Solar Heaters For Inground Pools

Installing A Solar Water Heater For Your Pool

When it comes time to install the pool solar heater, its helpful to know what to expect. Typically, a solar professional will mount solar collectors to a nearby rooftop. If there is not a rooftop close enough by, one must be built to hold the collectors. Alternatively, the solar collectors can be ground mounted in a location free from many obstacles.

Once the professional mounts the solar collectors, they will set up all plumbing to make the system work. Pipes must T-off from the existing filtration loop in order to send water through the new solar water heater.

The installers will also install control valves, so you can control the water flow and turn on or turn off the solar water heater. Additionally, a vent is installed at the peak of the solar collector array, in order to keep water out of the collectors when the pump isnt running.

Because of the complexity of the installation process, the large majority of homeowners will need to hire a solar professional to correctly and safely get the job done.

What Is A Solar Pool Heater

A solar pool heater is a type of heating device that harnesses the energy from the Sun to heat the water in your swimming pool. The water from the pool is forced across a special filter placed above the installed solar panels, which are either on the top construction or side of the swimming pool.

Solar heaters for the inground pool are the same as the traditional PV solar heaters. They have special pipes spread across the bottom surface of the swimming pool that ensure constant and uniform heating of the pool water. Many solar heating systems for swimming pools come with a special valve to control the flow, are equipped with sensors, and smartly operate, adjusting the temperature.

When you configure the temperature according to your needs, these sensors can measure the temperature of water generated from solar panels and adjust it according to your set value. If the water in the swimming pool is at a lower temperature, the heating device channelizes the water onto the solar collectors, which heat the temperature of this water. But when the water in the pool is warm or hot, the flow control valve switches off and reduces the amount of hot water being released into the pool.

Lastly, these pool solar panels are quite efficient, especially because the solar heating system is automated, and the process allows it to operate ideally and give you the desired output. So, you can enjoy a nice warm swim anytime you wish to.

Siting A Solar Swimming Pool Heater’s Collector

Collectors can be mounted on roofs or anywhere near the swimming pool that provides the proper exposure, orientation, and tilt toward the sun. Both the orientation and tilt of the collector will affect your solar pool heating system’s performance. Your contractor should consider them while evaluating your site’s solar resource and sizing your system.

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Commonly Used Solar Pool Heaters For Inground Pools

There is no better time of the year, than time that you enjoy pool with your family. But what if outdoor swimming season could be extended or even become year round? Today we are talking about solar pool heaters for pools.

Instead of using heaters that run on electricity or gas, our topic of discussion falls on popular and commonly used solar pool heaters for inground pools. Technology today allows us to enjoy at fullest things we love more and reuse solar energy without draining pockets.

Here is a list of pool heaters we think are top in their category:

• SunHeater Pool Heating System
• Smart Pool S601 Pool Solar Heaters
• Heliocol Solar Heating Panel
• XtremepowerUS 75070 Pool Solar Panel
• SunHeater S120U Solar Pool Heater

This table is strictly based on our research and opinion of our writers. Readers may disagree with quality or efficiency for any item we review.

Best Pool Heater Solar Panels

Posted on Last updated: November 4, 2022

The best way to enjoy the summer heat is to take a quick dip at swimming pools around the area. Even portable swimming pools are now available.

The joy of soaking under the sun is not as fancy as before, now that anyone can have access to portable pools. But what if some of us dont enjoy cold water as much as others?

I dont enjoy it that much, and I cant do anything about it but wait until the weather is hot enough to find the perfect balance. What if I want to swim on a cloudy day?

If you have the same problem, you will need solar panels to heat your pool. It is both cost-efficient and sustainable.

We have provided todays best pool heater solar panels out there. They will make your swimming experience more compatible with your desired temperature.

Keep reading on. We will help you find the perfect solar pool heater for you.

• Should I run my solar pool heater at night?

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Fafco 10028 Universal Solar Panel Heating Kit

Key features:

• Size: 24 ft x 3.75 in
• Pre-plumbed panel designed with built-in manual bypass valve for easy On/Off
• Very easy to install
• Value for money with a 3-year warranty

The Fafco 10028 Universal Solar Panel Heating Kit got a 3.8-star rating for being a value-for-money product. Most of its users are happy with its price.

So what does this product have for us? Lets find out.

Seeing the Fafco 10028 Universal Solar Panel Heating Kit for the first time, you can already tell that it is pretty simple to operate. It is a 24 ft long mat that you can lay down under the sun or on a DIY mount and roll up after use.

The installation procedure will take less than 30 minutes. After unrolling your heating kit, connect the pools filter outlet to the kits inlet, and connect the kits outlet to the pools inlet, like a simple 1-2-3.

The Fafco 10028 Universal Solar Panel Heating Kit is compatible with any kind of pool pump. It is not as effective in an in-ground pool compared to an above-ground pool, but it can handle 8,000 gallons of water capacity.

The kit also has a built-in manual bypass valve that turns it on or off at night time or if the sun is not available. Very decent features for a very reasonable price.

Pros

Heliocol Solar Heating Panel

Swimming Pool Heating Panel 4 x 8 HC-30

• BRAND: HELIOCOL

Why This Heater is Better

Fastest to Increase temperature/ Very Reliable brand/ Highest Efficiency product/ Option for different sizes

Heliocol solar heating system is the most reliable on market with high efficiency and lowest return rate. The panel can be placed next to the pool as well as on the pool that helps protect from leaves and other debris. We sell our product in several dimensions and they can be easily connected together for highest efficiency. This new design is by far best looking and most wanted pool heater out there.

Online Comments from Buyers

Bradley Mason fromArlington: Our pool is around 30 000 gallons and im proud to say that it works like a charm. I could swear that this pool heater gets us extra 6-7 degrees on sunny days. With smaller size pools im sure I would have even better performance but it is what it is.

Damon fromToledo: I wanted to thank seller and manufacturer for making our lives so much better with this good quality solar pool heaters for inground pools. We were thinking to get gas heater because have double gas hose for barbeque at home, but were convinced to get this exact heater. I do not regret this decision at all. Very good buy.

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Xtremepowerus Inground/above Ground Solar Panel System

Key features:

• Size: 14 x 14 x 2 in
• Extremely high-grade materials for all kinds of weather
• Low-maintenance
• Compatible with both above and in-ground pools

The XtremepowerUS Inground/Above-Ground Solar Panel System is not as popular as other solar pool heating systems. It does have very promising features.

It is made with extremely high-quality materials proven to withstand all types of weather. It is designed for both above-ground and in-ground pools.

Each panel is made of lightweight, flexible, durable black polypropylene, which is where the water is circulated before returning to the pool. It doesnt need much maintenance and it doesnt produce greenhouse gases.

Pros

Sun2solar Midwest Canvas Clear Diamond

The Sun2Solar Midwest Canvas Solar Cover is the best solar cover for an inground pool for those looking for a budget-friendly option. It offers good heat retention throughout various seasons. This is made from a resin material, and the cover itself is a clear cover.

Unlike many other common solar covers, this uses diamond-shaped bubbles with the claim that with a diamond design you get greater coverage of bubbles to absorb more UV rays. While the low price on this solar pool cover definitely makes it a good value for the ones we evaluated, it did rank low on both ease-of-use as well as durability compared to others.

Next, on our best solar cover for inground pool list, we have this solar cover from Down Under that makes use of a double blue layer technology that aims to give the cover more durability. It features reinforced seams that try to help it fight against wear and wind resistance in spite of the fact that it is very lightweight.

More about the durability, this solar cover is made from vinyl that is UV stabilized to fight of fading from both the sun and the chemicals from the pool. Also, it comes with a decent 3-year warranty. Althought it works well, our biggest issue with the Down Under Blue Solar Cover is that it is often not available to buy and probably not the best choice for someone needing a solar pool cover in a timely manner.

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How Many Solar Panels Do You Need To Heat A Pool

There is no straight answer to this question. The number of solar panels needed to heat your pool depends on various factors.

First, calculate your pool size. Use the tips above to calculate the pool surface area. If you have an oblong pool, estimate the pools length and width to find the area. The more surface area your pool has, the more solar panels you will need. You cover anywhere from 50% to 100% of the pools surface area, but the exact number of panels depends on additional factors.

If your pool lies partially or entirely in the shad, you will need additional panels to compensate for the lack of natural heating directly from the sun to the water.

For inground pools, you will most likely need to put the solar panels on the roof if you dont have the yard space. However, if your roof faces the east, the panels will only receive direct sunlight during the morning, limiting how much solar energy the panels will be able to capture.

Another critical factor in determining the number of solar panels is your location. The further north you live, the fewer viable swimming months you have. In southern Florida, you can get up to 12 months of swimming with a solar heater, while in northern Washington, you may only get four months of swimming with the heater.

The final factor is how big your solar panels are. If you have extra-large panels, like the ones measuring 4 feet by 12 feet by Solar Pool Supply, you will need fewer panels.

Sunheater S120u Universal Solar Pool Heater

SunHeaters S120U universal solar pool heater is a cost-effective solution for heating your swimming pool. The heaters versatility and simple installation process make it one of the preferred solar pool heaters in the U.S.

Similar to Games curve solar pool heater, this also has its own unique patented design. But instead of a curve, it uses a web design. This allows the heater to gain maximum exposure to sunlight. With this, you can raise the temperature of your swimming pool from 6 to 10 degrees F.

The installation process is simple. You can install the heater by yourself even if you do not have any prior knowledge of this. But, you have to get the hardware equipment separately that is required for installation. You will find a detailed installation manual online on how to install the heater.

You can connect the heater to an existing pool pump. There is no need to get a new pump. As for the panels, you can mount them on the roof, ground, rack, or fence. Besides, you can use this heater for inground and above ground pools.

Pros

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Should I Run My Solar Pool Heater At Night

Most would say that the absence of sunlight will make your solar pool heater ineffective. But the truth is that your solar pool heater will continue heating your pool at night with all the energy it has captured during the day. It is designed to run 24/7, though it is also important to give it a rest and do regular cleaning.

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Best Solar Pool Heater: Sunheater S220

The SunHeater S220 Solar Heating System maximizes solar collection with its flat-panel style tubing. Since this solar heater uses your existing pool pump, it should be installed near your pool. And while its versatility gives you plenty of options and is easy to set up, it does not come mounted on anything. That means youll need space to lay it flat, like on a rooftop or deck.

A single installation kit comes with one panel that measures 2 x 20 . So its perfect for heating above ground pools that are 24 round pools or 15 x 30 oval pools. But keep in mind that additional units will be necessary to heat larger pools.

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Btu Solar Heat Pump Pool Heater Zero Annual Energy Cost

The SHP48 is an option to other free pool heaters like heat recovery pool heaters or solar pool heaters, and is a clear winner over all types of paid-energy pool heaters. The advantages of the SPH48 include the ability to operate in cold weather, as well as operation on cloudy days or at night, while achieving a low or zero annual energy cost to heat a pool. The unit can also function as a pool chiller to cool a pool. The unit is configured with four or more solar panels, depending on the location of use. During the pool season, the unit will consume more energy than is produced by the solar panels however, energy is produced by solar all year, so properly sizing the solar panel array can provide a low or zero annual energy cost for heating a pool.Free Pool Heating when you connect solar panels to this heat pump pool heater.Heating & Cooling function allows you to keep your pool at the desired temperature, automatically. the system is a pool heater and a pool chiller, as needed.

Should You Buy The Best Products Online

Today, many online stores buy the solar heater for inground pool you want, but it is essential to know its pros and cons. First, by going online, you will have access to a much more comprehensive range of products than if you were in a physical store.

However, when buying things this way, customers often have difficulty trying everything before buying. This can annoy those who are unsure of what they want or may worry that they might end up with something that doesnt suit their needs.

Another problem is the pricing strategy used by some stores, where the price may seem cheap at first glance, but when it comes to shipping costs and possibly more fees than an item purchased. It is therefore important to compare similar products from different stores to determine the best and most affordable for your needs.

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Smart Pool S601 Inground Pool Solar Heating System

Key features:

• Size: 240 x 54 x 2 in
• Direct Flow System One Header Hole for Each Heating Tube
• Liquid Heat Shield locks in heat by reducing pool water evaporation
• Compatible with both above and in-ground pools
• Easy to install

One of the solar pool heaters that you must consider is the Smart Pool S601 Inground Pool Solar Heating System. Because of its effectiveness and reliability, the SmartPool in-ground pool heater is gaining good remarks.

The reason for its effectiveness is its polypropylene heat collector that can increase the pools temperature by up to 15 degrees F. It can also maximize heat collection, allowing you to extend your swimming season.

Installation can be pretty demanding since its size could be space-consuming. The SmartPool in-ground pool heater features 80 square feet of solar panels, which are advisably mounted on roofs.

The package also includes a Liquid Heat Shield that locks in heat by reducing pool water evaporation. The amount to be applied will depend on your pool size.

Pros

• The installation kit is sold separately

Heating Strength & Performance

Heating strength is crucial to choosing the right solar heater. Solar pool heater performance is measured in British thermal units per square foot per day or Btu/ft² per day. But for the purposes of your research, just look for how quickly the system can heat up certain square footage of a pool and do the math for your own setup. For some people, an increase of five degrees is enough, and I have some heaters on my list that average that. However, I also catered to those of you who need more heat with heaters that can increase temperatures up to 20 degrees.

Everyones needs are a bit different when buying a solar pool heater. You should always look for a heater that you can install in the way you want and that can handle the size of your pool. Dont forget to also consider the overall heating strength, durability, and any special features the heater has. Also, you will need to learn how solar heaters work before your purchase one.

If you want a full in-depth analysis of the cost of this kind of equipment, you can check out my article, which has the full cost breakdown of solar pool heaters.

Heating performance accounted for 30% of the overall score for each product.

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