Adding a heat pump to solar heating
- Thread starter Malcontent
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- heat pump solar heating
CJadamec
TFP Expert
Welcome to TFP.
Having a heater in addition to solar panels is pretty common.
Most people will plumb the return line from the solar panels to the inlet of their heater. That lets the solar panels do the brunt of the work and allows the heater to pick up the slack on days the solar panels aren't making heat.
I'm assuming you already have a 3 way diverter valve to control the water going to you panels.
It should basically be plumbed as follows.
Water comes out of the filter and goes directly to the diverter valve. One side of your valve heads to the solar panels and the other side is going to go into the inlet of your new heater.
As mentioned above the return line from the solar panels should tee into the line going into the new heater. I installed a check valve on the solar panel return line to prevent water from going to the panels when they were bypassed.
From there the water exits the new heat pump and goes back to the pool.
Your heat pump is going to make a lot of condensation when running. The ground below it and around it will get pretty wet. Try to put it somewhere where there is a path for the condensation to drain away from the unit.
Having a heater in addition to solar panels is pretty common.
Most people will plumb the return line from the solar panels to the inlet of their heater. That lets the solar panels do the brunt of the work and allows the heater to pick up the slack on days the solar panels aren't making heat.
I'm assuming you already have a 3 way diverter valve to control the water going to you panels.
It should basically be plumbed as follows.
Water comes out of the filter and goes directly to the diverter valve. One side of your valve heads to the solar panels and the other side is going to go into the inlet of your new heater.
As mentioned above the return line from the solar panels should tee into the line going into the new heater. I installed a check valve on the solar panel return line to prevent water from going to the panels when they were bypassed.
From there the water exits the new heat pump and goes back to the pool.
Your heat pump is going to make a lot of condensation when running. The ground below it and around it will get pretty wet. Try to put it somewhere where there is a path for the condensation to drain away from the unit.
Thanks so much for your advice, particularly the tip about condensate - noted. I have a separate pump for the solar strip heat collector and have received conflicting advice from heat pump suppliers.
Advice A.
Install a heat pump into the after filter before chlorinator pipe. Install a control box and valve which allows the water pump to supply the chlorinator or the heat pump so each can run independently or both at the same time.
Advice B
Install a heat pump into the solar heating pipe and a roof sensor by the mat. Install a valve for selecting or bypassing the roof collector and a pool temperature sensor A
Advice A.
Install a heat pump into the after filter before chlorinator pipe. Install a control box and valve which allows the water pump to supply the chlorinator or the heat pump so each can run independently or both at the same time.
Advice B
Install a heat pump into the solar heating pipe and a roof sensor by the mat. Install a valve for selecting or bypassing the roof collector and a pool temperature sensor A
CJadamec
TFP Expert
Wasn't expecting a separate pump for solar. Right well then. I guess that changes the train of thought a bit.
After thinking about a bit I'm going with a modified plan A. Leave the solar loop alone. Let it be happy doing its own thing.
Definitely install the heater after the filter and before the chlorinator. A check valve between the heater and chlorinator is a good safety measure to protect the heater.
A bypass loop around the heat pump with manual union valves is also a good practice. Allowing you to isolate the heater completely if for some reason a leak forms. Or you drain it for the winter.
I have water flowing thru my heat pump all the time. I don't know that I would go thru the trouble of all the extra automation to isolate it when not in use. Just let the thermostat on the heat pump turn it on and off when needed.
After thinking about a bit I'm going with a modified plan A. Leave the solar loop alone. Let it be happy doing its own thing.
Definitely install the heater after the filter and before the chlorinator. A check valve between the heater and chlorinator is a good safety measure to protect the heater.
A bypass loop around the heat pump with manual union valves is also a good practice. Allowing you to isolate the heater completely if for some reason a leak forms. Or you drain it for the winter.
I have water flowing thru my heat pump all the time. I don't know that I would go thru the trouble of all the extra automation to isolate it when not in use. Just let the thermostat on the heat pump turn it on and off when needed.
Armed with your advice i shall speak to the competing salesmen trying to sell me a a heat pump with connection to the solar loop and the filter loop. Thanks for you advice
