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Solar pool heater

A solar pool heater uses the energy from sunlight to heat the water, allowing the pool to be used for more months of the year than it normally would. The two main types are pool covers and solar collectors. Pool covers are plastic sheets that cover the water surface and help retain heat absorbed by the water. Solar collectors pump pool water through long lengths of pipe and back into the pool, absorbing heat from the pipes along the way. Pool covers are cheaper and easier to install than solar collectors but they are not nearly as effective at heating the water.

Pool covers come in large sheets that cover the entire surface, and smaller circular sheets called solar rings. They are inexpensive and low maintenance, but need to be removed and replaced each time the pool is used. The full covers provide the best results but add less than five degrees to the water temperature, and they require considerable effort to move. Another disadvantage is that once the cover is removed, the water temperature starts to fall. They are most suited to pools that do not require much heating, and provide the additional benefit of keeping leaves and other debris out of the pool, reducing the time spent cleaning it. For pools that require slightly more heating than a solar cover can provide, a solar collector is the better option.

The most common type of solar pool heater is the active solar collector. They are similar to the passive collectors used for domestic hot water, but have a larger collector area and no storage tank. Instead, pool water is taken from the suction line and pumped through the collector pipes, before returning to the pool. The collector pipes are usually made of black plastic to absorb the sunlight better. They are connected to larger manifold pipes that carry the water between the collector and the pool filter system. Large flexible panels containing several collector pipes can be used on flat roofs to reduce installation time, and the collectors are attached by clips or glued to the roof. A valve and pump are attached between the pool suction line and the inlet manifold pipe. When the controller detects a temperature difference between the pool and collector, it opens the valve and starts the pump. Some systems also open a vacuum value after the pump stops to allow the water to drain back into the pool.
 
Solar collectors can increase the temperature of pool water by up to ten degrees, or fifteen degrees if a pool cover is used. They cost several thousand dollars to install and require a large section of roofing or a large ground support to hold the collector. They do not require any penetration of the roof, and this reduces any risk of damage from flooding should the manifold pipes leak. Small leaks from the many collector pipes are common but only result in a trickle of water, and they can be easily patched. Installing a solar collector usually takes less than a day, but may require approval from local authorities before work can start.

Installing a solar pool heater can increase pool usage by a few months in colder climates, and allow it to be used all year round in milder climates. They are low maintenance and often last for twenty years or more, and their running cost can be reduced to zero if a solar panel is used to power the pump and controllers. While the initial cost may be high, particularly for solar collectors, they quickly pay for themselves when compared against other types of pool heating.

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