Solar Pool Facts

Frequently asked questions about solar pool heating

Why heat my pool? You have a significant amount of money invested in your pool and every month you invest more in the way of chemicals, maintenance and electricity for the filter pump. By heating your pool, you will realize the full benefit of pool ownership and maximize your investment.

What type of heater? Propane and natural gas heaters have the lowest cost of installation but the highest cost of operation. Gas heaters have a useful life of 5-8 years. Heat pumps work like air conditioners using electric motors, compressor and refrigerant. The initial cost of installation is more than that of a gas heater, but the cost of operation is 60% to 70% less. Heat pumps have a life expectancy of 8-12 years. On those occasions when solar is not feasible, a heat pump may be your best alternative.
Generally the cost of installing a solar pool heating system is comparable to that of a heat pump but will provide FREE solar heat for 10-20 years.

How will solar energy heat my pool? Solar energy is just another form of fuel used to heat your pool. A properly sized solar pool heating system can more than double your swim season.

Is a solar pool heating system simple to operate? Yes. Most systems are completely automatic and are as easy to operate as any fossil fuel heater.

What about the environment? Gas heaters directly add pollutants into the air. Heat pumps pollute indirectly as a result of pollution created in the production of the electricity used. Solar pool heating is environmentally friendly. Solar is clean renewable energy source and uses no fossil fuels.

Do the solar collectors have to be mounted on the roof? Generally, yes because they need a large area, however, the collectors can be ground mounted anywhere in the sun.

How do I control the temperature of my solar heated pool? Two ways, a manual diverter valve allows you to turn your solar system on or off depending on whether you want to heat you pool. Another option is an automatic solar control. This works similar to the thermostat you have for your home heating & cooling. This simply sets the thermostat dial on the electronic controller to the desired water temperature. The electronic controller compares the temperatures of your solar system with your pool or spa, the controller turns the motorized valve to allow the pool or spa water to flow through the solar system to absorb the heat.

Will I need a pool cover? Pools loose energy or heat in a variety of ways, however surface evaporation is by far the largest source of heat loss (approximately 75%) using a pool cover is the single most effective way of reducing pool heat loss and retaining the heat in your pool.