Geothermal Pool Heating systems are a not a new invention, but they are starting to become more commercially viable and more recently are becoming a viable choice for swimming pool heating. These systems are also referred to as Groun Source Heat Pumps.

Geo Thermal systems work on the principal of heat transfer, in much the same way as a heat pump does. The difference is that the heat pump transfers heat from the air the to the swimming pool. This works in the same way as any refrigeration device, for example, a refrigerator transfers heat from the fridge to the coil at the back - thats why its always warm.

The geothermal system uses these principals to transfer the warmth stored in the earths crust to the swimming pool. The heat in the earths crust is actually stored solar energy.

In a heat pump, a fan draws air through the condenser coil and removes the available heat from it, which it passes to the water. The geothermal system has this part of the system buried underground. As the temperature under the ground remains fairly constant, the efficiency of the system remains the same. (A heat pumps efficiency drops in relation to the outside temperature).

This short video explains how the system works.