Solar Water Heaters For Swimming Pools

Solar water heaters for swimming pools - how do they work?

Unlike other types of solar powered devices, solar pool heaters are rather simple. Solar panels collect heat from the sun. They are typically installed on your roof or next to the pool. A pump forces water from your swimming pool through a filter that leads into a solar collector. The water heats up in the collector and then returns into the pool through the pump.

This won’t allow you to swim during the middle of winter, of course, but, it will make swimming comfortable when the weather has just turned a little too cold for a comfortable swim. In climates with lots of cold weather, installing a swimming pool heater can increase your swimming season to five or six months a year, when without it you would only be able to swim two or three months a year. Generally speaking, on a sunny day, a solar heater can raise your pool water temperature by 7 to 10 degrees.

How big a heater is needed and how much will it cost?

Please use this Energy calculator to get the vacuum tubes quantity for your swimming pool. The result just for reference. Contact one dealer to get detailed info.

The size of swimming pool heater you will need depends on the size of your pool and the climate in your area. For bigger pools and colder places you will need bigger solar heaters. The price of your heater is usually proportionate to it’s size. Heaters with 2′x20′ panels are the most popular. With a bit of knowledge and experience you should be able to make your own solar panels for about $200 per panel. A set of two panels will keep an 18′-24′ pool warm. For bigger pools you will need more panels.

Installing your solar pool heater

Unlike solar water heaters, pool heaters are fairly easy to install. Every set of solar pool heaters that you purchase should come with instructions:

1. First you connect the panels to a pump.
2. Then you place the panels where the sun can heat them up.

You can mount the panels on your roof or position them by the pool using frames which can be purchased from your solar supplies dealer. At first you will notice that the panels get very hot but after a few minutes they will cool down.

Maintaining your solar swimming pool heater

Your heater doesn’t actually require any maintenance. However it is important to keep balanced water chemistry. Also check the filter every once in a while to insure that it is working properly.

Investing in a solar swimming pool heater is a good idea. After you pay the initial cost, the heat that it generates for you will be free. Unlike other types of swimming pool heaters, solar heaters will not increase your energy bill. And it will extend your swimming season, which can be very beneficial especially for your kids.