The Customer’s Goal
When Monique contacted Relevant Air & Water, she had three clear objectives. She wanted to enjoy a warm swimming pool throughout the entire year, remove her ageing rooftop solar pool heating, and free up valuable roof space so she could install a new solar PV system.
While the existing solar pool heating had served the family well during summer, it simply couldn’t provide consistent water temperatures throughout winter. Like many homeowners, Monique wanted a heating solution that wasn’t dependent on sunshine.
The Challenge
Every installation is different, and this project presented several unique challenges.
The existing pool equipment was located underneath the house, meaning there wasn’t enough ventilation for a pool heat pump to operate safely and efficiently. Installing the heat pump beside the filtration equipment simply wasn’t an option.
Our goal was to find a solution that not only complied with Australian Standards and pool safety requirements but also minimised installation costs and delivered a clean, professional finish.
Our Solution
Following a detailed site inspection, we identified an opportunity that would save the customer both time and money.
Rather than installing entirely new underground pipework, we inspected the existing solar heating plumbing and confirmed it was in excellent condition. By repurposing the dedicated solar heating return pipework, we were able to relocate the heating circuit to a new location with excellent airflow while avoiding unnecessary excavation.
Because the filtration equipment was located underneath the house, we installed the new Rheem pool heat pump inside the pool area in a compliant location, maintaining the required clearances from both the swimming pool and pool barrier while ensuring unrestricted airflow for maximum efficiency.
Reusing the existing solar pipework also provided greater flexibility when selecting the ideal installation location and significantly reduced the overall installation cost.
Designing the Right Heating System
Every pool is different, which is why Relevant Air & Water completes a customised pool heating evaluation for every customer.
For Monique’s pool we assessed:
- Pool Volume: 36,000 litres
- Desired Swimming Season: 12 months of the year
- Pool Blanket: Yes
- Future Solar PV Installation: Yes
Following our assessment, we recommended a Rheem 28kW Compact Inverter Pool Heat Pump, providing sufficient heating capacity to comfortably maintain swimming temperatures throughout winter while remaining exceptionally energy efficient.
Running Costs
One of Monique’s biggest concerns was electricity consumption.
The Rheem Compact Inverter Pool Heat Pump automatically adjusts its compressor speed to suit the heating demand. Rather than operating at full capacity all day, it continuously reduces its power consumption as the pool reaches the desired temperature.
The unit operates between 2.17 amps and 16.7 amps, depending on demand.
During the coldest month of winter, the estimated maximum heating time is approximately 10.8 hours per day.
Based on an electricity tariff of 33 cents per kWh, the estimated running cost for July would be approximately $301 per month without solar generation.
Since Monique planned to install rooftop solar PV with battery storage after removing the old solar pool heating, much of the electricity required to operate the heat pump will be generated by her own solar system, dramatically reducing ongoing running costs.
Additional Benefits
An added benefit of reusing the existing solar heating plumbing is that the pool heat pump can now operate independently of the filtration system.
This allows the customer to heat the pool whenever required without unnecessarily extending filtration run times, giving greater flexibility while helping reduce operating costs.
Removing the rooftop solar heating also created valuable roof space for a new solar PV system, allowing the customer to maximise renewable energy generation for both the home and pool heating.
The Finished Result
The completed installation delivered far more than simply replacing one heating system with another.
The customer now enjoys:
- Warm swimming temperatures throughout the entire year.
- Reliable heating regardless of weather conditions.
- Lower ongoing operating costs through Rheem inverter technology.
- Roof space ready for a new solar PV installation.
- A clean, compliant and professional installation.
- Reuse of existing plumbing, reducing unnecessary installation costs.
- Independent pool heating operation separate from the filtration schedule.
Before & After
One of the biggest transformations from this project was removing the ageing rooftop solar pool heating.
The aerial images below show the roof before and after the installation. By removing the old solar heating system, Monique was able to prepare the roof for a modern solar PV system while the new Rheem Compact Inverter Pool Heat Pump now provides reliable heating all year round, regardless of weather conditions.
Need to Replace Your Solar Pool Heating?
If your rooftop solar pool heating is no longer providing the performance you expect, a modern inverter pool heat pump could be the perfect solution.
At Relevant Air & Water, we specialise in replacing ageing solar pool heating systems with premium Rheem inverter pool heat pumps throughout Sydney.
Every installation begins with a customised pool heating assessment to ensure the correct heater is selected based on your pool size, swimming season, energy usage and future plans such as solar PV installation.
Contact Relevant Air & Water today to arrange your customised pool heating assessment and enjoy comfortable swimming all year round.
