Anyone looking to keep their pool nice and warm may want to look into buying a suitable heat pump for their pool. These devices aren’t very difficult as most people believe they are to install, and once they have been installed, they do an amazing job of extending the swim season for the pool. The toughest part of using one of these heat pumps is finding the right one in the first place, so we’ve decided to take a few moments of our time and introduce our readers to the best pool heat pumps that are currently available for pool owners. Any of the following models are designed to keep the pool nice and warm.

Best Pool Heat Pumps

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10Hayward HP21404T Heat Pro

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This pool heat pump is not only designed to heat swimming pools, but it’s also designed to provide the pool owner with performance and reliability. It’s made with an Ultra-Gold evaporator pin that’s resistant to corrosion and a titanium heat exchanger that allows for more efficient and reliable heat transfers. It also features injection-molded body panels that are resistant to UV-rays and the elements. This model has an output of 140,000 BTUs and has an extremely quiet scroll compressor. Overall, it’s one of the best heat pumps for most residential swimming pools, and it performs exceptionally well.

9FibroPool FH055 In-Ground Pool Heater

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Thanks to this high-quality pool heater from FibroPool, pool owners can extend their swimming season in most areas by several months. That’s because this pool heater is capable of keeping pool waters nice and warm, even when temperatures get down as low as 40-degrees Fahrenheit. It has an output of 55,000 BTUs and is rated for use on in-ground pools up to 10,000-gallons in size or on 21-foot round and 15×30-foot oval above ground pools. This product can be installed in 30-minutes, has a 16×40-inch footprint and features a heat exchanger that’s made out of titanium for added reliability and performance.

8Hayward H150FDP Universal Heater

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There are quite a few things to like about this 150,000 BTU heater from Hayward. For one, it has a superior design that provides the performance and reliability that pool owners expect out of their heat pumps. It’s designed with a heat exchanger that’s made out of Cupro Nickel, so it can hold up to even harsh water chemistry conditions or saltwater. It also has a polymer head that helps to save energy and is resistant to corrosion. Additional features found on this model include a forced draft combustion system, a LED control panel, and the ability to be used in areas with low NOx emission standards.

7Hayward CSPAXI11 For Small Pools And Spas

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This is another product that isn’t a heat pump but it is a pool heater. It’s designed for hot tubs, spas, and small pools, and the feature to like the most about this product is that it doesn’t take a lot of space. It’s also extremely easy to install and is heat efficient as well. This product features a heater-on indicator light, and it has a design that gives the consumer access to its internal controls. Additional features that can be found on this pool heat pump is a safety-sensor heating element, a stainless-steel tank, and a stainless-steel threaded head.

6Hayward H250FDP Universal H-Series Heater

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With a heat rating of 250,000 BTU and a thermal efficiency rating of 83%, this pool heat pump is capable of heating just about any pool, and do it quite efficiently. It’s designed to be an environment-friendly model that has low NOx emissions and is designed to use less electricity than other models. Although this model does usually require professional installation, once it’s installed it’s virtually maintenance-free and is easy to operate. And thanks to its polymer header and bypass valve design, this pump is also extremely reliable as well. It’s a model that’s sure to heat the pool year after year.

5Hayward HP50TA Heat-Pro Titanium

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Even though a lot of heat pumps are designed for milder climates, the Hayward HP50TA is suitable for just about any climate and offers excellent performance even under harsh conditions. It features injection-molded body panels that are resistant to moisture as well as the damaging rays of the sun. It also features stainless-steel hardware for added durability and a polyethylene screen that helps to protect its evaporator coil. It’s also a lightweight and compact model that’s easy for most people to install, so consumers can have it running in no time. And since it has a 50,000 BTU rating, it’s capable of heating just about any pool.

4Fibropool FH220 Swimming Pool Heater

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The Fibropool FH220 is not the most powerful heater pump available, but it is the most energy-efficient one in its class. This product is suitable for pools up to 7,500 gallons in size and for all hot tubs as well. It has a 4.85 cost-of-operation, runs at 220-volts, and has a 20,000 BTU heating capacity. It comes with all of the hose adapters and union connectors needed for its installation, and it has a footprint of approximately 36×16-inches. One of the great things about this product is that it’s also easy to install and a pool owner can have it set up and ready to run in approximately 30-minutes.

3Smartpool S601P Sun Heater Solar Pool Heater

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We have to admit that this product isn’t a pool heat pump but is a pool heater. However, that doesn’t mean that it isn’t a great option that a pool owner can use to keep their pool warm. When installed with the pool’s existing water pump, this heating system harnesses the power of the sun to heat the pool’s water. It does this thanks to the 80-square feet of solar panels that can raise pool temperatures by up to 10-degrees Fahrenheit. Although a separate installation kit has to be purchased to use this system, it is a less expensive solution to a pool heat pump.

2FibroPool Heat Pump For Above Ground Pools

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This 20,000 BTU unit is designed for 12×24-foot oval or 18-foot round above-ground pools. It’s an extremely efficient heat pump that runs efficiently and doesn’t cost a fortune to run. It’s also an extremely durable model that’s made with a titanium heat exchanger that’s designed to work season after season. Although it is designed for above ground pools, it can also be installed on in-ground pools in coastal regions that are up to 7,500-gallons in size. One of the best things about this pump, however, is that it is extremely easy to set up and most people have it up and running in under an hour.

1Trane Residential Titanium Heat Pump

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Most people recognize Trane as the company that makes some of the best central air units for people’s homes. However, not everyone realizes that this company not only makes AC units and household heat pumps, but that they also make heat pumps for pools. And this one is one of their best models. It’s a 110,000 BTU model that’s ultra-quiet and is designed not only for performance but also for reliability. It’s made with a polymer cabinet that will never rust, has a titanium heat-exchanger, and has corrosion-resistant evaporator fin. It’s a little bit expensive, but it does provide great performance and durability.

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Pool Heat Pumps For Swimming Pools

Okay, we may have conflated pool heat pumps and pool heaters in our top list, but we couldn’t help it because we’re passionate about both types of devices. Each of these devices has its pros and cons, with pool heat pumps being the best one for many different pools. In this guide, we’re going to spend some time talking about these heat pumps, so consumers can buy the best ones for their pool.

Pool Heat Pumps VS. Pool Heaters

Since some of our readers may be confused by the difference between pool heaters and pool heat pumps, we thought it would be a good idea to talk a little bit about both items. Let’s start with swimming pool heaters. These devices are one of the more popularly used options by pool owners to keep their pools nice and warm. These models use either electricity, gas, or propane to heat the water; water is then returned to the pool. The main benefit of this type of heaters is that they can change the water temperature quite quickly, and they aren’t very expensive to initially use. Unfortunately, their big drawback is that they do cost more to run than pool heat pumps. On average, these heaters can cost anywhere from $4 to $10 per hour to heat a pool, depending on local utility costs. Another disadvantage of heaters is that they have a higher tendency to break down than heat pumps because they have so many moving parts.

Now let’s talk about the actual subject of this guide: pool heat pumps. Pool heat pumps are becoming an increasingly popular option for many consumers and after looking over the list of benefits they bring to the conversation, it’s easy to see why. These pumps work by using the ambient air that surrounds the unit to keep the pool heated. This outside air is passed over a heated coil that then returns the heated water to the pool. Because pool heat pumps don’t require propane or natural gas to operate, they are often more energy-efficient than heaters. Running a pool heat pump generally costs under a dollar an hour, with the vast majority of them operating in the $0.60 to $0.75 per hour range. Although that’s a great reason for a consumer to use a pool heat pump, these units aren’t without their drawbacks. One of the major drawbacks of these heat pumps is that they have a higher initial cost. Another disadvantage these devices have is that once temperatures get down to 50-degrees or below, they lose their ability to keep the pool heated.

Purchasing The Best Pool Heat Pump

Now that we understand the difference between heaters and heat pumps for pools, it’s time to talk about how to purchase the best heat pump for your pool. In this section, we’re going to cover the basics that consumers need to consider before they purchase a model that fits their pool setup.

Choose The Proper Size

The first thing that has to be considered before purchasing a new pool heat pump is the size of the pump needed. These heaters are sized according to the surface area of the pool and the differences between average air and pool temperatures. Since there’s a ton of other factors that determine what size heat pump is required to properly heat a pool, including humidity, night temps, and wind exposure, it’s a good idea for most consumers to have a professional determine the heater size they need. However, for those pool owners intent on doing it themselves, they’re going to have to perform a few calculations to buy the best pool heat pump.

First, the pool owner is going to have to determine the desired temperature of their swimming pool. They are going to then have to determine the average air temperature of the coldest month in their area they intend on using the pool. The next step is to subtract the average cold month temperature from the average temperature. That figure will determine the Temperature Rise needed for the pool. After this is done, it’s important to calculate the area of the pool surface in square feet. With all of those figures in hand, it’s now time to determine the BTU per hour output that’s required using the following formula: Surface Area of The Pool x Temperature Rise x 12.

And that’s all there is to finding and buying the best pool heat pump available. Although these devices should be installed by a professional, consumers will enjoy the savings they offer them once they’ve been properly set up.