Frequently Asked Questions About Solar Pool Heating:
Q: Will I need to up-size my pool pump to push water up to the roof?A: I have installed dozens of solar systems and never had to upgrade the pump. As long as you have a 1 hp pump or greater, you should have no problem, even pushing the water up 2 stories. You will notice that the filter pressure will rise 2-4 lbs on the pressure gauge, but most pumps can handle the extra resistance without a problem.
Q: I have a pressure-side pool cleaner, will this conflict with its operation?A: If you have a booster pump type pool cleaner, it is recommended that you not operate it at the same time as the solar pool heater. The Solar Controller has a booster pump override to shut off the booster pump when the valve actuator opens to send water to the solar panels.
Q: Can I mount the solar panels on 2 different sides of the roof?A: Yes, after exiting the first panel set, run a pipe to the second panel set, and so on, then back down to connect to the return line.
Q: Do I need to install the Solar Controller?A: It is recommended for best results. If it starts to rain, or heavy clouds form, sending water to the solar panels will cool the water, and reverse the heat gains made earlier.
Q: What If I need to remove the solar panels to replace my roof?A: The panels can be removed in a few hours, no problem.
How To Install Swimming Pool Heating System
Benefits of Solar Swimming Pool Heaters
Solar Pool Heating System is an Effective & Environment Friendly way of Pool Heating. It makes 100 utilization of large investment made on Swimming Pool which otherwise remain Un- utilized for more than 5 months in a Year..
Solar pool heating system usually provides a payback of between 2 and 3 years, depending on fuel costs however life of Inter Solar Pool Heater is more than 20 Years. They typically last longer than other heaters such as gas and heat pump pool heaters. Your actual cost and payback depend on many factors. Our Swimming pool solar heating system uses the suns energy to heat commercial and residential swimming pools. Our solar collector systems heat thousands of gallons of water to temperatures as per International norms of 24 to 28 degrees C) by circulating the water through solar collectors. Pool temperature can be operated through an automatic controller.
When you are choosing a swimming pool heater, you can compare the costs for different heating options like solar, boiler, heat pump etc. This will help you in determining the potential lower costing of solar collector, Solar pool heaters are very much economical cost comparative to both gas and heat pump pool heaters, and have very low annual operating costs. Actually, solar pool heating is the most cost-effective use of solar energy in many climates.
How to Install Swimming Pool Heating System
Features of Solar Collector
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Solar Thermal For Swimming Pools
Most people like their pool to be heated to around 28 deg C.
Traditional methods of achieving that temperature would be by heating the water as it is circulated by electricity, gas or oil fired heaters. All these methods use up our fossil fuels and generate emissions that we are all trying to avoid.
There is also a certain amount of cost involved.
Solar energy promises an energy source that is clean and free and therefore appears to be very attractive.
A solar pool heating system comprises of a solar collector either solar panels made up of tubes through which water is passed or a number of small solar pods a filter and pump and a control system.
The pool water first passes through the pump and filter and then into the solar collector where it is heated by the sun before being returned to the pool.
The solar panels should have a surface area of about 70% of the pools surface area and should be angled between 20° and 45° to the horizontal. The panels should ideally face south and be free from shade and shadow.
For an efficient system, the solar panels shouldnt be too far away from the pool itself.
Of course, a south-facing house roof or the roof of a pool building would make an ideal location for the panels and in such a spot, they are neither obtrusive nor unattractive.
A good system installed in the UK climate can raise the pool temperature by between 2deg and 4deg C.
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How Much Does Solar Pool Heating Cost
Heating a swimming pool can be costly, especially if you run thousands of gallons of water through a gas or electric heater. After spending around $3000 on a solar pool heater, the return on investment is substantial.
But, the question is How do you get there?
Here well break down all the costs you should expect with solar pool heating including upfront costs, installation costs, monthly costs, and FAQs to get the most out of your investment.
Install Solar Panels In The Sunniest Location Possible
Solar panels need the sun to work effectively, so the sunnier the installation location, the better .
Renewable sources can save money and energy by pre-heating water and supplementing traditional electric or fossil-fuel heaters for pools.
That said, to get the most out of your system, youll want to choose a location that receives at least four hours of sunlight a day to pre-heat your water. If youre going to install a solar pool heating system on your roof, choose a location unobstructed by trees.
If youre planning on installing your solar pool heating system on the ground, be sure direct sunlight can reach them. In essence, your solar pool heating system doesnt have to be installed near your pool to work effectively.
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Test Out Your Solar Pool Heater
Once youve completed the installation, its important to test everything. For a simple way to ensure your system is working properly, take a temperature reading of the water heading into your pool on a warm, sunny day. Compare that temperature to the overall pool temperature taken farther away from the inlet. If the inlet water is higher in temperature and your heater isnt running then you know your system is producing heat and warming up the pool.
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Snag List And Flow Control
Once you have the entire system connected and running, the first order of business is to check all connection points for leaks. All connections are kept outside the box in this type of DIY pool heater. So, this is relatively easy to do.
If you are satisfied that your system is leak-free, you can start tweaking the flow rate to get the best results.
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Diy Solar Pool Heater
Last year my Wife and I bought an above ground pool for exercise and recreation. We discovered that my Home shadows the pool in the afternoon, and that drives the water temperature down several degrees in the Spring and Fall. Since we usually don’t get into the pool on Weekdays until after work, this made for some pretty chilly swims, even when the air temperature was in the 80’s. I decided that a Solar heater that I could mount outside the shadow of the house would be just the thing to bring the water temperature up to more bearable levels.
Components Of A Dualsun Heating System For Swimming Pools
To get started with DualSuns solar panels for swimming pool heating, you will need:
- DualSun hybrid panels
- The possibility of connection to a heat pump
- The possibility of using a solar water heater that also acts as a swimming pool heater
Schematic diagram of a DualSun individual solar heating installation for swimming pools
- The filter pump: it filters the water in the swimming pool and is located before the panels to prevent them from clogging.
- The pilot valve: it enables pool water to be directed towards the solar panels when they become warmer than the water in the swimming pool.
- The air-to-water heat pump: This is an optional item that provides additional heat for greater convenience, but consumes electricity. Part of its consumption can be covered by connecting it to hybrid solar panels.
These installations are generally more integrated into the home than a simple solar water heater. The panels can be mounted onto the roof and the surplus electricity can be fed back into the house. In this case, the electrical energy generated by the solar panels must pass through an inverter which transforms the direct current from the panels into alternating current fit for household use.
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Plan For Pvc Plumbing
Velocity matters!
Plan for the plumbing and fittings required. PVC is the recommended material. ABS is not recommended as it is not designed for pressure nor heat.
Ensure not to exceed maximum velocities allowed on pipes when selecting pipes diameters as per table on the left.
For an aesthetically pleasing installation, we recommend Black PVC Pipe & Fittings. Black PVC pipes and fittings will blend nicely with the solar pool heating system and they dont fade in the sun over time as painted pipes do.
The Ultimate Diy Solar Pool Heater Guide
Everything you need to know about building your own solar pool heater
George Duval is a writer and expert in sustainability and environmental studies. After graduating with a B.A. in Sustainability from Florida International University, George began dedicating his life to researching new ways to make the world a greener place. His expertise ranges from organic gardening, to renewable energy, to eating plant-based diets. He is currently writing and editing for a number of publications, most of which focus on the environment.
Theres nothing better than going for a swim in a nice, heated swimming pool on a breezy day, but electric pool heaters use quite a bit of electricity. A solar pool heater uses the free, renewable, alternative energy of sunlight to sustainably warm up your swimming pool. While solar pool heaters are relatively cheap, building your own is even cheaper, and more fun. If youre the type who likes to build, you can design your very own. The materials are cheap and readily available, and it can be done in a day if you have some help. Keep reading to learn how to build your own DIY solar pool heater!
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Select Your Pool Solar Panels
To determine the right pool solar panels for you, youll need to measure your dimensions. Your solar collectors surface area should equal 50% to 100% of your pools surface area. It may be necessary to increase the collector area to pool surface area ratio if you live in a cloudy area .
Keep in mind that increasing the collector square footage will extend your swimming season.
If you want to use a 15×30 foot outdoor swimming pool year-round in Arizona, youd typically need a solar collector that 100% equals the pools square footage. However, you can often decrease the necessary collector area by using a pool cover.
Solar Pool Heater Vs Solar Pv Panels
Depending on your homes roof size, you may not have enough space to accommodate both a solar pool heater and solar panels to power your home. If this situation arises, youll need to do a cost-benefit analysis of which system will provide you with greater savings over time.
In general, wed recommend pairing an efficient electric pool heater and pump with your solar PV. That way, you can power everything with solar and will likely have the best savings. The added electrical needs from the electric pool heater and pump will add only 3-5 solar panels to the system, depending on panel wattage.
Our energy experts are ready to guide you through the rooftop solar process, and help you find the right option for your needs.
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What Are Solar Heaters And How Do They Work
Pool solar panels are constructed of rows of small, hollow tubes made of black polypropylene or rubber that are seamed together to create a large surface area called a panel.
The sunshine heats the black mat and as water passes through, the heat is transferred to the water and returned to the pool.
Solar panels are an eco-friendly way to heat your pool 10-20 degrees warmer, with do-it-yourself installation, zero emissions and with zero operational costs. With no gas or electrical lines to run, they are favored by pool owners everywhere!
Solar heaters come in a variety of shapes and sizes but the mechanics are basically the same. You can use your existing pump to circulate water through black tubing which naturally absorbs heat from the sun and sends that heated water back to your pool.
The more surface area the solar heater has, the more BTUs of heat are generated. And the more BTUs you generate, the greater the volume of water you can heat. Since a pool is open to the air, heat can be lost quickly. To combat the heat loss, it is recommended to over-size a solar pool heater.
One or more panels can be joined to create more surface area. Panels can be installed for above ground and in ground pools, positioned in a variety of ways, and controlled manually by turning a valve or automatically, with a solar controller.
Can You Power Your Swimming Pool With Solar
Posted by Brendon O’Neill04/10/2021
Owning a backyard pool is an Aussie dream, albeit an expensive one. Installation and purchase costs aside, a typical in-ground pool can account for 17% of a homes electricity usage, potentially adding $660 to $1,000 annually to a households power bill.
So, how can you reduce your pools electricity usage, and can solar power help save on running costs? This article discusses ways to save on swimming pool running costs with solar.
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Comparing Solar Swimming Pool Heating System Costs
Before purchasing a solar pool heating system, you can estimate and compare the costs of using different solar collector models. This will help you determine the potential cost savings of investing in a more efficient type of collector, which may require fewer panels for the collector area needed to heat your pool.
To estimate and compare costs, you need to know the following:
- A collector’s thermal performance rating
- Total number of collector panels or piping for the area needed to heat your pool
- Total installed cost of system.
You can then calculate a collector’s energy output per dollar spent or invested using this formula:
÷ total installed cost of system = Btu/$ per dollar spent
Example:
Btu ÷ $3,000 = 37.20 Btu/day per dollar spent
If you just know the prices and thermal performance ratings of collectors, you can use the following formula to calculate the energy output for each dollar spent or invested for different collectors:
Btu/day ÷ collector price = Btu/day per dollar spent
Example:
21,000 Btu ÷ $387 = 54.26 Btu/day per dollar spent
Don’t choose a solar pool heating system or collector based solely on its estimated costs. When selecting a solar pool heater, it’s also important to consider all of the factors involved in the system’s sizing and quality of the design and installation.
What Is A Solar Pool Heater & How Does It Work
Solar pool heaters use the suns energy to pump water through your pool filter and a series of solar collectors devices where the water is warmed in tubular panels by the sun. Once warmed, the water is circulated back into the pool. Solar collectors are often installed on roofs, though they can be placed anywhere with sufficient sunlight. In hotter climates or warm summer months, they can also serve a double purpose by cooling down the pool by routing water through the collectors during the night.
The collectors within a solar swimming pool heater come in two forms: unglazed and glazed.
- Unglazed solar collectors are often cheaper because they use less expensive material and labor to produce. They are made coated with plastic or durable rubber. The technology is similar to how a garden hose in the sun will eventually heat up and pass that thermal energy onto the water inside.
- Glazed solar collectors typically use copper tubing with a glass covering. These upgrades make the process more efficient, but it comes at a higher cost. In addition to heating your pool, glazed solar collectors can also be used to heat the water you use indoors all year.
In addition to the solar collectors, many solar pool heating systems also include manual or automated sensors and flow control valves. If the pool is sufficiently heated, water from the solar collectors can be diverted and water from the pool will still be filtered but wont enter the collectors.
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In 1 Hybrid Solar Panels
Here is the most profitable solution.
This is a system that ensures your swimming pools energy autonomy.
Hybrid solar panels such as the ones by DualSun offer two solutions in one. This makes them more versatile and profitable.
The first is a thermal heat-creating technology. In a swimming pool setup, it is used to directly heat the pool water. The filtered pool water flows through the hybrid panels and the panels heat it up. This technology extends the swimming season by up to 3 months a year.
The second is an energy-generating photovoltaic technology. If properly sized, the installation can cover the energy consumption of the filter pump. Conveniently enough, the pump runs mainly during the day when the panels also generate energy.
How does solar hybrid technology work?
It should be noted that the electrical efficiency of the photovoltaic cells in the panel decreases as its temperature rises. As a result, a cooled solar panel generates more energy on the right: Spring hybrid panel , on the left: conventional photovoltaic panel
Based on this principle, the water circulates through the DualSun hybrid panels and cools them down. The panels can be cooled down in a very efficient manner by the swimming pool, which is essentially a large reservoir of cold water that ensures the panels are kept at a low temperature.
