The Brand Story
AquaCal: Pool Heat Pumps Built for the Florida Sun, and the Florida Winter
Florida pools have two problems, and they arrive months apart. In January a cold front drops the water into the low 70s and the pool sits unused. In August the same water can turn bathtub-warm under a relentless sun. Since 1981, a company on 24th Street North in St. Petersburg, Florida, has been building machines that answer both. AquaCal pulls heat out of the air to warm a pool in winter, and in its heat/cool models runs the cycle in reverse to take heat out when summer goes too far.
Chapter 1 · 1981
Heat from the air
AquaCal has built swimming pool heat pumps since 1981. A heat pump pool heater does not burn anything. A fan draws outdoor air across an evaporator coil, a compressor concentrates the heat that the refrigerant collects, and a heat exchanger hands that heat to the pool water flowing through the unit. In a warm, humid climate like Florida's there is a great deal of heat in the air even on a cool day, which is why heat pumps suit the state so well. The company has stayed with that one technology for more than four decades and describes itself today as a leading manufacturer of heat pumps for pools and spas.
Chapter 2 · AutoPilot
Joining heat and salt
The second half of the company's name comes from AutoPilot, a salt chlorine generator business whose roots go back to 1976. A salt system converts a low level of dissolved salt in the pool into chlorine inside an electrolytic cell, so the pool produces its own sanitizer instead of relying on jugs and tablets. Under the combined AquaCal AutoPilot name, the St. Petersburg company now builds both of the machines that sit side by side on many Florida equipment pads: the heat pump that sets the water temperature and the chlorinator that keeps it clean.
The Lineup
What AquaCal builds today
AquaCal AutoPilot makes heat pumps for pools and spas, heat/cool units, dedicated pool chillers and AutoPilot salt chlorine generators with their replacement cells. HVAC365 carries a focused selection:
Heat pump sizing depends on pool surface area, the temperature rise wanted, whether the pool is screened or covered, and how cold the local nights get. A heat pump works best when air temperatures stay above the 50s, which suits South Florida well. Units need a dedicated circuit and clear airflow around the cabinet, and should be installed by a licensed pool or electrical contractor.
The Next Chapter
Cooling a pool, not just heating it
Heat/cool models matter most in the places AquaCal calls home. Shallow pools in full sun and screened enclosures can climb into the high 80s and beyond in summer, and water that warm feels less refreshing and can make sanitizing harder. By reversing the refrigerant flow, a heat/cool unit or a dedicated chiller rejects heat from the pool into the air, giving owners a comfortable swimming temperature year round from a single machine on the pad.
At a Glance
AquaCal by the numbers
- Heat pumps since
- 1981
- AutoPilot salt roots
- 1976
- Headquarters
- St. Petersburg, Florida
- Company name
- AquaCal AutoPilot
- Product focus
- Pool heat pumps, chillers, salt chlorinators
Questions
Frequently asked questions about AquaCal
Where is AquaCal located?
AquaCal AutoPilot is based in St. Petersburg, Florida, where it manufactures heat pumps and salt chlorine generators for pools and spas.
How long has AquaCal been making pool heat pumps?
AquaCal has built swimming pool heat pumps since 1981. Its AutoPilot salt chlorine business traces back to 1976.
What is the difference between an AquaCal heat pump and a heat/cool model?
A standard heat pump only warms the pool. A heat/cool model can reverse its refrigerant cycle to remove heat from the water, which helps keep pools comfortable during hot summers.
What is AquaCal AutoPilot?
AutoPilot is AquaCal's line of salt chlorine generators, which turn dissolved salt in pool water into chlorine. Replacement cells such as the Pool Pilot RC52 keep those systems running.
Do heat pump pool heaters work in cold weather?
Heat pumps draw heat from the outdoor air, so they work best when air temperatures stay above the 50s. That makes them well suited to Florida and other warm climates.
