Frequently Asked Questions

When it comes down to choosing between solar pool heating and heat pumps, there is no one-size-fits-all answer—it really depends on your individual needs and preferences. For those who are just looking for a season extension, a solar
pool heater might be the best choice due to its energy efficiency and environmental friendliness, provided adequate roof space is available.

On the other hand, if you want all year swimming with a reliable source of heat that won’t be affected by the climate, or you simply do not have adequate space for a Solar Pool Heating System then a heat pump will be a better option.

Solar Pool Heating is by far the most economical heating system to run, with average running costs between $150-250 per year when compared to a Heat Pump which can cost anywhere from $750- $ 3,500 per year.

Although both systems can be installed under the right conditions & with an adequately sized electric PV Solar system to achieve a net zero running cost.

Solar Pool Heating has the longest average lifespan when comparing the 3 major pool heating methods:
– Solar Pool heating – 15-25+ Years
– Heat Pumps – 7-15 Years
– Gas Heating – 5-10 Years

The average backyard family pool is generally heated to a 28-30°C temperature for leisure based use but this does come down to your personal preference & also how you use your pool, some like their pools at a refreshing 26°C whilst other prefer a balmy 32°C.

Average temperature guide.
Exercise/Fitness – 26°C
Leisure/Family Pools – 28-30°C
Aqua therapy – 30-34°C
Spas – 36-38°C

Solar Pool Heating works by simply circulating your cold pool water from your pool up to your roof & through the solar collector (either a flexible strip or rigid panel system) harnessing the suns FREE energy to transfer heat through to the water before circulating back to the pool, all automatically operated by a Solar controller. Simply set your desired water temperature & allow your solar controller to do the rest, turning the system on & off when required.

Our Solar Controllers have a maximum set temperature of 40°C so as long as the roof is hot enough it will continue to generate heat to your pool. On average a Solar Pool Heating will add up to 8-10°C to your pool & deliver a comfortable 28°C for 9 months of the year in the Gold Coast, Brisbane & Byron Bay areas.

How warm can a Solar pool Heating system get your pool really is a case-by-case basis & dependent on a large number of factors including the size of the solar pool heating system installed, the shade & wind exposure to both your pool & roof, the colour of both your pool & roof surface, the roof orientation & pitch, the property location & whether a pool cover is used… All of this information allows us to calculate the heat load of your pool & accurately size a heating system to your desired needs.

Solar Pool Heating has a fantastic life expectancy & will outlast all other forms of pool heating including Gas & Heat Pumps, our Kwik-Lok to HiPec Flexible Strip & Suntube-2 Rigid Panel systems both have a life expectancy of up to 25+ years.

With typical operating costs up to 10 times lower than a heat pump a Solar Pool Heating will on average cost between $150 – $250 per year to run when utilising a solar pump to circulate water to the roof. But under the right site conditions & with an adequate filtration system we can often utilise an actuator valve set up which will deliver a $0 running cost due to its ability to utilise the water flow from your current filter pump & simply divert the water to the roof when the pool heating is required, costing you nothing more than you are already paying for your current filtration operation.

Each system has its benefits & it is more a question as to what Solar Pool Heating system best suits your circumstances.

The Sunbather Kwik-Lok, HiPec flexible strip system is perfect for most residential backyards, its flexible strip gives the ability to custom fit our system to your roof shape & work within hips, valleys, Solar Electricity PV Panels or any roof penetrations in the area.

The Sunbather Suntube-2 Rigid Panel system is best suited for clients that are prone to cockatoos & other wildlife, high water pressure,  systems that are required to be installed below the pool water level or for those clients that simply want the best of the best.

A Solar Controller works by monitoring the temperature of the pool water, as well as the temperature of the roof, to allow the Solar Pool Heating system to operate automatically under the correct conditions. A Solar Controller will automatically start the heating process either via a pump or actuator valve when the controller recognises the pool water temperature is below the set temperature & provided the roof temperature is hot enough to generate heat.

Overall, Solar Controller are an essential component of any solar pool heating system, they help to optimise performance & ensure that your pool is always heated safely & efficiently.

Heat Pumps operate much like an air conditioner just in reverse, they extract heat from the ambient air surrounding the unit, this aids in heating the refrigerant before it is compressed causing it to reach an even higher temperature & then being run through a heat exchanger which transfers the heat through to the circulating pool water before returning to the pool.

All Heat Pumps Peachy Pools offer have a maximum set temperature of 40°C, so provided the unit was originally sized appropriately to do so you will have the ability to achieve a 40°C water temperature.

Please note trying to achieve a 40°C water temperature is generally only used for spas, trying to heat a backyard pool to 40°C will be an extremely costly exercise & likely require large commercial grade heat pumps along with an eye watering annual energy bill.

The size of a heat pump required depends on a large number of various factors that change pool to pool. For example, 2 pools of the same size may need very different sized heat pumps based on one pool being exposed to higher winds or shade exposure. The below information is required to accurately & adequately size a heat pump & should be clearly presented to you in each quotation you receive.

The annual running costs for a heat pump will change drastically depending on the size of your pool, the conditions the pool is exposed to & the desired swim season along with a number of other factors. Whilst our Madimack range of heat pumps are equipped with inverter technology that deliver up to 80% less power consumption, their yearly running cost can still be significant.

Below is an example of annual running costs per year on an average backyard pool being 7m x 3.5m, 35,000L, with normal shade & wind exposure & heated to 28°C

A Heat Pump will run for various hours per day depending on the time of the year, weather & also the size unit that was installed. In warm sunny days during Summer the heat pump may be required to run as little as 1-2 hrs sometimes even not at all, where as during the winter period it will be required to run a longer time frame to try to maintain the water temperature in the pool.

An adequately residential sized heat pump should be able to achieve your desired temperature during the coldest month of your swim season within an 8-10 hour period, this allows the heat pump to operate during daylight hours where if solar panels are present the power consumption can be offset & also allow the unit to operate at its highest efficiency due to the warmer ambient temperatures. Heat pumps can be sized to run 24/7 if absolutely necessary but often not recommended in a residential capacity.

The average life expectancy of a heat pump will depend on the unit quality, our range of heat pumps have a life expectancy between 10 – 20 years.

The C.O.P is Coefficient of Performance, C.O.P is a ratio used to determine the efficiency of heat pumps & is calculated using the energy input to output. For example, a Heat Pump with a C.O.P of 10 would use only 1kW of power to produce 10kW of heat.

It is highly recommended to install a pool cover with any heating system but simply a no brainer when you are utilising a heat pump to heat your pool, a good quality Thermal Pool Cover can reduce your power consumption by up to a whopping 80% & drastically reduce the required size heater you will have to purchase.

A Pool Covers benefit lies in reducing the natural heat loss that comes from the pool water surface, they simply place a barrier between cool overnight temperatures & the warm pool water, along with reducing the pools exposure to high winds that cause heat loss.

Gas Heaters transmit heat from a gas-fuelled flame positioned beneath a heat exchanger to the pool’s circulating water. With the capacity to heat spas within one hour and pools within twenty-four hours, they provide highly rapid and efficient heat-up periods, making them ideal for spas and pools used periodically or irregularly.

Gas heating systems provide lightning-fast heat transfer to pools and spas, making them ideal for applications requiring on-demand heat or as secondary heating boosters when paired with Solar Pool Heating Systems. Plus, they ensure a dependable water temperature regardless of external conditions – so you can enjoy the perfect pool party year round!

The average life expectancy of a Gas Heater will depend on the unit quality, along with how well it has been maintained, generally lasting anywhere from 5-10 years.

Solar Bubble Covers – Solar Bubble Covers are the ideal choice for an economical solution to covering your pool, & perfect for customers without a Pool Heating System.

Delivering on all the benefits of a standard pool covers with a 99% reduction in evaporation, 50% Reduction in Heat loss, 50% Reduction in chemical consumption whilst adding up to 8°C to your pool water & drastically reducing your Pool cleaning & maintenance.

Thermal Pool Covers – Thermal covers are the recommended choice of Peachy Pools due to their superior quality, superb heat retention & simply a better aesthetic than your average Solar Bubble Cover.

Perfect for those with heated pools due to their higher thermal retention properties achieving up to a whopping 80% Energy saving on the Pool Heating costs, whilst also delivering an average longer lifespan of up to 3 times longer when compared to a Solar Bubble Cover, Thermal covers also still deliver on all the standard features of a Pool Cover with a 99% reduction in evaporation, 50% Reduction in chemical consumption & drastically reducing your Pool cleaning & maintenance.

Pooltex Debris Covers – If leaves, debris or animals are causing problems for your pool, than a Pooltex debris cover is the choice for you.

The Pooltex Debris cover provides a secure barrier over the surface of your pool, manufactured from a finely woven polypropylene mesh it allows water through to the pool but keeps all dirt, debris & animals out. Delivering a major reduction in overall maintenance to your pool & still achieving a reduction of both evaporation & Chemical consumption by up to 50%.

PoolGuard Covers – The Remco PoolGuard is the latest innovation in swimming pool safety and the perfect cover for new or existing pools. Not only is it a durable & multifunctional cover, but it can also withstand a load of up to 100kg, providing outstanding safety for children and pets without the hefty price tag of an Automatic Security Cover.

The PoolGuard seals the pool completely allowing for quick and easy removal of any leaves and debris before swimming.

Automatic Security Covers – For those looking for a premium, luxury finish with automatic operation & the capabilities for security features allowing peace of mind with your kids & pets.

The Automatic Security Cover delivers a sophisticated pool cover that operates at a simple turn of a key, sealing off the pool from your children & pets with the ability to hold up to 80kg when installed with a security ledge. The Foam filled slats deliver the highest heat retention on the market reducing your heating bill by over 85% & reducing evaporation by 99%, 50% Reduction in chemical consumption & drastically reducing your Pool cleaning & maintenance.

Absolutely, having a pool cover will essentially eliminate your evaporation, pool covers can also reduce your pool heating costs by up to 80% & reduce your need for pool chemicals by an average of  50% and reduce cleaning time as you’re keeping much more dirt and debris out of your pool.

Bubble Covers are a fantastic choice for the budget conscious or those without a heated swimming pool. A solar bubble cover will add up to 8°C to the pool water & are a fantastic economical solution due to their low cost & ability to deliver excellent savings when it comes to reduced chemical consumption & water evaporation. Whilst they do give some level of insulating it is far less than a thermal cover & also come at a significant drop in quality & durability with expected lifespans far less than a Thermal Cover

Thermal covers are second to none in terms of heat retention & durability. Made in Australia, Sunbather Thermal covers have double the insulating ability of regular Solar bubble covers and up to three times the life expectancy due to their enhanced UV resistance & superior durability, making them the preferred choice for those with a heated swimming pools or the pool owner simply looking for a higher quality & longer lasting pool cover.

• A heated, open-air swimming pool can actually lose DOUBLE its water volume annually due to evaporation.
• Pools dissipate 92% of their heat through the water’s surface, while the remaining 8% is lost through the walls and floors.
• 99% of evaporation  can be prevented with the use of a pool cover
• You can save 80% on heating expenses when you use a pool cover
• Using pool cover, you can reduce your pool’s chemical consumption by up to 50%, thus helping you save money.

Whilst a roller is not always 100% needed, If you have ever bought or installed a Pool Cover, you are aware that a pool roller is simply common sense. A good quality roller makes managing the use of your pool cover significantly simpler. Without a roller, the process of rolling and storing a pool cover must be done manually when it is not in use.