Pool heat pump installation and placement: getting the most from your unit
Placement changes how efficiently a heat pump runs. Here is what to get right before installation day.
Key Takeaways
- A heat pump draws heat from the air around it, so it needs clear airflow on all sides and above to run at its rated efficiency
- Every unit in the CHR AstroMax range needs 450mm minimum clearance, from the 17kW through to the 40kW
- Placement decisions are difficult and expensive to reverse, so they are worth getting right before installation day
- A pool heat pump that is well specified and badly placed will underperform, and the owner will usually blame the unit. Placement is one of the few parts of a pool heating project that costs nothing extra to get right and a great deal to fix later.
This guide covers what to think about before installation day. It is not a substitute for your installer's advice on your specific site, and the electrical work must be done by a licensed electrician.
Why placement affects performance
A heat pump gathers heat from the air moving through it. The fan pulls ambient air across the evaporator, the unit strips heat out of that air, and it discharges the now-colder air out the other side.
That process depends on a steady supply of fresh ambient air. If the unit is boxed in, the cold air it has just discharged has nowhere to go, so it circulates back around and gets drawn in again. The unit is then trying to extract heat from air it has already chilled. It works harder, draws more power, and delivers less heat.
This is the single most common placement mistake, and it is entirely avoidable.
Airflow and clearances
Give the unit room to breathe on every side, and above it.
Clearance requirements vary between manufacturers, so check the figure for the unit you are considering rather than working to a rule of thumb.
Every unit in the CHR AstroMax range needs 450mm minimum clearance, and that figure is the same across the whole range, from the 17kW up to the 40kW. It is worth knowing before you commit to a position, because it is what determines whether a unit fits a tight plant area or an equipment zone at all. Units requiring more clearance rule out sites that CHR units will still fit.
As a general principle, the intake side and the discharge side need the most space, and the discharge should not be pointed at a wall, fence or another unit a short distance away.
Things that cause problems:
- Under decks or low overhangs. Restricts the upward discharge path on units that vent vertically.
- Directly against a boundary fence. Restricts airflow and puts the fan noise at the neighbour's ear height.
- Enclosed pool equipment rooms. A heat pump needs far more air volume than a pump and filter do.
If the unit must go somewhere partially enclosed, talk to your installer about it at the quoting stage, not after the slab is poured.
Noise and neighbours
Heat pumps are not loud, but they run for extended periods, and the fan noise is constant rather than intermittent. That makes placement relative to bedrooms and outdoor living areas worth thinking about, even with a quiet unit.
Worth considering:
- Distance from bedroom windows, both yours and next door's
- Distance from outdoor living and entertaining areas
- Whether the discharge direction points at a neighbouring property
- Local council requirements, which in some Victorian councils include noise limits at the boundary and setback distances for plant equipment
- Checking the council requirements before you commit to a position is a short conversation that occasionally saves a very awkward one later.
Electrical requirements
This is the part that needs a licensed electrician, and it is worth confirming early because it can affect the timeline.
What to establish before installation day:
- The circuit. Heat pumps generally require a dedicated circuit sized to the unit.
- Single phase or three phase. Every unit in the AstroMax range up to 35kW runs on single phase, which is the standard domestic supply and means most homes do not need a three-phase upgrade. If you are comparing against a unit that requires three phase, factor the cost of that supply upgrade into the comparison.
- Switchboard capacity. Older switchboards sometimes need work to accommodate an additional dedicated circuit.
- Cable run distance from the board to the unit position.
Have your electrician confirm these against the unit's installation manual before the unit arrives.
The slab or base
The unit needs a level, stable base that will not settle or shift. Most installations sit on a concrete pad or purpose-made mounting feet, and the base needs to handle the unit's weight. That figure varies across the range, so check it for your model rather than assuming.
A short pre-installation checklist
Before installation day, confirm:
- The position allows 450mm minimum clearance for an AstroMax unit, with clear airflow on all sides and above
- The discharge is not pointed directly at a wall, fence or neighbouring window
- The council setback and noise requirements have been checked
- A licensed electrician has confirmed the circuit and switchboard capacity
- The base is level and adequately rated for the unit weight
- There is service access on all sides, because someone will eventually need to work on it
Where this fits
Placement is one of three things that determine whether you are happy with a pool heat pump in five years. The other two are sizing it correctly for your pool, and buying from someone who will show up when it needs attention.
For sizing, see what size heat pump do I need for my pool?.
Every CHR unit is backed by our 48-hour on-site service guarantee, in writing. If you would like to talk through a position before you commit to it, get in touch with our team.
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