We don’t have the winters that most states have where
temperatures get as low as the 20’s or 30’s and snow is the norm. While we’re so use to hot temperatures, when our winter months’ dip to the 60’s, to most of us in the phoenix valley, that’s really cold. But that doesn’t stop us from using our pools. Many people here in the valley have pool heat pumps to keep their pool water warm which allows them to continue enjoying the benefits of their pool.

The thought of swimming in the winter may seem crazy to those who don’t live in Phoenix, but we know better than that. Even though temperatures get cold by our standards, we still have a lot of sunny days that we can enjoy our pool.

When your pool water is kept warm by a heat pump, you’re able to stay active with swimming exercises and stay consistent with your regular pool lounging activities. While most people see a pool heat pump as something that allows them to swim all year long, most don’t stop to think about how this unique piece of pool equipment actually works.

Let’s break this down.   

Pool heat pumps are circulatory systems typically powered by electricity, solar, or even gas.

Electric Pool Heat Pump:

This is a Heat Pump that uses electricity to operate but they also use the sun-warmed air which contributes to the efficiency of the unit. Heat Pump Pool Heaters do not generate heat externally. Your existing pool pump circulates the water through the heater and warms the pool. The FAN circulates air through the outer EVAPORATOR AIR COIL that acts as a heat collector. The liquid refrigerant in the air coil absorbs the available heat in the ambient air transforming it into a gas. The refrigerant gas is then pumped into the COMPRESSOR. When this warmed gas is compressed, it intensifies or concentrates the heat like a magnifying glass in the sun. This intensely hot gas is then pumped into the HEAT EXCHANGER CONDENSER where the actual heat transfer takes place. As the pool water passes through the heat exchanger, the hot gas gives up its heat to the cooler pool water. The refrigerant returns to a liquid state and is pumped through the EXPANSION VALVE then into the evaporator air coil to start the process all over again.

Another feature of the electric Heat Pump, is there is an option for cooling as well. If you have a pool that seems to get too hot at different times in the summer, you can just turn on the cool option and get it to the temperature you most enjoy!

Solar Pool Heat Pump:

Solar heating systems harness free energy coming from the sun. The way they work is by pumping water from the pool and conducting it through a series of flexible tubes or else through a series of panels – otherwise known as, in either case, a solar collector. On its passage through the solar collector which is usually mounted on the roof of the house, the water is heated by the sun before being allowed to flow back into the pool. Since the size of the solar collector area depends entirely on the size of your pool, the purchase price of the solar heating system will vary.

If you live here in Phoenix, AZ and own a pool, a heat pump can make the difference between swimming for 4-5 months a year and swimming all year. If you enjoy your pool and love lounging or exercising in the water, you may want to consider a heat pump for your pool. For those who currently do not own a pool heat pump and have questions please feel free to contact us!

Old plaster can also be very costly. Because old plaster does deteriorate, it becomes more porous, which makes it more susceptible to all types of algae. This makes it much harder for the chemicals to effectively kill the algae, causing repeat dosages of expensive chemicals. 

We recommend a professional drain your pool, that way you can have it done the right way. The draining season is typically from October to early April, depending on the weather. Feel free to call Blue Iguana Pools for any questions about draining your pool.  

Live in Phoenix area?             

Need to drain your pool?       

Call Blue Iguana Pools for an estimate. 602-357-8828

There comes a day when your enjoying a nice day in your pool, when you notice the calcium line around the rile of your pool got noticeably bigger than when you last saw it. 

What causes that line to appear?

It's actually caused by many different things that can change depending on your circumstances. 

But they are all made of two different types of scaling. 

What is the scaling mad out of and how can you get rid of it?

Type 1: Calcium Carbonate, which happens to be the easiest to remove... The easiest way to find out if you have this type of scaling is to drop a bit of Muriatic acid on it, (Every pool tech should have this on their truck) if it foams up or fizzes right away, then you have Calcium Carbonate, otherwise it won't do anything. 

Type 2: Calcium Silicate, This type of scaling is much harder to get rid of. Simply apply the above test and if nothing happens, then this type of calcium is the culprit. 

How do you get rid of it?

Calcium Carbonate, 

The nitty gritty way to get this stuff off is to break out the Pumice stone and scrub it off the old fashioned way. 

Just be sure the stone stays wet, and that you don't use it on anything other than concrete or ceramic tile. Also be prepared to spend some time on it depending on the size of the area that needs the treatment.

Another way is to use some solution (many different kinds are available on the market) that your pool tech would suggest or by doing some research on the internet for different products with good reviews. 

If the build up of this type of calcium is on the plaster or pebble tech of your pool, then a simple acid wash should do the trick to getting it all cleaned up. 

Calcium Silicate,

Is another story, you can apply the above method, but be prepared to quite your day job if you want to get it looking new again. 

The best (& easiest) way to get rid of this type of calcium, is to hire a pro that can get his media blast machine out there to blast it right off. 

Just ask your pool tech if they or someone they know has the equipment to get the job done right.