I was on the phone with a customer last week and he wanted to buy an inexpensive heat pump that was made in China. I have not had the best luck with them as I have tested 3 Chinese swimming pool heat pumps and they all had an issue. Maybe in 5 years, they will get it all sorted out but I told him that is wasn’t a good idea as I couldn’t give my blessing to its reliability and I have like to use North American made heat pumps as I believe the USA and Canada have the best-made ones in the world. I say that from experience as I have seen most of the ones in the world and those that I have not personally seen in person I have read up on them and have looked at reviews. So for this customer, I told him that in ten years where did he think he would get parts or even be able to talk to an engineer if he had a problem. He then told me that he was 87 years old and wasn’t that concerned about what would happen when he was 97. My best argument didn’t work. After a few more phone calls he agreed to spend a little more for an American made pool heat pump. I felt much better but it made me think of one of my favorite stores; Harbor Freight. I know all my gear head friends go there when nobody is looking. Some of my older friends tell me that sometimes they need a specialized tool that they will only use a few times and that the inexpensive ones there do the trick. I just like to roam around looking at everything. I bought some motorcycle tie-down straps and ear protection for some loud 2 stroke motorcycle engines that I started up. I know most of the stuff in there is from China. I have mixed emotions with that. I wish that there was a store with the same business model with locally made tools. I can’t go to my Sears anymore as it closed, so for a guy that likes that sort of thing, there is not a lot of local options. With Swimming pool heat pumps we have that option though. I have great heat pumps that are made from Pennsylvania to Florida. You have to know who is making what and where though. Some big USA manufacturers are buying their heat pumps from China while some others are putting them together in other countries. Some USA manufacturers have cut their warranties while some have lengthened them. I can tell you who did what. I like simple reliable heat pumps made in a factory with an engineer around to make sure they are tested and running like they were designed. In ten years I want the heat pump keeping your pool like a tropical lagoon with reliability that isn’t going to cause you any stress.
I am on your side.
Best,
Marcus Miller
I have received quite a few questions about Chinese swimming pool heat pumps from my customers who are price shopping. There are some that are being sold for less money than an American manufacturer can afford to build them. There are even some American manufacturers who are putting their name on Chinese heat pumps. The Chinese factories make them in big bunches like bananas and then ship the heaters 6000 to 9000 miles in a tightly packed containers to the USA, South America and Europe. Then they are shipped out from the warehouses from people who couldn’t care less about the product they are handling as most have no personal connection to the swimming pool owner, the service or install company or even the distributors that sell the heat pump. Then, when you need service there is no local service company that has a personal relationship with the manufacturer. My favorite swimming pool heat pumps are handmade in the USA with the designing engineer on site to give each a final ok before they are shipped out. You want a swimming heat pump made with love from people who care and have reputations to protect. You might even want the cell number of the distributor in case you ever have a concern or install question after hours. My next blog will be about Florida homeowners who buy a Canadian heat pump when they have 4 local heat pump factories in their backyard with lots of service guys running around. Hope all my Canadian friends don’t read that one. 🙂
Be safe and enjoy your pool.
