Pool Heat Pump - Estepona
18kW pool heat pump with titanium heat exchanger installed on a saltwater 80,000-litre pool in Estepona — extending the swimming season from 10 weeks to 9 months at a maintained 28°C.
By Ben Hayden
Project Overview
The Challenge
The Estepona villa's 80,000-litre pool was only usable from late June to early September — roughly 10 weeks of the year. The owners, who spent extended periods in Spain from March through November, wanted to swim from April to October: a 28-week season that requires maintaining pool water at 26–28°C through spring and autumn air temperatures that regularly drop to 10–14°C at night. An electric heating element had been tried and abandoned after a single season due to prohibitive running costs. The challenge was to find a pool heating solution efficient enough to make year-round pool use economically viable on the Costa del Sol.
The Solution
Year-round pool heating for coastal property. Extended swimming season by 6 months with efficient heat pump system.
Technical Specifications
- 8kW pool heat pump for 60m³ pool
- Titanium heat exchanger for salt water
- Automatic temperature control
- Weather protection cover
- Energy-efficient operation
Our Installation Process
Pool Heat Loss Modelling
We calculated the pool's heat loss across the extended season using outdoor temperature data, pool surface area (65m²), and wind exposure at the Estepona site. The model showed that maintaining 28°C from April through October requires overcoming a peak heat loss rate of 18kW during cold April nights. The 18kW Daikin pool heat pump was selected to match this peak demand, providing 15kW of useful heating at 10°C ambient, COP 4.1.
Titanium Heat Exchanger & Saltwater Compatibility
The pool uses a saltwater chlorinator system, which is highly corrosive to standard copper or cupronickel heat exchangers. We specified the titanium heat exchanger option, which is fully resistant to saltwater up to 15g/L chloride concentration. Titanium-equipped heat pumps carry a full manufacturer warranty in saltwater applications — standard copper models do not, and we have seen failures within 2 years from salt corrosion.
Integration with Existing Pool Automation
The heat pump was integrated with the villa's existing Hayward pool automation controller via a dry-contact relay interface, allowing temperature-based automatic control. The pool pump circulation is a prerequisite for heat pump operation; the automation controller was programmed to start the pool pump 15 minutes before the heat pump, preventing dry-running damage. A weekly temperature maintenance schedule was configured to run heat pump operation during off-peak electricity hours where possible.
Pool Cover Recommendation & Running Cost Analysis
We recommended a thermal pool cover for overnight use, which reduces heat loss by up to 70% and can halve the heat pump running costs. With the cover in use, estimated annual electricity consumption for pool heating is 3,800–4,500 kWh — approximately €750–€900 per year at current Endesa rates. This compares to €4,200+ for the previous electric immersion element, delivering a payback on the heat pump installation in under 3 years.
Results
See the installation scope and equipment below; no financial outcome is promised.
Backed by Research
References for checking the proposed design. These sources do not certify this project's performance, savings, eligibility or commissioning records.
Size pool heating for the actual pool and target conditions
Pool size, cover use, weather, target temperature and the heat pump's low-temperature output determine suitability. Confirm heat-exchanger compatibility with salinity and water chemistry. No fixed swimming season, maintenance interval or universal titanium lifespan is promised.
BOE — RITE: applicable thermal-installation requirements ↗Pool heat pumps are almost always undersized for the Estepona climate. Homeowners assume a pool is easy to heat — until they have guests in late March and the water is still 18°C. We size for the worst realistic week of the season, not the average summer day. The seasonal commissioning test — running it at spring ambient temperature and measuring how quickly it achieves setpoint — is the only way to confirm performance before the season starts.
Frequently Asked Questions
Related Services
LIT services in Estepona directly related to this work.
About the Author
Ben Hayden is an English speaking electrician and independent energy advisor based in Marbella, Spain, with over 15 years of electrical experience across Europe. He provides independent energy and electrical checks for overseas property owners and managers across the Costa del Sol — helping clients cut electricity bills, navigate Spanish regulations, and make confident decisions on solar PV, heat pump, EV charger and battery storage projects. Ben advises in plain English on projects where the paperwork is in Spanish and the stakes are high. His writing has appeared in ExpatArrivals, The Olive Press, Euro Weekly News, BuildingTalk and pv magazine.
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Enquire with Agua ThermProject Details
- Location
- Estepona, Málaga
- Completed
- January 2025
- Service
- Pool Heaters
- Author
- Ben Hayden
