| Solar power is a rapidly evolving technology and | | | | Options to consider: |
| you can harness its latest advancements for | | | | A Booster Pump - Pumping the water to and |
| heating your pool. Solar pool heating is cheap, | | | | from the solar collector on the roof can take a lot |
| reliable and cost effective in any setting. If you're | | | | of work. How much work depends on the |
| interested in just how the energy gets from the | | | | distance between the filtration system and the |
| warmth of the sun to the warmth of your pool, | | | | solar collector. If the collector is some distance for |
| here's a rundown of the process. | | | | the roof in question, you will probably need an |
| Pool Solar Heating - What is it and how does it | | | | additional pump (e.g. 0.5 to 0.75hp). This pump |
| work | | | | operates concurrently with the main pool pump, |
| Solar heating recirculates your pool water through | | | | taking the strain off your filtration system. |
| a system of mats or panels on a roof. Each panel | | | | Automatic Controller - Automatic controllers |
| normally consists of smaller fine tubes which heat | | | | decide when and when not to run the solar pool |
| the water as it passes through. Despite claims, | | | | heater system. One basic function is that of a |
| performance is normally less a factor of brand | | | | thermostat, stopping the system when your |
| than a factor of system set-up. The performance | | | | desired temperature is reached. A more |
| of a system depends on the amount of tubing on | | | | important function is that of deciding when to run |
| the roof, how well it faces the sun (orientation) | | | | the system. |
| and the general weather conditions (including hours | | | | For example: |
| of sunlight and wind). | | | | Let's say your pool's water temperature is 21 |
| Most systems work by "cutting into" the plumbing | | | | degrees, while your target temperature is 23 |
| near the filtration system and diverting the | | | | degrees. While you might be inclined to keep |
| recirculating pool water to a roof solar collector. | | | | running the system, it might be advisable to stop |
| The water is heated by passing through the solar | | | | the system running further. |
| collector, then directed back from the roof to the | | | | The classic example would be a sunny morning |
| plumbing near the filter. The piping used to and | | | | followed by a cloudy afternoon. While running the |
| from the roof from your filter is normally PVC | | | | system in the morning makes sense, continuing to |
| plumbing pipes and fitting (i.e. the same type as | | | | run during the afternoon may actually chill the |
| your filtration system uses). The plumbing will also | | | | water as it passes through the collector (robbing |
| need a few "gate valves" (or taps) to control | | | | you of valuable pool water heat). |
| diversion of water-flow from the normal path to | | | | Finally - Cover Your Pool |
| the solar collector instead. | | | | Remember- While your solar heating system |
| How much solar collector space do I require on | | | | sends heat to the pool, the pool is also losing heat. |
| the roof? | | | | Most heat loss occurs as simple evaporation at |
| To effectively heat with solar, the general rule of | | | | the pool surface. This can have a dramatic chilling |
| thumb is that you require a solar collector that is | | | | effect on the pool water. For your pool |
| equivalent to between 75% and 100% of the | | | | temperature to rise, you must add heat to the |
| water surface area. For example, if the pool is | | | | pool faster than it is being lost. |
| 8m by 4m, the surface area is 8 x 4 = 32 | | | | One way to improve the heating capability of |
| square meters. A "75% system" would require 24 | | | | your system is to have a larger collector. A |
| square meters of roof collector. A more powerful | | | | smarter and more economical way to achieve the |
| and effective "100%" system would require 32 | | | | same goal is to use a pool cover to reduce the |
| square meters of roof collector. | | | | rate of heat loss. |
| For best performance, your roof and solar | | | | Example: |
| heating panels should face north. A north facing | | | | A covered pool with a 75% collector area may |
| roof gets sun all day. If you have to use an east | | | | outperform a 100% sized collector where the |
| or west facing roof, don't be too concerned as | | | | pool is uncovered. Basically, adding a pool cover is |
| this can still work quite well. You might however | | | | like "turbo charging" your solar heater's |
| add an extra panel or two to make up for the | | | | performance. |
| slight performance loss. | | | | |