Here’s How You Can Repair Your Pool Heat Pump!

You take a dip in the pool expecting a warm tropical paradise… instead, you’re suddenly reenacting the ice bucket challenge— this is NOT what you meant when you said you wanted to relive 2016!

An unexpectedly cold pool in cold weather can put a dampener on the best of moods. Your pool day is ruined, you’re shivering in a towel, and your dreams of tropical bliss have been shattered. That’s why we’ve got you covered with our go-to guide on pool heat pump maintenance! Read on to find out more — the tips and tricks and the DIY solutions sourced from over ten years of expertise and experience in pool products and maintenance at City2Bay Pool Solutions!

Symptoms, Diagnoses, and Treatment

So, how can you tell if your pool heat pump needs servicing? 

If your pool heat pump needs servicing, it’s going to show you a couple of subtle (and not-so-subtle) symptoms.

These symptoms need diagnosing; why is your heater behaving in this way?

Following the diagnosis, we’re going to draw up a DIY treatment plan for each problem (as long as it’s a DIY-able issue!). 

Symptom #1: Weak or Inadequate Heating 

The first and most obvious symptom that lets you pinpoint the exact source of the problem is weak or inconsistent heating.

Diagnosis and Treatment Plans:

• Clogs that cause low water flow:

If there isn’t enough water moving through your pool heater, it won’t be heating anything up!

You can treat this issue by clearing out the debris in your pool filters by backwashing or cleaning the cartridges. Also, make sure you remove leaves or dirt near the air intake of your skimmer or pump baskets. 

• Low Refrigerant Levels

If debris levels aren’t to blame, check the refrigerant levels in your heat pump! Refrigerant is the “vehicle” that transports heat from your heat pump into your pool water. If you haven’t got enough refrigerant in your system, there’s not enough heat being transferred to your pool water!

How can you tell if it’s refrigerant levels that are the culprit here? Check your outdoor unit to see if the coils are covered in a thick layer of ice. If this is the case, you almost definitely haven’t got enough refrigerant in your heat pump.

You can also check to see if the digital display on your heat pump is indicating any error codes like “LP” or “Lo P”. This can also point to your culprit being low refrigerant levels.

So, what’s your treatment plan in this case?

Call us at City2Bay Pool Solutions. No, really. Tampering with refrigerant levels on your own is NOT a DIY project. It requires specialised tools, expertise, and there are a bunch of legal and safety restrictions that say you absolutely should NOT try to fix this issue on your own!

Just give us a call and we’ll be there to get your pool giving hot-tub status in no time! 

• Low outdoor air temperatures

If your ambient air temperature is below 10 degrees, your pool heat pump may just not be equipped to provide heat beyond this point!

This is why it’s always best to invest in a heat pump that operates efficiently even in really low outdoor temperatures. The AstralPool Pinnacle iHP SD 250 Heat Pump, for instance, is designed to operate efficiently in outdoor temperatures as low as -15°C! 

Alternatively, you could also look into a backup swimming pool heater solar system to help fix this issue. 

Symptom #2: Heat pump not turning on

Have you tried turning it on and off again? Yep. And no, it’s just not turning on. 

Here are a few possible diagnoses and accompanying treatment plans to address this very common symptom: 

• Heater not plugged in, Power Supply Issues, or a Tripped Circuit Breaker 

This one seems obvious enough— but you’d be surprised with how many times we tend to overlook the obvious! Take a look at your power source and see if the problem just lies in your heater not being plugged in. 

Sometimes, your circuit breaker can trip accidentally in which case your pool heating worries are just one trip reset away. If it keeps tripping, you might need to call in professional help to take a look at your electrical wiring system. 

• Wrong Thermostat Settings

Again, this one seems pretty obvious but most problems when we overlook the obvious! Check to see if your thermostat hasn’t been accidentally switched off, that it’s properly set to “heat”, and that it’s at the right temperature. 

Symptom #3: Unusual Noises

This one can be VERY grating. You’re trying to enjoy a nice, quiet swim and the heat pump is letting you do anything but, with its whirring or grinding or banging or clicking (depending on what component the culprit is!). 

• Loose parts, Failing Motor Bearings, Or Compressor Failure 

Check the heater to see if there are any loose parts or debris that could be causing the issue. Loose parts in your pool heater tend to sound like rattling as the parts vibrate against each other. 

You can check the outer casing or internal panel for any loose screws, and then tighten them if you find any — easy fix! Debris in the fan area can also tap against the blades— make sure you check for leaves or twigs and remove them. 

Failing motor bearings can also cause a high-pitched screeching or whining noise. In this case, you’ll likely need to call in a professional (we’re just one call away, by the way!) to replace the bearings or the entire motor, especially if it’s more than 5 years old!

You can also check for signs of compressor failure, which is usually the culprit if the noise is a loud banging or clicking. Again, the treatment protocol for this is to call in the professionals (ahem!). 

You’ll tend to run into these problems less with models like the AstralPool Pinnacle iHP SD 125 Heat Pump, because they’re built to last: they boast high quality internal components including a Panasonic compressor, and features a refined screwless exterior design with whisper-quiet operations! 

• Obstructed Water Flow

If you’re hearing a “rocks in a blender” noise, it might just be that your pool heat pump isn’t getting a good water flow. This forces your pump system to work harder. Make sure your pool pump is getting an unobstructed water flow so it can work far more efficiently (and far less noisily!). 

Symptom #4: Energy Bills Breaking The Bank!

As nice as it is to spend swim days in a warm pool, you don’t want to do that at the expense of a kidney and a half! Which is why you don’t have to!

Your pool heat pump SHOULDN’T be costing you an arm and a leg. If it is, you probably need to get it diagnosed and treated as follows:

• Mechanical Issues

Very probable culprits behind your high energy bills for your heat pump? Dirty evaporator coils, low refrigerant levels, or dirty filters. Make sure you clean your filters regularly to keep your heating system running efficiently!

• Excessive Heat Loss

About 75% of heat loss occurs through evaporation. This is why it’s so cost-effective in the long run to invest in a solar pool cover!

• Incorrect thermostat settings

Setting the thermostat temperature too high can cause your heat pump to be overworked. It’s recommended that you maintain your water temperatures at 26°C to 27°C for active swimming, for optimal efficiency. 

You can also reduce energy bills massively by investing in the right kind of pool heat pump. This includes the AstralPool Pinnacle iHP SD 217 Heat Pump which uses high-efficiency inverter technology to achieve a COP of up to 22, reducing energy costs while maintaining optimum water temperature.

In conclusion…

We’re just skimming the surface here with our (mostly) DIY treatment options for common symptoms with swimming pool heat pumps!

For more in-depth advice and repairs, please don’t hesitate to give us a call at City2Bay Pool Solutions, and we’ll have your heater up and running in no time (and with a significantly reduced safety risk to you!).