How to Heat Your Pool With Solar Energy

Solar energy is a $300-million-a-year industry. Recognized for home energy savings, it’s also an excellent way to heat your pool. There are a variety of ways to do it, from standard panels to home-made frames. In Canada, solar pool heaters make up more than 10 percent of the pool heating market. Here are some options and ideas to consider.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Solar heat pump
• Solar panels
• PVC pipe
• A solar ring
• Black rubber hoses
• A solar blanket

1. Standard solar panels can be used to heat swimming pools. Solar heaters often go on rooftops. Collectors come in different materials, so find out what works best for you. They need a south facing roof, though up to 45 degrees east or west of due south won’t decrease performance as long as no shade’s involved. The large collectors require plenty of space (typically 350 to 500 square feet). Seven to 12 black plastic panels typically fit residential pools. Properly protected collectors should last 10 to 15 years.

2. You can make your own solar pool heater, using a simple pump and some black PVC piping. Run piping from the radiator to the pool filter. Run a return line from the pool filter back to the radiator. You’re basically running water through the radiator and back to the pool. It’s a system of pipes positively heated by sunlight. People used this kind of system before using natural gas.

3. Try using a series of 15-foot black rubber hoses, tightly coiled, inside a wooden frame. Cover the coiled hoses with black plastic and install on a rooftop. Pump the water through the coiled hoses and into the pool. As the pool water moves through the hose it picks up heat. This lets you run a lot of piping into a small space.

4. There’s a product called a solar ring or Liquid Solar blanket. Its time release delivery dispenses an invisible layer of non-toxic biodegradable film that prevents pool evaporation and heat loss. Shaped like a frisbie, you simply drop it into the pool skimmer (see Resources below).

5. Another great way to use solar to heat your pool is a solar blanket. Similar to bubble wrap, this lightweight translucent cover is an effective inexpensive way to extend the seasonal use of your pool. There are vast differences between using solar and standard pool heating. Fuel heaters last 7 to 10 years with proper yearly maintenance. Most gas heaters have 2-year warranties while well-made heat pumps have a 2-year warranty and a 5-year warranty on the compressors. Whatever system you choose, heating a pool with solar is a cost effective and environmentally-friendly route to go (see Resources below).

Tips & Warnings

• You generally can’t use the same solar collectors for both water and pool heating. Those for pools generate heat for thousands of gallons (large volume). General use water collectors heat 100 gallons daily.
• If installing a solar pool heating system yourself, make sure to read the manufacturer’s installation manual (and video if it comes with one) first.
• Solar panels require little maintenance. Check them at the beginning of each swimming season, especially if they have an automatic control.
• Solar panels have a minimum 10-year warranty, generally lasting 15 to 20 years or longer.
• A solar panel heating system costs between 2 and 4 thousand dollars. A simple solar heating pump can run around $200.
• Solar panels have a release so water runs out, avoiding the possibility of developing bacteria or algae.
• Installation of rooftop solar panels can cause roof leaks, which can necessitate a new roof and redoing the solar.

Resources

• Pool heating market
• Picks up heat
• Liquid solar blanket

[groovydude]

on 7/2/2008 I was able to do this much cheaper with 1 1.5" and 3 .5" sticks of pvc pipe and some fittings. I made a manifold 10 foot long by cutting a 1.5 x20 foot pipe in half and connected the two sides with the .5" pvc using t fittings and reducers. When I got the whole thing put together it looked like a ladder with the inlet at the top left leg and the outlet at the bottom right leg. the other ends of the legs i capped off. I painted the whole thing black and laid it in the sun and connected it with regular discharge hose and a few hose clamps. Remember, If you put it on the inlet of the pump you have to use a suction hose. It heats the pool really well and only cost 40 bucks or so. Good luck!