Solar Pool Heating
Today, more solar energy is used for heating swimming pools than for any other single use. Over one million pools are heated by solar energy in the United States alone with 40,000 new systems being installed every year by pool owners.
A solar pool heating system is a reliable, low-to-no maintenance heating solution that reduces or eliminates heating costs and increases your swimming season. You will be happy when your pool is the warmest in the neighborhood and is being heated by an environmentally friendly source, the sun! Solar pool heating systems will save you lots of money, and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
Pool heating is a very good solar application. The systems are simple and relatively inexpensive. Pool systems usually use simple, low cost, unglazed plastic collectors. The pool itself is the thermal storage for the system, and the pump you already use for filtering pool water will also circulate water through the solar collectors. All of this leads to inexpensive systems — some of the simplest solar pool heating systems cost as little as $100.
Solar heating of swimming pools is one of the most economically practical uses of solar energy. A solar system allows you to extend your swimming season, gives you more control over water temperatures and for many installations there is no increase in operating costs.
The most practical and economic step in extending you swimming season is the use of a pool cover. As much as 70% of all the heat gained by a pool is lost through evaporation and when you include losses from radiation and convection the idea of heating a pool without a cover can be compared to heating a home with all the doors and windows open. Although applying and removing a cover can be inconvenient, the cover not only helps extend your swimming season it also keeps the pool cleaner and reduces chemical use.
The plumbing of the solar system is plumbed into the existing filter system. During the day while the filter is operating the water is sent through the collectors before returning to the pool. An automatic system adds a controller and sensors to operate a valve sending the water directly back to the pool or through the collectors to be heated.
In a more basic system the homeowner sets the valve manually to run through the collectors while a timer turns the filter system on during those hours the collectors will receive direct sunshine. There are a number of factors to consider in sizing the collector area and the first is the actual pool surface area. Starting with a minimum area equal to 50% of the pools square footage system design is further affected by collector orientation, wind conditions, shading of the pool, local climate and length of swimming season desired.
