Wooden Pool FAQs

Do the wooden pools need a concrete base?

Yes, most wooden pools should have a concrete base laid to support the weight of the water in the pool. Otherwise over time, the pool may become out of level and all of the water will run to one end of the pool !

Bear in mind that water weighs 1 metric tonne per m3 of water. Therefore a pool with 20m3 of water will weigh at least 20 tonnes, so a concrete base is recommended to support the weight of the water

Please read the user manual for each pool as the manual outlines the installation process

Note that for some pools, support steels are supplied which need to be set into the concrete base.

You must therefore wait until the pool kit is delivered before pouring the concrete base.

Some of our smaller pools can be laid onto an existing flat base

What do we do if we want to install on unlevel ground?

You will need to semi submerge the pool into the ground to ensure its level.

If I heat the water in the pool, do I need to cover the pool?

Absolutely ! It is almost compulsory to use a solar cover when using a heat pump to heat your pool.

A solar cover provides several benefits:-

• It can heat the pool on its own by up to 8 degrees C
• It reduces water evaporation by 98%
• It acts as an insulation layer and greatly reduces heat loss
• It reduces pool chemical consumption by up to 30%
• It prevents leaves etc from entering the pool
• It saves you money by reducing your heating costs
• Reducing your heating costs will also reduce your carbon footprint

Not using a solar cover is like not insulating the loft in your house. As your heat pump puts heat into the pool, it will be lost into the air when a solar cover is not used.

An uncovered pool will lose about 2-3 times more heat than a covered pool.

Covering the pool is particularly important at night as the air temperature will drop causing a temperature difference between the pool water and the air.

The temperature difference will cause your pool to lose heat at a greater rate than during the day.

We recommend that you keep a solar cover on the pool at all times when the pool is not in use.

The solar cover will work in conjunction with your heat pump to make an efficient combination for heating your pool and minimising energy requirements.

We sell good quality solar covers and rollers

see Solar-Covers Alternatively we sell a liquid pool cover called AquaBlanket, which will reduce heat loss.

If we submerge the pool into the ground do we need a membrane?

Yes, we sell this on all the pools that are suitable for in ground use. The membrane protects the wood from the moisture in the ground

Does the wood need treating?

Yes, as with all wood, we would recommend treating the wood yearly to prolong the life of the wood.

How are the pools delivered?

Smaller pools up to 2m in length

The smaller pools can be delivered on a vehicle with a tail lift, and will be delivered on a pallet to your driveway.

You must then arrange unpack the pallet and to carry the pieces from the pallet to the pool position

It is vital that you have enough help to unload your delivery as there is a large quantity of wood to unload, and the driver will wait while you unload.

Larger pools over 2m in length

The larger pools will be delivered on a high sided lorry without a taillift or forklift

When the lorry arrives, you must have sufficient labour available to unpack the crates on the lorry and stack the items in the desired position.

Please note there is a large amount of wood to unload and the driver will wait whilst you are unloading.

A forklift is available at an additional cost of €500 for all deliveries in France.

Heat Pumps

Note that the heat pumps are heavy and will require two or three people to move them safely.

They are normally delivered on a pallet with a taillift lorry and the pallet will be left in the driveway of your property

Please contact us if you have any questions regarding delivery

Can I install the pool inside a enclosed area (such as a conservatory?)

Can I install the Pool by myself?

Yes they can be installed by yourself, but we would definately recommend you read the installation manual before attempting to as they need to be fitted according to the manual in a certain order.

Does the pool come with everything I need?

To build the pool itself - Yes everything is included, including the filter, underlay, lining, skimmers, ladders etc.

However there are added extras depending on what your requirements are, as listed on the optional extras:

ie. Heat pump to give you warm water in the pool, membrane if you wish to install your pool partially or in completely in the ground, lighting if you would like to add this as an extra (except on pools such as the Urban/Odyssea which lights are included)

Do your prices include VAT?

Yes our prices include VAT and are the total amount payable including free UK delivery.

Our VAT registration number is 114 3502 61

I use salt in my pool rather than chlorine, will this damage the heat pump?

No, all of our pool heat pumps have titanium heat exchangers which are resistant to damage from salt, chlorine or bromine used in pools.

In fact salt pools generate chlorine from the salt water and so are effectively the same as chlorine based pools. Only the method of generation of the chlorine is different.

Can I plug the heat pump into a standard 13A mains socket?

Mini heat pumps (eg Hot Splash) can be plugged into a standard 13A socket.

For larger models, we recommend that armoured cable is used to run the electrical supply to the heat pump.

Armoured cable provides protection from the cable being accidentally damaged and is therefore safer than standard electrical flex cable.

The heat pump should be connected to an RCD device for safety reasons.

Larger heat pumps will draw more than 13A and so a dedicated electrical supply may be required.

It is best to get a qualified electrician to connect your heat pump to the electirical supply. The electrician will also ensure that the heat pump has a proper earth

Can I put my heat pump under a tree?

You can put a heat pump under a tree as long as the tree is more than 2-3 meters above the heat pump.

This is so that the air coming out of the heat pump (on vertical fan models) does not hit the leaves of the tree and then recirculate back into the heat pump. This would cause reduced efficiency.

While the heat pump is operating, the fan will prevent leaves from entering the heat pump.

In the winter, we recommend that you cover the heat pump using one of our specially designed winter covers.

This will prevent leaves from entering the heat pump in Autumn.

Should I keep a solar cover on my pool when using a heat pump?

Absolutely ! It is almost compulsory to use a solar cover when using a heat pump to heat your pool.

A solar cover provides several benefits:-

• It can heat the pool on its own by up to 8 degrees C
• It reduces water evaporation by 98%
• It acts as an insulation layer and greatly reduces heat loss
• It reduces pool chemical consumption by up to 30%
• It prevents leaves etc from entering the pool
• It saves you money by reducing your heating costs
• Reducing your heating costs will also reduce your carbon footprint

Not using a solar cover is like not insulating the loft in your house. As your heat pump puts heat into the pool, it will be lost into the air when a solar cover is not used.

An uncovered pool will lose about 2-3 times more heat than a covered pool.

Covering the pool is particularly important at night as the air temperature will drop causing a temperature difference between the pool water and the air.

The temperature difference will cause your pool to lose heat at a greater rate than during the day.

We recommend that you keep a solar cover on the pool at all times when the pool is not in use.

The solar cover will work in conjunction with your heat pump to make an efficient combination for heating your pool and minimising energy requirements.

We sell good quality solar covers and rollers

see Solar-Covers

How long will the heat pump run for each day?

Just like the boiler in your house, the heat pump will run for different amounts of time each day depending on the weather.

On warm summer days when the pool is up to temperature, the heat pump may not need to run at all. Whereas on cooler days, the heat pump may run for a few hours.

In extremely cold weather (eg below +5c) the heat pump may need to run for 12 hours a day or more.

When you keep a solar cover on your pool, this will give the pool some heat gain on warm days and will supplement the heat pump.

As the weather gets colder the heat pump will need to run for longer.

You can control how long the heat pump runs for each day by using a time-clock on your pool pump.

Other factors that affect how long the heat pump will run for each day include:-

• The power of the heat pump – a more powerful heat pump will heat the pool more quickly and so will switch off sooner than a smaller heat pump
• How well insulated your pool is
• If you have a high water table around your pool, then this will drain away the pool heat and cause your heat pump to run for longer to replace the lost heat
• The pool water temperature that you require – a higher pool water temperature will need the heat pump to run for longer to maintain the temperature
• Pool cover – an uncovered pool will lose 2-3 times as much heat as a covered pool

As a guide, on warm summer days the heat pump would typically run for between 0-3 hours

On cooler days between 3-8 hours should be sufficient but this depends on the factors mentioned above

How are the units delivered?

The units are delivered on a lorry with a tail lift. The units are on a pallet and will only be delivered to your driveway. You must arrange to carry the unit to where you require your pump to be located. Note that the units are heavy and will require two or three people to move them safely.

Do you supply to mainland Europe?

Yes, we can ship to anywhere in UK, mainland Europe  and beyond.

We regularly send heat pumps to France, Spain, Portugal, Czech, Netherlands etc

We have sent units as far as  Egypt and Zimbabwe

Please email us with your required heat pump model and address and we will get a competitive shipping quote for you.

What physical size are the heat pumps?

Each product listing states the physical sizes of each model.

What size heat pump do I need for my pool?

There are many factors that should be considered when sizing a heat pump for your swimming pool.

At HeatPumps4Pools we gather the information on how you wish to use your pool and take into account a wide range of factors so that we can give you a heat pump that will meet and exceed your requirements.

If you would like us to recommend suitable heat pumps for your pool, then  please complete our Heat Pump Sizing Form

this will capture a wide range of information about your pool including:-

1. Pool Dimensions (length, width, average depth in feet or metres)
2. Swimming season (eg May – Sept, or all year round etc)
3. Desired water temperature (28c is typical)
4. If the pool is kept covered when not in use (ie with a solar cover or thermal blanket)
5. The number of hours per day that the pool is uncovered
6. If the pool has a single or 3-phase electrical supply
7. Indoor or outdoor pool
8. Pool location (eg UK, France, Spain etc please provide address if you would like a shipping quote)
9. Existing pool heating system
10. Domestic or Commercial use
11. If the property is rented or a holiday home
12. Above ground or in-ground pool

We will then give you our recommened pool heat pumps.

Of course you can always call us if you prefer to run through this by phone !

We can provide our expertise to consider all of these factors and help you choose the best size unit for your pool.

We therefore recommend that you contact us to discuss the size of heat pump that you require before making a purchase.

Each of our product listings has a sizing chart that shows the maximum number of cubic metres (m3) of water that each heat pump model supports.

As a start, compare the volume of your pool in m3 to the sizing chart. If your pool volume is near the maximum size supported, then choose the next model up.

Always allow some “headroom” with the power of your heat pump. This will ensure that the heat pump can still produce enough heat to maintain your required pool temperature on colder days.

Inverter heat pumps should also be sized larger than "on-off" heat pumps so that the unit can run at a reduced power output to give the maximum efficiency of an inverter driven pool heat pump

For rented properties or holiday homes, it is advisable to oversize the heat pump to allow a faster heat up time before guests arrive. We also have heat pumps with lockable keypads to prevent guests from adjusting the pool temperature.

Feel free to call us and we are more than happy to run through the sizing of your pool heater.