Electric Pool Heating and Pool Heat Pumps

Running cost depends on the size of your pool, the temperature you want to hold and how much of the year you heat for. As a guide, a modern inverter heat pump returns roughly four to six units of heat for every unit of electricity it draws, which is far cheaper to run than an electric element heater. Pairing the heat pump with a pool blanket makes the single biggest difference — most of the heat a pool loses goes off the surface overnight.

From a cold start, expect somewhere between 24 and 72 hours to bring a domestic pool up to swimming temperature, depending on the size of the unit relative to the pool and the weather at the time. Once the pool is at temperature the heat pump only has to replace what is lost, which takes far less running time. This is why most people leave the system to maintain a set temperature rather than heating from cold each time they want a swim.

Sizing depends on your pool volume, whether it is shaded or exposed, whether you use a pool blanket, the climate where you live and how long a swimming season you want. Undersizing is the most common mistake — a unit that is too small runs constantly and still never quite gets there. Our technicians size the unit on site using your actual pool dimensions and local average conditions.

Yes, within limits. Heat pumps extract warmth from the outside air, so their output falls as the air gets colder. Modern inverter units keep working down to around 7°C and lower, but in the coldest months in cooler parts of Australia you will pay more for each degree of heat. In warmer states a correctly sized heat pump can hold a comfortable temperature all year.

A standard heat pump is either running at full power or switched off. An inverter unit varies its compressor speed to match demand, so it draws less electricity to hold a temperature, reaches that temperature without hard start-stop cycling, and runs noticeably more quietly. Inverter units cost more up front and generally win back the difference over the life of the system.

A modern inverter heat pump running in its quiet mode is comparable to a household air conditioner unit. Most of the noise is fan noise, so placement matters — position it away from bedroom windows and your neighbour’s boundary where you can. Units like the BWT Pearl range include a Silent mode for evening running.

We strongly recommend one. An uncovered pool loses most of its heat off the surface through evaporation, particularly overnight. A blanket and roller keeps that heat in, which means the heat pump runs fewer hours and costs less to operate. It is the cheapest thing you can do to improve the performance of any pool heating system.

Yes. We supply, install, service and repair pool heat pumps, including the BWT Pearl and AstralPool ranges shown on this page. Book a free onsite quote and one of our technicians will size the right unit for your pool and talk you through running costs and warranties.