing, you can change the temperature using the arrow keys.

The factory pre-set temperature is 27 degrees.

WHY IS THE DIFFERENCE IN TEMPERATURE BETWEEN THE INFLOWING/OUTFLOWING WATER SO SMALL?

The heat pump works with small differences in temperature but circulates the full contents of the pool several times per day. We recommend 0-2 degrees difference between inflow and outflow. The difference between in- and outflowing water can be read using the parameters A and B on the display. A more detailed description is in the user manual, which can be found on the start page.

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