Using a Ground Source Heat Pump with a Swimming Pool

Ground source heat pumps (GSHPs) are an environmentally friendly and economic way of heating both indoor and outdoor swimming pools of both domestic and commercial sizes.

Our systems are highly customisable so that they can be designed to match the required heat load for your swimming pool and any other facilities or buildings you would also like to deliver heat and hot water to.

How Do Ground Source Heat Pumps Work?

GSHPs use heat energy from the ground, they do this either through horizontal ground loops laid in trenches around 100m long and 1m deep, or if space is restricted for this method, vertical closed loop systems can be installed in boreholes which are drilled to average depths of 100m. These loops of pipe circulate a water and anti-freeze solution, collecting energy from the ground and passing it to a compressor which raises the temperature to usable, ambient temperatures.

Learn more about how heat pumps work

How Efficient Are Ground Source Heat Pumps?

Ground source heat pumps are the most efficient heating system available, with a well performing heat pump producing around 4kW of heat energy for every 1kW of electricity – that’s an efficiency of 400% compared to 90% for a modern gas boiler.

Our heat pump systems are also compatible with variable tariffs like those offered by Octopus Energy and Bulb which generate 100% renewable electricity, making your system completely pollution and carbon free. These tariffs are integrated via Homely Energy and create a smart, automated heating system that optimises use of electricity when it is costs less whilst continuing to deliver your preferred temperature and heating schedules which you can easily set and change via the Homely smartphone app. This is a fantastic solution for heating a swimming pool as it will significantly reduce your monthly utility bills.

Find out more about Homely and Octopus Energy

What Heat Pumps Do You Use?

At Thermal Earth we’re the exclusive UK distributor for MasterTherm heat pumps which benefit from over 25 years research and development in heat pump technology. MasterTherm heat pumps offer industry-leading inverter technology which prolongs the unit lifespan, lasting for an average of 20 years or more. MasterTherm heat pumps require very little maintenance or servicing, making them low-cost to run and each unit comes with a 7 year warranty as standard.

Find out more about MasterTherm heat pumps

What Other Renewable Technology Can Help Heat Swimming Pools?

Heating a swimming pool isn’t limited to just ground source heat pumps, you can also use air source heat pumps. These are quick and easy to install and can be connected to the filtration system to heat the clean water as it flows back into the pool.

You can also use Solar Thermal as a complimentary system to a ground source heat pump to produce heat for your swimming pool. The two systems work in harmony, with solar thermal directing as much as 80% of the heat energy needed to heat the pool and the heat pump topping up the remaining heat required. Should the solar thermal system ever produce more heat than is immediately required, we can design a system that stores this generated heat in the ground so that you’re maximising efficiency and use of renewable, clean and free energy, reducing your running costs even further.

Find out more about solar thermal

Domestic Swimming Pools

Our projects include systems for both indoor and outdoor domestic swimming pools of various shapes and sizes. If you’re considering a ground source heat pump to heat your entire home, this is particularly beneficial in summer as the unused heat energy can be redirected to warm your pool, ensuring all heat energy is being efficiently used. If you’re planning to install a heat pump which also provides heat to your home, you can apply for financial incentives like the Green Homes Grant and Renewable Heat Incentive.

Take a look at our case study for the installation of a ground source heat pump to provide heat to this stunning country house and indoor swimming pool.

View Case Study

Commercial Swimming Pools

Ground source heat pumps are an excellent investment for commercial projects. Ground loops have a lifetime of 100+ years and the heat pump unit itself has a warranty of 7 years - whilst lasting an average of 20+ years. Whether your swimming pool is a public or private facility, by using a heat pump you can benefit from giving your business green, sustainable credentials, lower operating costs and a robust system designed to last with minimal maintenance or servicing needs.

View our case study of Jubilee Pool, where our system provided heating to a section of the pool to increase use of the facility all year round.

View Case Study

FAQ’s About Using Ground Source Heat Pumps for Swimming Pools

1. How long does the installation usually take?
This is dependent on the size of the project, what other systems you already have installed and the amount of ground works required.

2. How much space is required for laying ground loops?
You can find out more about the space required in our blog article here.

3. What temperatures can the pool be heated to?
We can customise the system to meet your preferred temperatures. Most pools are kept between 26 °C to 28 °C but we’ve heated pools to 35°C.

4. Will I need a plant room for the ground source heating system?
You would need a plant room for a swimming pool. This would also house other necessary equipment for operating your pool.