Heat pump install questions

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Question on chlorine and a heat pump, the manual states this about chlorine levels:

Free Chlorine (PPM)* 2 to 3
*Free Chlorine MUST NOT EXCEED 5 PPM!

I usually run 50 CYA and keep FC at 4 to 6. The CYA level that matches 2 to 3 ppm FC is 20.

Can I continue running 50 CYA & 4-6 FC, or should I follow the manual to the letter?
 
Equipment manufactures recommendations are based on 0 CYA. They don't recognize the buffering of FC that CYA does. The amount of "active" FC you have is less then the manufacturers recommendations. Read...

CYA - Further Reading

www.troublefreepool.com www.troublefreepool.com
 
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A month and a half later update on a heat pump in cool, dry weather (highs usually in the 60's, low's in 30's) of Northern Colorado - except for a freezing 4 day snow storm, the heat pump has had no issues maintaining whatever temp it's set to. I had it at 94 initially, but with the sun the pool would get to 99 during the day. Now have it set to 88, where the pool reaches 93 on sunny days. My electric bill went up by $100 compared to the same range last month, which isn't awful considering my electric bill is $600ish this time of year. Last year the pool didn't get warm enough for us to swim until July to swim, now we've swum at least 20 times and we're barely into May.
 
monkeysocks said:
A month and a half later update on a heat pump in cool, dry weather (highs usually in the 60's, low's in 30's) of Northern Colorado - except for a freezing 4 day snow storm, the heat pump has had no issues maintaining whatever temp it's set to. I had it at 94 initially, but with the sun the pool would get to 99 during the day. Now have it set to 88, where the pool reaches 93 on sunny days. My electric bill went up by $100 compared to the same range last month, which isn't awful considering my electric bill is $600ish this time of year. Last year the pool didn't get warm enough for us to swim until July to swim, now we've swum at least 20 times and we're barely into May.
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How long have you been running the heat pump daily to maintain 88 degrees?
 
JW1 said:
How long have you been running the heat pump daily to maintain 88 degrees?
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I want to say 3 to 4 hours a day in low 60 degree ambient, but that's a guess. I hear it running in the morning, currently have 266 hours on the HP, which roughly equates to $250 with my electric costs.

It was in the mid 50 and sunny today and we spent a few hours in the pool. Getting out is hard but slipping in to 94 degree water is amazing.
 
Your install looks great! I am planning to do the exact same as you. Our current heat pump died last season, so will be replacing in a few weeks. Where did you end up ordering from (as I might use the same since you had good luck). I just started looking at some online pool sites and ebay.
 
monkeysocks said:
Hi all!

Could someone please give me a second set of eyes my heat pump install?

Ordered a Raypak R8450TI-E (140k BTU), a 3 way valve to divert flow away from heater when needed, and a cover.
Built a 36x36x4 concrete pad
Had an electrician wire in a 50 amp 220v breaker (moved from a hot tub that's long since gone, otherwise would've gone with 60 amp)

I have a VS pump so getting the right flow will be no problem.

Is there anything that I'm missing?

Thanks!
monkeysocks
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Sorry I am late to this conversation. The only thing I did not see you mention was the bonding wire for the heater.
 

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Randrx2 said:
Sorry I am late to this conversation. The only thing I did not see you mention was the bonding wire for the heater.
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Thanks for catching that! I had asked the electrician to bond it, I'll have them back out to bond the heat pump (and the pump as that's not bonded either).

geekfamily said:
Your install looks great! I am planning to do the exact same as you. Our current heat pump died last season, so will be replacing in a few weeks. Where did you end up ordering from (as I might use the same since you had good luck). I just started looking at some online pool sites and ebay.
Click to expand...

The cheapest unit I found at the time was $2799 + tax with free shipping from inyopools.com.
 
Just a quick update on the operating costs - I used 2908 kwh this time last year without the heat pump, and 5048 kwh in the last month, roughly a 40% increase. The average temps for the past month have been 62 high/33 low. I've kept the pool at 90 the whole time, but it ends up being 95 when the sun hits it on sunny days. We have swum more times in the last two weeks than we have in the last 3 years, super happy with a heat pump in Colorado.

Thermal camera picture of my happy place:
pool.jpg
 
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