We put our pool cover back on last September and it kept our pool at least 4 degrees warmer than neighbour's pools. We put our pool heater on, on the 13th November, when the temperature of our water had dropped to 24c. This year, as it was a cold, wet winter, we only ran our pool heater when the weather was forecast to be sunny. During November and December 2021, we ran the pool heater during daylight hours, when the solar pump was in operation. In the early part of the billing period, we ran the heater when the Lorenz pump was at its most efficient, between 10am and 3pm. However, in the second part of December and the Jan, Feb billing period, the pool heater was on for the 8.5 hours of daylight.
We have solar panels under the Net Metering system so any Kwh through our meter costs around €0.05 per Kwh. The €0.253 figure per Kwh is the figure we would pay per Kwh without Net Metering. We also have a Lorenz Solar Pump, run from 3 PV panels, so there are no costs for pump use. However, these figures include household electricity use during the day.
Cost wise, the pool heater used, Total Kwh used through the meter @€0.05 per Kwh 2318. Cost €116
Total Used, incl, solar units. 2467.56 @€0.253 per kwh. Cost €624
Saving €508
From 13th November until 19th April, (when our pool heater was turned off,) we swam a total of 71 days out of 154 days.
In conclusion, If you are thinking of having an air source heat pump, it is essential that you get a solar cover. On cold winter days, 8 hours pool heater use will increase the water temperature by 3c. Without a cover, this will be lost during the night.
A Solar cover alone will increase your pool temperature by between 4c and 8c. Yesterday, our pool was 30c with the cover on till 4pm, neighbours pools were still 22c and no-one was swimming except us.
I estimate that a solar cover alone will extend your swimming season by at least one month either side, more if you are able to swim in water temperatures between 18c and 24c. When we did not heat our pool during a cold spell in early December, our pool dropped to 19c. During the very cold winter spell, with no pool heater on from 10th January until 28th January, our pool dropped to 12c. Neighbour's pools were 6c.
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Greenair initially did extensive work on our pool which we were extremely pleased with. I posted on here about it at the time.
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