You can significantly reduce swimming pool heating costs by installing a solar pool heater. They're cost competitive with both gas and heat pump pool heaters, and they have very low annual operating costs. Actually, solar pool heating is one of the most cost-effective use of solar energy in some climates. How They Work You'll also want a properly sized pool pump for a solar system. If you're replacing a conventional pool heating system with a solar system, you may need a pump larger than your current one or a separate, smaller pump to move the pool's water to and through the collectors. Siting a Solar Swimming Pool Heater's Collector The BTU that you need will highly depend on your pool size. The larger it is the higher BTU your pool requires for your gas heater. Be aware though no pipes are supplied with the mats, there are some pump adaptors supplied for differing sizes of standard above ground pool pumps , but if you want to mount them remotely like i did you'll have to make up you're own adapters and of course buy some piping. Both glazed and unglazed collector systems must include freeze protection if they'll be used in colder conditions. Selecting a Solar Pool Heater

Swimming Pool Solar Matting - Jacksons Leisure Supplies

Therefore, they can be used year-round in many climates. Glazed collectors also can be used to heat domestic hot water year-round.

Cons

Some systems include sensors and an automatic or manual valve to divert water through the collector(s) when the collector temperature is sufficiently greater than the pool temperature. When the collector temperature is similar to the pool temperature, filtered water simply bypasses the collector(s) and is returned to the pool. When screening potential contractors for installation and/or maintenance, ask the following questions: The angle at which a collector should be tilted varies based on your latitude and the length of your swimming season (summer or year-round). Ideally, collectors for summer-only heating should be tilted at an angle equal to your latitude minus 10º–15º. Collectors for year-round heating should be tilted at an angle equal to your latitude. However, studies have shown that not having a collector tilted at the optimum angle will not significantly reduce system performance. Therefore, you can usually mount collectors flat on your roof, which might not be at the optimum angle but more aesthetically pleasing. You will, however, want to take roof angle into account when sizing your system. Determining the Efficiency of Solar Swimming Pool Heating System

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Ok so that's not hot tub temperatures but it really has made our pool more enjoyable than last year with out the mats.

Poolsolar can also be used to supplement other methods of pool heating

A solar collector's thermal performance rating is measured by Btu (British thermal unit) per square foot per day: Btu/(ft 2day) If you’re having a hard time choosing your Intex pool heater, then you might consider answering these questions first: Poolsolar will not be liable for conditions resulting, from significant deviation from Poolsolar installation instructions. For example, a 15-by-30-foot outdoor swimming pool in Florida typically requires a collector that equals 100% of the pool's square footage to accommodate year-round use. This equals 450 square feet of collectors. In northern California, most people use outdoor pools 6–8 months per year, so they typically size their systems at 60%–70% of the pool's surface area. The evacuated tube solar water heater is the most expensive option out of all the solar pool heaters; however, this type of heater performs very well. They are efficient even when there are differences in temperature (between the water and the air) and can even perform in cloudy climates. You would be able to heat your pool without any problems, as the evacuated tube can reach high temperatures.

Solar Mat for Above Ground Pools - INTEX

Shown below is the minimum and optimum number of rolls required. For above ground swimming pools we have reduced the amount of solar collectors by 20% to allow for heat absorption through the steel wall structure. Solar Heating for swimming pools has always been a good idea, free heat from the sun is always preferable to a large gas or electric bill, but just how good are the solar heating products available? High efficiency solar collectors not only will reduce your annual operating costs, but may also require fewer square feet of collector area to heat the pool. Comparing Solar Swimming Pool Heating System Costs Essentially, PoolSolar Solar Matting can be installed almost anywhere you want – directly on your lawn or on a roof (subject to height and pump size). If you’re installing PoolSolar Matting on a ground surface i.e. for small above ground or splasher type pools, then please be aware that PoolSolar isn’t designed to be walked on! Solar Matting Location Examples

A flow control valve -- automatic or manual device that diverts pool water through the solar collector. There are 2 options you can have with the solar matting, the first one is 'Box A' the second is 'Box B' Glazed collector systems are generally made of copper tubing on an aluminum plate with an iron-tempered glass covering, which increases their cost. In colder weather, glazed collector systems—with heat exchangers and transfer fluids—capture solar heat more efficiently than unglazed systems. I've not got around to covering them with clear plastic or even better glass which always makes solar collectors work better due to limiting losses due to wind and light rain showers.... I so impressed with these cheap mats I am going to make a clear cover for them on top of my garage where they can live out the summer. Don't choose a solar pool heating system or collector based solely on its estimated costs. When selecting a solar pool heater, it's also important to consider all of the factors involved in the system's sizing and quality of the design and installation. Building Codes and Covenants