Frequently Asked Questions
How Noisy are heat pumps?
All heat pumps resonate some form of noise due to the fact that they require a circulating fan to
draw the warm ambient air over the evaporator coils. Most heat pump manufacturers have developed their fan motor technology
to such an extent that the decibel output is minimal.
Waterco's
decibel noise level (dB(A)) ranges from 62- 72 dB(A) comparable to a dishwasher! However, respectful consideration must be
to adjoining neighbours regarding installing any type of mechanical heater, be it gas, oil or an electric heat pump. What
one noise level may be accepted or tolerated by one person may not be accepted by another!
In general the RA model is slightly quieter due to the nature of the fan that is
used in manufacture. The RA has a plastic circulating fan as opposed to a steel blade used on the Waterco models ( the steel
resonates slightly more sound due to vibration levels etc)
If
a noise level is of concern or if in doubt we would strongly recommend that the Competition RA model is acquired and installed
in an indoor environment. Please technical specification sheet on page ?? for dB(A) levels.
| dB(A) | Noise comparison |
| 100 | Electric mower; Pneumatic drill; Tractor |
| 90 | Open top car ride on motorway; Food blender; Heavy traffic 5m away |
| 80 | Alarm clock; Sink waste disposal |
| 70 | Vacuum cleaner; Private car |
| 60 | Conversation at 1m; Singing birds |
| 50 | Light traffic 30m away; Quiet office |
How do I know that I am buying the correct size unit?Sizing the correct heat pump for your pool is very important. We would recommend that you use our pool heat
loss calculator www.paramountonlineguide.co.uk to determine how much heat your pool construction looses. You
will then be able to purchase the correct size heater.
When
I use a heat pump, should I use a pool cover or solar blanket as well?
Any reduction in pool heat loss directly translates into savings. 82% of all losses are due to evaporation.
Using a pool cover just a night will save about 40% of the annual heating cost. A pool cover or solar blanket can cut total
pool heat loss by 50% to 95%. The use of a solar blanket will also help extend your pool season.
What is the minimum ambient operating temperature?
Both heat pumps will actually operate down to an ambient air temperature of 0 degrees
celcius, but with minimal heat output. Therefore we recommend that the minimum operating temperature should be 15 degrees
celcius. Other conditions such as wind, shade and physical location will affect the shut-off temperature of the unit.
Will the heat pump ever need more Freon (refrigerant gas)?
Unless the heat pump has a leak in the sealed refridgeration system,
the factory charge of Freon should last for the life of the unit. Freon is very stable and should not degrade or breakdown
even under servere operating conditions. If your unit needs Freon, then it has a leak, and adding Freon will not solve the
problem. The leak must be located and repaired. Fortunately, Freon leaks are very uncommon and usually are due to shipping
damage.
How close to your pool?
Normally, the pool pump and heat pump are installed close together and
within 25 feet of the pool. The longer the distance from the pool, the more heat loss from piping. Since normally most of
the piping is buried, the heat loss is minimal for runs of up to 50 feet (50 feet to and from the pump = 100 feet total) unless
the ground is wet or the water table is high. A very rough estimate of heat loss per 100 foot is 2500 BTU/hr for every 10
degrees farenheit difference in temperature between the pool water and ground surrounding the pipe, which translates to about
3% to 5% increase in run time.
