We install heat pumps on South Florida pools year-round, and the brands that survive our humidity, salt air and summer storms are a short list. This is the comparison we give clients, with the trade-offs that matter here rather than the brochure numbers.
Why a heat pump, and why not a bigger one
In Palm Beach County a heat pump keeps a pool at 84 to 86 degrees from October to May for roughly $60 to $120 a month, a quarter of what gas costs. Size it by surface area (our heater sizing guide has the math); for most pools that is 100,000 to 140,000 BTU. Below about 50 degrees outdoor air a heat pump slows down, which here means a handful of mornings a year.
The contenders
Raypak Digital ti-E (R4450 through R8450)
The workhorse. Titanium exchanger, a simple digital control that any technician can service, and parts availability through every distributor in Florida. The 016631 (80K), R6450ti-E (119K) and R8450ti-E (140K) cover almost every residential pool. Not the quietest and not the most efficient, but the one we see still running at 15 years. Best for: owners who want a reliable, serviceable unit at a fair price.
AquaCal TropiCal (T75, T100, T135) and HeatWave SuperQuiet
Built in Florida, tuned for Florida. AquaCal’s COP numbers are among the best in the class, the cabinets handle salt air well, and the T135R and SuperQuiet R models add cooling, which matters when a small pool hits 92 degrees in August. The T135 and T135R are the pick for pools over 20,000 gallons. Best for: efficiency and heat-plus-cool.
Pentair UltraTemp
The choice when the pad is already Pentair: it integrates with IntelliCenter and EasyTouch automation natively, so the heat pump shows up in the app with the pump and lights. Quiet, efficient, titanium exchanger. Best for: Pentair automation owners.
Inverter heat pumps (AquaCal TropiCal Inverter, Madimack InverTitan)
Inverter units vary compressor speed instead of cycling on and off, which makes them quieter, more efficient at maintaining temperature and gentler on the electrical system. The AquaCal TropiCal Inverter and the Madimack InverTitan 140K both heat and cool with Wi-Fi control. They cost more up front and the electronics are more complex to service; worth it for a pool used daily or one near bedrooms where noise matters. Best for: year-round daily swimmers, noise-sensitive sites.
How we choose
- Existing automation? Pentair pad, buy UltraTemp. Jandy pad, Jandy VersaTemp (sold for pickup as a dealer). Hayward pad, Hayward HeatPro or any unit with a dry-contact fireman switch.
- Need cooling? AquaCal R models or an inverter unit.
- Tight budget, long life? Raypak ti-E.
- Noise? Inverter, then AquaCal SuperQuiet, then Pentair.
Installation notes for this area
Set the unit on a pad with 24 inches of clearance on the intake sides and 5 feet of clear air above the fan; a heat pump crammed against a fence runs hot and short-cycles. It needs a dedicated 230V circuit (50 to 60 amps for 100K to 140K units) and a bypass valve so the pool pump can run without forcing all flow through the exchanger. Plumb it after the filter and before the chlorinator or salt cell. We install and permit across Palm Beach, Martin and St. Lucie counties.
Prices and shipping
All heat pumps on the site are priced at manufacturer MAP, ship free, and can be picked up at our Jupiter showroom. Raypak units are 10 percent off through November 5 during the Raypak MAP holiday. Call 1-877-650-POOLS with your pool dimensions and we will size and quote it, installed or shipped.
