Solar Pool Heating

If you’re similar to most pool owners today, you spend more time maintaining your pool than enjoying it. You spend money maintaining your pool year round but only get to enjoy it during the hottest months of the year. With solar pool heating you can now afford to keep your pool heated, in some cases doubling or tripling the length of your swimming season.

How Solar Pool Heating Works

To heat outdoor pools, the water is circulated through a black plastic unglazed collector. The system ties into the existing filter and pool pump. We design the system to extend the swimming season from May through September. The collectors can be mounted on the roof or on a ground mount as long as they get 4 to 6 hours of sunlight per day.

Solar vs. Other Heating Systems

A solar pool heating system is the only heater that eliminates expensive pool heating utility bills. Natural gas and propane heaters are less expensive to install initially but have a significantly higher operating cost. Oil heaters and electric heat pumps cost about the same upfront as solar.

Solar Pool Heating Case Study

System heats 1800 sq/ft pool at campgrounds.

Location: Woodstock, CT
Install date: March 2009
Systems Specs: Roof mounted design

What was Installed:

26 4’ x 12’ Solar Pool Collectors
26 Panel Packs
3 System Packs
160’ 2” PVC Pipe
160’ 2” Flexible PVC Pipe
Balance of system components

Savings:

This organization saved $14,000 on heating costs in its first full year using solar pool heating.

Frequently Asked Questions

Still have questions that you need answered? Here are some of our most frequently asked questions. If you need additional information, please get in touch with us!

Why should I heat my pool?

You probably bought your pool for many reasons like family fun, entertaining friends, exercise, or perhaps even for therapeutic reasons. You spent a lot of time making the decision to invest in a quality pool, furniture, fencing and accompanying items that go along with a pool. But if your pool is frequently too cold to swim in comfortably, you are not realizing the full benefit of your significant investment. Solar pool heating can effectively double the length of your pool season.

How much will my solar heater cost to operate?

Since the sun energy is free, there are no operating costs to heat your pool.

What size system will I need for my pool?

There are many factors which affect this answer. These include: the size of the pool, how long you want to extend your comfortable swimming season, the wind on the pool, the average relative humidity in your area, and the tilt and orientation of the solar collectors. The solar installer will use this to design the proper solar collection system for your pool.

Do the panels have to face south?

Not necessarily. The solar collectors should be installed where they can be in the sun a portion of the day. Depending on the angle of the mounting surface east and west facing systems can function equally as well.

How long will the system last?

Solar pool heating collectors will last for 25+ years.

How much does it cost?

The total cost of the system, will vary based on the size of the pool and difficulty of installation. The payback period is the shortest of all solar investments. If you are currently heating your pool with gas or electric heat pump, your payback can be as little as 2 to 4 years.

Can my existing pool heating equipment be used with a solar pool system?

Solar pool heating systems are usually designed to serve as the only heater you need for your pool. However, some customers choose to use the solar pool system in conjunction with their existing pool heater. The solar pool system will act as the primary source of heat and the existing heater as back up, if needed.