Solar heater for swimming pools
Posted by Solar energy guru | Filed under Solar thermal solutions
Swimming pool heaters used to be a luxury, while the majority of pool owners drained the pool and threw on the tarp as is became too cool to go swimming anymore. Now, thanks to solar power technology, families can have heated pools year-round without the extraneous electricity bills … and they’re helping the environment, too. Not only are solar heaters for swimming fools cost effective, they are natural and fiercely efficient.
Once you purchase the kit, the installation is very straightforward, although it will take some time to mount, especially if you have more than one panel. However, the pleasure you will receive from having year-round pool heating without a single dim added to your electricity bill will be well worth the investment.
Solar heaters for swimming pools work with your pool pump to circulate the pool’s water. A sensor activated by the sun regulates the temperature of the pool. The solar connectors can either be mounted on a ground rack or roof, and the warmth flows through passageways. A valve shuts off the process when the pool water gets too warm.
While this may sound too sci-fi to you and you may be considering propane, note that while natural gas heaters don’t require much of an initial investment, the cost of gas over time can become very costly. Alternatively, solar pool heaters not only are easy to install, they require little maintenance. Better yet, the fuel source is absolutely free and limitless because it is coming from the sun. Add to that the environmental benefits and the fact that energy will increasingly be in short supply, then it becomes a no-brainer to purchase and install the device if you can do so.
In a one scenario, one may purchase a set of solar panels that increase your water temperature up to 10 degrees each. The most solar panels produce more than 40,000 BTUs daily. The solar system is configured with your pre-existing swimming pool pump, in an installation that is as easy and can be as quick as 30 minutes. Most of these carry a warranty for as many as 10 years.
Solar pool heater users have saved thousands by installing the devices themselves, with as little maintenance as tightening a hose here and there. Some who live in climates that get cold at night have expressed the need for some sort of thermal blanket for the panels.
Here are a few of the most popular models of solar pool heaters:
- One of the leading brands in solar heating for swimming pools is Ecosun, which offers a hybrid solar pool heating collector that can be used for both in-ground and above ground swimming pools. With the help of such models, swimming doesn’t just have to be for summer anymore. Ecosun’s hybrid system enhances a pre-existing pool heating system. The original power source is actually used as back-up in this scenario, but they are working in tandem to provide warm water year-round. Even better, warm water year-round adds value to both your home and swimming pool.
- The AquaQuik Above Ground Solar Heater is completely electivity free and can heat up your pool by 5 degrees in two days. It is used for above ground pools and is configured with a pre-existing pump. The device is very small and compact, but one system can yield 15,000 gallons of heated water. You can add on additional heaters for larger pools.
The Sungrabber, for above-ground pools, are long lasting and incredible efficient. They can raise the pool’s temperature by 10 degrees and are mounted on a rack, roof or on the ground.
