How Do Heat Pumps Work?

Heat pumps absorb and collect the energy available in the outside air and transfer it to the pool water. The heat pump is connected to the pool filtration system, meaning that water is taken from the pool and circulated through the heat pump, where it is heated, before being returned to the pool. The unit itself has a a fan that draws in outside air and directs it over the surface of the evaporator (which is effectively an energy collector). The liquid refrigerant inside the evaporator coil absorbs the energy (heat) from the outside air and the liquid refrigerant becomes a gas.

The gas then passes through a compressor where it is compressed to form a very hot gas, which then passes through the heat exchanger (condenser). This is where the transfer of heat takes place, as the hot gas releases heat to the cooler swimming pool water circulating through the coil. The pool water gradually becomes warmer and the hot gas cools back down to its liquid state as it flows through the condenser coil. It then passes through an expansion valve, and the whole process is repeated.