On 5 Sep 2005 06:38:11 -0700, wrote:

Hello,

I am trying to decide whether I should heat a swimming pool using a
heat pump, or using LPG. I've already ruled out oil (no room for the
tank) and direct electric (too damn expensive!).

The heat pump is the Calorex 820 (or maybe the model up -- the 1220).
These burn about 2.5kW of electric, but pump about 12kW of heat into
the water. (They extract "free heat" from the air - see
http://www.calorex.com/downloads/uk/...English%20.pdf. I
know these do work - my parents have one)

When the pool is cold, I estimate this will be burning for 8 hours.
When the pool is up to temperature (at say 78F), it won't be burning at
all. So I've assumed an average of 4 hours burning, for 150 days (May
to Septemper) at 6p per kWhour. I make this £90 onto the electricity
bill. Not bad.

On the other hand I have no idea how to estimate the costs for LPG. We
already have a 2000 litre tank, and we pay about 24p per litre of LPG.
The central heating burns it quite fast, but domestic hot water hardly
uses any.

The pool holds about 15,000 gallons of water. Pool dimensions are 10m
x 5m (16' x 32'). Depth is from 1m to 2.1m (3'6" to 6'6"). We would
probably keep the temperature at about 78 degrees F (25 degrees C).

How can I estimate the costs of heating with LPG?

Hi,

Is the pool in the sun? If so I'd try a solar pool blanket first.

Also have a cool shower before getting in to get acclimatised.

cheers,
Pete.