6
Introduction
This manual contains important information on the
use, maintenance and troubleshooting of your new
heat pump pool heater. This unit must be properly
installed, maintained and operated for optimal perfor-
mance.
This heat pump pool heater is an extremely efficient,
economical machine designed specifically for swim-
ming pool heating. It is similar in design and operation
to a typical residential air conditioning system. The unit
employs a hermetic motor/compressor operating in a
refrigeration cycle to extract heat from ambient air and
deliver it to the circulating pool water.
As with all heat pump pool heaters, compared to other
types of heaters such as gas or oil-fired, this heat
pump pool heater has lower heating capacity on a
BTUH/hr basis. As a result, it will be required to oper-
ate longer to accomplish the desired results. It may, at
certain times, operate as much as 24 hours per day.
However, this should not be of concern to the owner,
because the unit is designed to operate continuously.
Even though it may operate continuously for many
hours, it will still heat the pool with greater economy
than other types of fossil fuel heaters.
Place a cover or blanket over the pool at night and
other non-use periods. This will keep evaporation,
the main cause of main heat loss, to a minimum, and
will greatly reduce pool heating costs. During warmer
weather, the cover may be required only at night.
Installation Considerations
Situate the heat pump pool heater carefully to minimize
installation costs while providing maximum efficiency
of operation, and to allow adequate service access,
as follows:
• For unrestricted air intake and service access,
position each side of the unit at least 1 ft (30
cm) from walls, pipes and other obstructions.
WARNING: This unit is designed for outdoor
installation; DO NOT install it in an enclosed area
such as a shed or garage.
• This unit features an ‘up-flow’ discharge for quiet
operation. Air is pulled up through the evaporator
coil and discharged through the top grille. Allow
at least 5 ft (1.5 m) clearance above the unit for
unrestricted air discharge. DO NOT install the unit
under a porch or deck. Refer to Fig. 1. Recircula-
tion of cold discharge air back into the evaporator
coil will greatly reduce the unit’s heating capacity
and efficiency.
• To minimize water piping, locate the unit as close
as possible to the existing pool pump and filter.
• Irrigation water should be directed away from the
heat pump pool heater - irrigation water spray can
damage the heat pump pool heater.
• Rain water run offs - the unit is designed to oper-
ate outdoors and can be exposed to rain. Howev-
er, rain water run off falling directly onto the unit
can cause damage and/or shorten the life of your
unit. This may also void your warranty. Install rain
gutters or rain diverters on your roof if the unit is
installed in a position where contact with rain run
off may occur.
WARNING: This pool/spa heat pump pool heater
is an electromechanical machine that incorporates
a pressurized refrigerant gas in a sealed system.
ONLY trained and qualified service personnel are
authorized to install or service this equipment.
Without proper training and knowledge of such
equipment, any attempt to install or service the unit
could result in serious injury or even death.
WARNING: Do not install the unit within 3 ft
(0.9m) of fossil fuel burning heaters. Air intake
along the sides of this heat pump pool heater
could disturb the combustion process of the
unit, and could cause damage or personal injury.
• Mount the unit on a level, sturdy base, preferably
a concrete slab. The size of the base should be at
least 3 ft by 3 ft (0.9m x 0.9m) - slightly larger if
hurricane tie down brackets are installed. See pages
8-10 for more details.
CAUTION: The unit’s supporting base must be
high enough to keep it completely free of standing
water at all times.
NOTE: Hurricane tie down brackets, tie down
screws, 2 x union halves, 2 x 45-degree PVC
elbows, the printed warranty and the I&O manual are
located in an accessory box mounted on the pallet
beside the heater inside the packaging. DO NOT
throw away without removing all components.