Pool Solar Heating Systems

Pool upkeep and extending pool operation are among the primary problems pool owners face each year, not because they are difficult to accomplish, but the reason is more on the costs of maintaining a pool and making it usable even in the colder seasons.

A major breakthrough in operating swimming pools is the innovation of pool solar heating systems. Using a pool solar heater is a lot cost effective than the gas or electricity-powered heating systems, and need less maintenance. With prices of energy going up the ceilings, it is no wonder why more and more pool owners are investing on pool solar heating systems.

Millions of pool owners are now taking advantage of this free energy from the sun. All a typical circulation pump needs to pump water up through the solar energy collectors is around 15 to 20 watts of electricity, giving you lots of savings and allowing you to contribute in energy conservation by maximizing solar power especially in summer. Many studies have found the effectiveness of solar energy in increasing pool water temperature even in the colder months.

A solar pool heater operates together with the pump and filter system, first by pumping water through the filter and passing through solar energy collectors that increase water temperature. Then the warm water is pushed back into the pool for you to enjoy.

Pool owners who want to invest in home made solar pool heater can rely on do-it-yourself solar pool heating systems projects. With a little plumbing know-how and basic construction skills, you can make a solar pool heater by yourself and let your family enjoy the pool longer, and year-round. This translates to more fun and more evening parties.

The solar energy industry is made up of two product styles: flexible and rigid. The rigid versions are available in varied sizes, with 4x12s as the most common kind. These modules can easily be assembled to form panels of solar collectors to create a surface area that can collect solar energy.

You, too, can build a solar pool heater by simply gathering up the hardware needed. Many large manufacturers today mass-produce these solar collectors made of polypropylene, including standard hardware for mounting.

Placement of solar energy collectors
To get the best from your pool solar heating systems, position them anywhere facing the sun, taking consideration that most of the solar energy is collected during the swimming season when they are facing 45 degrees South and inclination should be minus 15 degrees from the latitude in your location.

Solar collector sizes would vary depending on the amount of sunlight reaching your location. If the angle on your slope is 10 to 15 degrees, the collector area can be increased by around 10 percent, while if the collector is laid flat on the ground, the collector area may be increased by 15 percent.

This principle for pool solar heating systems goes generally for all locations. Smaller solar collectors are needed for flatter areas, and increase surface area for steeper slopes. If the location of the pool is shaded half of the time during the day, solar collectors surface can be increased by 25 percent.

The idea in pool solar heating systems is the more water passes through the collectors, the more warm water is sent back to the pool. Ideally, water flow rate should be 0.10 gallons per minute per square foot. For instance, a 4x12 foot solar panel can deliver about 4.8 to 4 gallons of warm water per minute.

A solar pool heater is a cost-effective alternative to swimming pool heaters powered by conventional energy. Extending the summer is now possible using a pool solar heater.