Extend Your Pool Season with a Solar Swimming Pool Heater
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Using the sun to heat your swimming pool is one of the most practical and easily achievable applications of free solar energy. A solar water heating system allows you to extend your pool season and to top up the water temperature over night without having to worry about the heating costs. Swimming pool solar heating systems can heat a large amount of water each day, and are quite capable of keeping the pool temperature in the 80 – 85 degree range even in moderate sunshine.
Fitting a solar pool heater is also a good way of adding value to your property.
If you decide to buy and install a ready-made solar water heating system you could pay from $2,000 to $4,000 depending on the size of the collectors and the installation charges. But you could build your own swimming pool solar heater for an average-sized pool for less than $200, including materials and an extra recirculating pump.
Swimming pool solar heaters are plumbed in to your existing filter system. Throughout the day, while the filter is operating, the pool water is circulated through the solar collectors and returned to the pool. You can have a solar heater system which has no moving parts, such as a recirculating pump, but this will depend on the average sunshine levels locally.
The solar collectors are often mounted on a convenient roof to get the best exposure to direct sunshine. Ideally the collectors should face the sun at mid-day and be at an angle equivalent to your latitude minus 10 to 15 degrees.
The total area of the solar collectors will depend on various factors, but expect it to be atleast 50% of the pool size. This will increase to about 75% if the collector panels are laid flat or facing west. It is not unusual for the collector area to be the same as that of the pool when the site is shaded badly or exposed to strong winds. Because these solar collectors are space-hungry, it is often advisable to mount them on a frame on the ground or even a suitable wall or fence.
Factors affecting the installation of a solar pool heating system can include:
- Climate and sunlight availability.
- Building codes and safety issues.
- Size of the pool.
- Length of the swimming season.
- Required pool temperature.
- Collector efficiency.
You really need the help of an expert to design your swimming pool solar heating system when considering these factors, because only someone with professional experience will be able to put forward the best system for your particular circumstances.
You can build your own solar swimming pool heater system without any special skills or tools, and you will find it very easy to do. All materials are available from local hardware stores and garden shops. However, using the appropriate experts will make your job much easier and more fun.
We have researched and thoroughly recommend one group of professionals who have produced a simple set of plans and a comprehensive set of step-by-step instructions to guide you throughout the build in making your solar pool heaters.
For under $200, which includes all plans, instructions, materials and expert guidance, you can build a fully working and professional solar water heating system for your swimming pool – what a great idea!
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