This is a question we get asked a lot.
“Can you heat a SwimPond?”
The answer isn’t as simple as you may think.
The simple answer is yes, it is possible to heat an outdoor fresh water SwimPond.
The much longer answer is it may not be financially viable.
Swimming ponds require a significant amount of energy to keep warm due to being a natural alternative to the typical swimming pool.
Types of pool heaters
Pool heaters look a bit like boilers and can run off oil, electricity or gas. Some modern systems will use air-source heat pumps to extract energy from the air. You can expect up to 5kW from 1kW of electricity.
One of the problems is that, unlike an enclosed space, the pool will lose heat just as soon as it gets up to the required temperature (usually 26–30°C). Most of our customers opt for an air-source heat pump.
Option 1
You could make an investment in a super energy-efficient system (perhaps to linked to a ground-source heat pump) with a solar cover, where you could expect even lower running costs.
Traditionally, when the SwimPond is not used, you can invest in a solar and debris blanket, which covers the pool to minimise losses. Around 80 per cent of a pool’s heat escapes through the surface.
Option 2
The clever option is to invest in some form of renewable setup, which runs through a heat exchanger to heat the water.
Using a solar thermal array makes sense, as the pool will be heated well on the sunny days when you really want to use the pool.
Option 3
Another option is to use biomass (linked to a heat store).
For these more complex solutions you’ll need specialist advice, but the significant investment is usually well worth it.
It would make financial sense to get the initial exaction for a pool completed at the same time as the house footings.
Here at Ponds by Michael Wheat we can provide detailed technical drawings for your main grounds work contractor on site.
We also provide 3D design work for the pool and surrounds; this enables you to visualise our Swimpond design within your own garden.
We leave nothing to chance, everything is planned and designed for you.
If you’d like, I can set up a meeting on zoom with our design team and you, your project or site manager, or your architect.
If you have any more questions, please do get in touch. Give us a call on 0116 240 3735 or reply to this email.
