One awesome way to enjoy the great outdoors in these colder months is to utilize your outdoor spa.
Although it is winter, you should still be able to enjoy your outdoor space as much as possible. One excellent way to enjoy the great outdoors in these colder months is to utilize your outdoor spa. There is nothing quite like slipping into a hot, relaxing spa at the end of the day. Imagine sinking down into the water’s warm embrace while steam dances its way into the cold, winter air. Before you use your outdoor spa, however, you need to adequately heat it up. Keep reading for tips and tricks on how to most efficiently and effectively heat your outdoor spa with a heat pump.
Air Temperature
Air source heat pumps depend on air temperature to heat your spa. This is because they draw heat from the air to warm up your water. Heat pumps are most effective when the outdoor temperature is above 50F, so if you live in an exceptionally chilly area, air pumps may not be your best choice of the heat source. They will still work at colder temperatures. However, they will take longer to heat your water and be much less efficient.
Pump Size
Spa heaters are given a size value depending on their British Thermal Units (BTU) per hour. One BTU raises one pound of water by 1F or 0.6C. Pool and spa owners will sometimes but underpowered heat pumps to try and save some money, but this is a mistake. In the long run, an underpowered heat pump will end up costing you more money because it will have a higher operating cost than a heat pump that is powerful enough to service your water heating needs. Larger pools and spas require longer heating times and more powerful heating pumps than smaller pools and spas do.
Also, there is another thing to consider. The greater the difference between your current water temperature and your desired water temperature, the longer it will take your pump to heat up. Make sure to heat your spa well before you want to use it so that you achieve the perfect water temperature at the perfect time.
Solar Blankets
In addition to heat pumps, you could also heat your spa with a solar blanket. Solar blankets help to retain your spa’s heat by minimizing evaporation. They serve as barriers between the air and your spa. If you use a heat blanket to warm up your outdoor spa, just make sure you give it enough time to do its job before you go outside to enjoy your space.
Ready to Heat Your Spa?
We here at Sunrise Premiere Pool Builders LLC can build and install your pool or spa and also provide you with pool chemicals, services, and more. If you have any questions, give us a call at 410-349-3852 today. To keep up with our latest projects and for helpful tips and tricks, be sure to follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Google+, Pinterest, and LinkedIn.