Solar pool heat?

[lucigo]

I don't want summer to end! Does anyone heat their pool with solar panels? How long does it extend your swimming season? Tell me about cost, etc. also. Thanks!

 

[semo233]

I would love to know about this too! I have found that the cheapest way to keep the pool warm in late August (where we have hot days, but nights down in or below 50) is with our solar blanket. It is like a huge sheet of bubble wrap. We have a 25,000 gallon 42x26 pool that is freeform. We bought two of the largest solar blankets for less than $300. Because our pool is free form, we cut them to fit just inside the pool edge and sit on top of the water. This prevents evaporation and heat loss. If we don't use the pool a day or two, it really helps to heat up the water.
We have a heater, but the electric bill is scary!!!

 

[lucigo]

We have a solar blanket too, and yet it really does a great job of keeping the heat in overnight. I have seen solar panels on the internet that don't look to be too expensive, I just wonder if they work, and since the water filters through them, can you use them with a salt water pool. Maybe I just need to move further south LOL

 

[lucky1]

We have solar heat for our pool in Arizona (not panels, but tubing on the roof) and a solar blanket It extends our season by about 4 months. Before our swimming season would start in May and End in September, because even temp would drop by 30 to 40 degrees from daytime temps. Now with the Solar, we start swimming in March and then through Oct or early November.

The cost 4 years ago was about $3400... We did get some state tax credits at the time.

 

[Seahunt]

I previously posted this about our pool solar system. The panels lay flat on the roof:

A) Using your existing pool pump, pool water is directed through a series of valves to your solar collectors.

B) Pool water enters the solar collectors at the bottom and rises to the top through the individual tubes of the collector.

C) As the water rises through the collector it is heated by the sun's radiant energy.

The swimming pool water is then returned to your pool to repeat the cycle until your pool is warm.

We're in FL too, and I think anything solar works great down here. DH likes the pool H-O-T, which is fine in the spring and fall but I like it to feel a little more refreshing in the heat of summer, so we are always fighting over the temp.

We have a spa that spills over into the pool and you can turn the solar valve to recirculate just the spa and the solar will heat it up to 104 in about 10 mins in summer. But it doesn't get used too much in summer because when it's a heat index of 110 outside with heat and humidity, the spa isn't really too inviting.

I think it cost about $3900 to get the complete system installed (FPL also had a rebate, but can't remember what it was). We do have a salt system pool and no trouble so far, knock on wood.

I'd say it's probably one of the best home improvements we've made because we can use the pool so much more.

 

[lucigo]

We have solar heat for our pool in Arizona (not panels, but tubing on the roof) and a solar blanket It extends our season by about 4 months. Before our swimming season would start in May and End in September, because even temp would drop by 30 to 40 degrees from daytime temps. Now with the Solar, we start swimming in March and then through Oct or early November.

The cost 4 years ago was about $3400... We did get some state tax credits at the time.

I previously posted this about our pool solar system. The panels lay flat on the roof:



We're in FL too, and I think anything solar works great down here. DH likes the pool H-O-T, which is fine in the spring and fall but I like it to feel a little more refreshing in the heat of summer, so we are always fighting over the temp.

We have a spa that spills over into the pool and you can turn the solar valve to recirculate just the spa and the solar will heat it up to 104 in about 10 mins in summer. But it doesn't get used too much in summer because when it's a heat index of 110 outside with heat and humidity, the spa isn't really too inviting.

I think it cost about $3900 to get the complete system installed (FPL also had a rebate, but can't remember what it was). We do have a salt system pool and no trouble so far, knock on wood.

I'd say it's probably one of the best home improvements we've made because we can use the pool so much more.

Thanks for your replies, going to look more into this, your info really helps!

 

[klamb19]

I live in CT and we started using solar panels we got from a catalog company. We had to buy 2 panels for our 15x30 oval pool. Currently it has kept out pool in the high 70's for the current weather. We also keep a solar cover on it. We had a very rainy cool summer and I'm not sure we would have been able to swim before mid August without the panels. We spent about $300 on the system. PM me if you want more info.

 

[a1tinkfans]

I previously posted this about our pool solar system. The panels lay flat on the roof:



We're in FL too, and I think anything solar works great down here. DH likes the pool H-O-T, which is fine in the spring and fall but I like it to feel a little more refreshing in the heat of summer, so we are always fighting over the temp.

We have a spa that spills over into the pool and you can turn the solar valve to recirculate just the spa and the solar will heat it up to 104 in about 10 mins in summer. But it doesn't get used too much in summer because when it's a heat index of 110 outside with heat and humidity, the spa isn't really too inviting.

I think it cost about $3900 to get the complete system installed (FPL also had a rebate, but can't remember what it was). We do have a salt system pool and no trouble so far, knock on wood.

I'd say it's probably one of the best home improvements we've made because we can use the pool so much more.

I am in the NE and we have this system for a 18 by 33 above ground with two returns (for pool size)
It helps to keep it warmer BUT it does not extend our swimming season. We just closed our pool past weekend as we honestly used pool maybe a handful of times this season. Unfortunately we had tons of rain this summer, which lowers the pool temp along with neighbors with 90' oaks which really crowd our property (my trees (the tall ones) are down...anyhoo, we did not want to deal with propane and the solar with the solar blanket does help with an increase in temp, we have figured about 4 degrees.
Personally we are ready for a hotub the pool is work and not used enough......

 

[A Mickeyfan]

I previously posted this about our pool solar system. The panels lay flat on the roof:



We're in FL too, and I think anything solar works great down here. DH likes the pool H-O-T, which is fine in the spring and fall but I like it to feel a little more refreshing in the heat of summer, so we are always fighting over the temp.

We have a spa that spills over into the pool and you can turn the solar valve to recirculate just the spa and the solar will heat it up to 104 in about 10 mins in summer. But it doesn't get used too much in summer because when it's a heat index of 110 outside with heat and humidity, the spa isn't really too inviting.

I think it cost about $3900 to get the complete system installed (FPL also had a rebate, but can't remember what it was). We do have a salt system pool and no trouble so far, knock on wood.

I'd say it's probably one of the best home improvements we've made because we can use the pool so much more.

These are the ones I have. I live in SW Fl and only use these. I don't have a pool cover. I did but after going thru 4 of them in 16 years, I just never bothered to replace it the last time it fell apart. My solar ran me $2100 in 2003. I know the cost depends on how many panels you need & that depends on the size of your pool. After Charley hit, I want to say the insurance company had to lay out around $4500 or $4700 (can't remember) to replace them for me. I do not have a salt system, but a regular chlorine system.

Solar works great for me, but then again, I am way south.. on the Gulf side of Fl... our average winter temps are usually in the 70's.. I can use my pool year round.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

We do--they cost as much to install as electric heat (around here anyway). We paid $3000 in 2004. We were on the borderline for needing one extra panel and didn't get it. We finally got it 2 years ago and it is a world of difference. ETA: I have heard current prices are around $5000 if not more. My father law just did his DIY--except it isn't on his roof but in a spot that gets sun in his yard. He spent maybe $500 to $700 to do this. Pretty clever and actually a set up comparble to ours except that with it being in the yard.

We live in Florida and we can swim until early December. But typically January and February are off limits. Air is too cold and the solar panels are pretty much not doing much due to the short days and angle of the sun.

We do put a pool blanket in the beginning of October until about April. This helps the pool to retain the heat the panels are providing.

But in winter the pool temp drops to the high 60s. When the days begin to lengthen again-that helps and we swim when pool temp hits 80 again which is sometime in March.

Without the pool blanket, we are out of the pool from late October until April.

 

[WeLuvDiznee]

Central Floridian here, we have solar panels on our roof.It was well worth it. We can swim almost all year long.

 

[lucigo]

We do--they cost as much to install as electric heat (around here anyway). We paid $3000 in 2004. We were on the borderline for needing one extra panel and didn't get it. We finally got it 2 years ago and it is a world of difference. ETA: I have heard current prices are around $5000 if not more. My father law just did his DIY--except it isn't on his roof but in a spot that gets sun in his yard. He spent maybe $500 to $700 to do this. Pretty clever and actually a set up comparble to ours except that with it being in the yard.

We live in Florida and we can swim until early December. But typically January and February are off limits. Air is too cold and the solar panels are pretty much not doing much due to the short days and angle of the sun.

We do put a pool blanket in the beginning of October until about April. This helps the pool to retain the heat the panels are providing.

But in winter the pool temp drops to the high 60s. When the days begin to lengthen again-that helps and we swim when pool temp hits 80 again which is sometime in March.

Without the pool blanket, we are out of the pool from late October until April.

Central Floridian here, we have solar panels on our roof.It was well worth it. We can swim almost all year long.

Thanks to you both for your replies. Talked with DH about it, I think we are going to wait and see if we end up moving before making the investment. I would like to move closer to the mouse (and more cruise ports) after we get all the kids situated in college in a couple of years. He has this idea about coiling black hose up on the trampoline next to the pool where it can "warm" and then filter back into the pool....Sounds pretty redneck to me! LOL