Has anyone ever heard of running an a/c backwards to use as a pool heater?

Question

My father recently came into possesion of an a/c unit with a busted compressor. He is dead set on fixing it so that we can convert it into a pool heater. He claims that if we run it backwards it can heat the pool. Does any of this make sense??? If this is true, at what cost $$ to heat the entire pool and do regular pool heaters cost less to heat?

Answer 1

Gound and water source heat pumps are often designed to give up heat in the ground or water.Installation costs are higher but very economical in the long run.

What your father is talking about would work but the pool would have to be small enough to gain any signifigant heat and you would have to cool something in the process because most compressors are refrigerant cooled.

Answer 2

Yes, it's done. But the chances your father will succeed are slim. Look here:

http://www.poolheatpumps.com/?gclid=CLDm...