How to Use Solar Energy to Heat a Pool

While not all locations are ideal for heating a pool with solar energy, many pool owners have had success in reducing the costs of heating their pools by using this alternative energy source. In addition to reducing the need for electricity or other power, solar energy is also an environmentally friendly alternative. Even if you are unable to heat your pool with solar power completely, you may be able to reduce your overall costs.

Instructions

1. Locate your pool's hose bib, which allows you to drain water from the pool. Most in-ground pools have such a bib, but if yours does not, you will need a small pump capable of pumping water out of your pool slowly.

2. Attach a hose to the bib so that the water in your swimming pool circulates through the hose. You can use a pipe in place of a hose for a sturdier system.

3. Run the hose or pipe through direct sunlight before the water returns to the pool. Try to keep it coiled together in order to maintain heat. The longer the water remains in the hose, and the sunlight, the warmer it will become, so a longer hose is preferred. Fifty feet is the minimum workable length.

4. Cover your pool with a thermal covering in order to maintain a steady temperature. Solar heating is much slower than other methods, and you can easily lose heat overnight.

5. Insulate the hose against breezes and other cooling. Something as simple as threading the hose through 2-liter bottles with the ends cut off can reduce cooling significantly.

6. Slow down the circulation of the water in order to raise the temperature to a higher point. A slower circulation, however, will take longer to raise the entire pool's temperature.

7. Add more hose to speed the heating process. If you use a longer hose, you will have an increased capacity, which will enable you to heat more water at once.

Tips & Warnings

• To take better advantage of the changing position of the sun, mount the hose on a board that can be angled into the sunlight. You might also consider running the hose up to a sunny roof if your pool is in a shaded area.

• Your ability to use solar energy as a heat source will depend on a number of variables, including how big your pool is, how cold your weather is and how much sun your area gets. For instance, solar heating will be insufficient to make your pool usable in winter months.