Heat your Pool For Free – Use Solar Panels!

With increasing Fuel costs, many people are looking for alternatives to maintaining a warm and comfortable pool. One alternative which has become quite popular is the swimming pool solar heater. There are numerous variations of a solar heater all trying to achieve the same purpose – increasing the pool water’s surface area exposed to the sun, thereby allowing a greater volume of water to be heated simultaneously.

How a Solar Pool Heater Works?

The surface of pool water can be “expanded” by the use of solar panels. The solar panels absorb heat energy from the sun, which is then transferred to the water. The amount of energy absorbed, is related to the size of the solar panels and their orientation to the sun.

Solar Pool Heater Installation & Operation

Solar energy should be added to the water prior to any other type of heating system. The heat gain from the solar heating system can then be augmented if necessary by a supplemental system. The solar system has sensors that detect the amount of heat on the panels. These sensors control motorized valves that allow the water to enter the panels if sufficient heat energy is available for transfer. Otherwise, the water bypasses the panels and is heated strictly by the auxiliary system.

Thermostats and time clocks are used for the control of solar panels. With a well designed and operated system, it is possible to add too much heat to the water, although this is quite rare in Canada. Most people always supply their pool with heat. In the case that a smaller gas powered heater is used, a solar power pool heater will assist to increase benchmark thereby decreasing the operating time required by the gas pool heater.