Drastically reduce the cost of heating your pool and extend your swimming season.

How does solar pool heating work?

Which solar pool heating configuration is right for me?

How fast will the pay off on a solar pool heating system be?

How does the water get to the solar panels?

What about a solar pool cover?

If I'm sending chlorinated water up to solar panels, isn't the system likely to corrode in a relatively short amount of time?

Doesn't a pool pump also consumes it's fair share of energy too?

How does solar pool heating work?

Solar pool heating systems can be put into two categories.. Those which send the pool's water itself up to solar heating panels, and those which send a separate loop of water (called closed loop) to the roof and transfers its heat to the pool water with heat exchangers.

Which solar pool heating configuration is right for me?

Generally speaking, if you have a seasonally used outdoor pool, a system that sends pool water up to panels on the roof is the best choice. If you have an indoor pool and want pool heating year round, a closed loop is preferable, but can be significantly more expense. That is not to say that is will not still pay for itself, but that it's upfront cost will be more and the pay off is not quite as fast as with the first type of system mentioned.

How fast will the pay off on a solar pool heating system be?

If you are paying to heat your pool now, a plastic panel pool heating system will likely pay for itself in less than 3 years and has a life expectancy of 10 to 12 years. After which time the replacement of some of the solar panels my be necessary, but the cost to do so is relatively small.

How does the water get to the solar panels?

In most cases, your existing pool pump is used to direct water up to the solar panels and this is done based on the temperature difference between the pool water and the roof temperature. If the temperature at the panels is hotter than the pool water, then a controller module opens a diverter valve to start circulating water up to the roof to get heated.

What about a solar pool cover?

A pool cover will significantly improve the efficiency and effectiveness of a solar pool heating system, since most heat loss occurs due to evaporation.

If I'm sending chlorinated water up to solar panels, isn't the system likely to corrode in a relatively short amount of time?

Pool heating systems which circulate pool water to solar panels use PVC piping and plastic ABS panels. This not only makes for a corrosion resistant system, but also makes for a system that is much less expensive than an all copper system would be.

Doesn't a pool pump also consumes it's fair share of energy too?

A pool pump does consume a good-sized load, but not anything compared to a pool heater. Solar powered pool pumps are also available and can be a good way to try out solar electric.

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