Solar Pool Heater – A Viable Option?
Games Guy | September 16, 2011
Solar pool heating systems channel the sun’s energy to heat your pool. This of course has the major advantage of being free and at the same time very environmentally friendly.
It has other advantages too:
Can be installed by pool owner – Whilst solar pool heating can be installed professionally, solar heating kits are available that suit both above ground pools and in ground pools and are easy to install. As there is no gas or electrical work involved there is no need for these professionals. The main issue is the installation of the solar collectors as the location of these is critical to the effectiveness of the system. Ideally these will be installed on a roof or on a suitable framework, such that they face the sun.
Little maintenance – Once it is up and running a solar pool heater does not require much maintenance in comparison to gas pool heaters and pool heat pumps.
Long lasting – A solar pool heater should last many years and turn out to be a good investment. 15 year guarantees are available.
However there are a number of disadvantages to consider:
Needs large area for solar collectors – As a rough guide the area of the solar collectors will be similar to the surface area of the pool. Even if you have a small pool this means that the solar collectors will take up a significant amount of room. In addition the positioning of the solar collectors may be forced by your location and this may have a negative impact on your local environment.
Not as powerful as gas heater or heat pump – It has to be accepted that even in the best location the energy generated will not match that of a gas pool heater or heat pump. Solar heating will still work on overcast days but the output will not be as high as on a sunny day.
Effectiveness highly dependent on correct conditions – The effectiveness of a solar pool heating system will depend on average temperature for the location, wind factors, the angle and orientation of the collectors and the solar exposure. The solar panels need to be south facing, at the correct angle and not shaded at all, if output from the system is to be maximised.
Can be expensive – The cost of buying a solar pool heater system depends on the area of solar collectors you need. If you have a medium to large pool the cost is likely to be more than a gas based system. Having said this the low on-going costs will make up for this in time.
Whether a solar pool heater will work for you really depends on your location and how long you want your swimming season to be. If you can locate the solar collectors to get best results and are not looking to extend your season into the colder months then a solar pool heater is well worth considering.