What are Solar Pool Heaters?

Just like heating your home with solar will save you money, heating your pool with solar will do the same. In this blog, we’ll take an in-depth look at how a solar pool heater will benefit your pool and save you money. We’ll also look at how you can make the switch to solar pool heat.

Defining a solar pool heater.

First thing’s first, let’s define what a solar pool heater actually is. A solar pool heater is a heater that uses thermal energy from the sun, as opposed to energy provided from traditional energy, in order to keep your pool warm. Solar energy collectors are mounted on your roof or gazebo in order to collect this energy, just like photovoltaic (PV) panels you’d place on your roof to power your home. Instead of collecting energy from the sun’s rays, these panels absorb heat in their tubes, and the pool water circulates through these tubes in order to get heated up. They also have heat detectors that detect the heat of the water that flows out of the tubes and into your pool in order to ensure the water going into your pool remains at the desired temperature. If the water is too hot, the panel will not allow additional hot water to enter your pool.

Not only will going solar be a huge benefit to the environment, but it will also be a huge benefit to your wallet. Instead of having to buy fuel to heat your pool, you’ll have free energy from the sun, which will save you a ton of money during the summer. And if you have a jacuzzi, it will also save you a ton of money during the winter.

How much it costs to install a solar pool heater.

Solar pool heaters generally cost between $3000 to $4000. This might sound like a lot just to heat your pool, but when you consider how much you spend on fuel each year, you’ll actually be saving a ton of money. Every time you consider going solar in any capacity, you’ll have to consider the long-term more than the short-term. You’ll most likely start seeing your return on investment in less than seven years, after which you will start saving more money than you spent. If your system is installed properly with quality equipment, it can last up to 20 years, meaning you’ll be saving money for about 13 years of the system’s lifespan.

Installing the correct number of solar collectors to heat your pool.

In order to properly install your solar pool heater, you’ll, of course, need to figure out exactly how many solar collectors you’ll need to heat your pool. This will depend on multiple variables, such as how large your pool is, how hot you want it to get, and how much sun you’ll be able to collect (which will depend on factors like your location, the tilt of your collectors, the shade around the area you want to install them, etc.).

You should figure out the surface area of your pool to figure out a general jumping off point for how many collectors you’ll need. Your solar collectors should have a surface area the same as 50-100% of the surface area of your pool. For example, if you have a 10 x 20 feet pool, (200 square feet total) then your solar collector surface area should be between 100 and 200 square feet.

Your solar installer will be able to figure out exactly how big your system needs to be, as well as where best to place it.

Want to learn more about solar technologies and designing your perfect solar system? Check out the HahaSmart blog!

HahaSmart Blog - More Solar Tips and Guide
HahaSmart News - Stay Informed
Your Solar Incentives - See Credits and Incentives in Your Area
Check Your Home's Solar Price - See How Much You Save
Register Now - Unlock The Lowest Solar Prices in Your Area