Pool Solar Panels
Nothing is nicer then jumping into a pool where the water is warm and comfortable. Traditionally, heating your pool has been an expensive proposition.
But with pool solar panels, you can use the freely available heating power of the sun to warm your pool. And I’ve read that they are comparable replacements for both gas and heat pump pool heating systems.
How Do Pool Solar Panels Work?
When looking at pool solar panels, they are part of a pool heating system that also consists of the following components:
- A pumping unit – this will pump water from your pool to the pool solar panels.
- Filter – This will remove any debris that could clog your solar panels.
- Flow control valve – this would regulate the amount of water automatically to the solar panels to regulate the temperature of the water in the pool.
Pool water is pumped to the pool solar panels which would warm the water of the pool within the pool solar panels.
Before the water hits the pump, you’ll normally place your filter there to stop any clogging in the system. Most filters are relatively simple, using a container that collects light and heavy materials in the water and finally, a screen to stop everything else in between.
Pool solar panels are made out of different materials. What type you use will really depend upon your outside temperature.
If you are using your pool in temperatures above water’s freezing point, you can probably operate panels that are unglazed collection systems.
Unglazed collection systems do not include a covering of glass (the glazing). The tubing within the unit is normally made of heavy duty plastic or rubber treated to protect against ultraviolet rays that would normally break down the pipe material.
Unglazed systems are normally much cheaper to purchase commercially, which makes them popular.
If you are swimming in temperatures below freezing, you’ll be looking at glazed pool solar panels. This is required to trap heat around the pipes within the units.
a glazed system are much more effective … can provide you the ability to supply your domestic hot water needs all year round
A nice bonus to a glazed system is they are much more effective then their unglazed cousins. This extra efficiency can provide you the ability to supply your domestic hot water needs all year round.
Commercially, a full system could set you back by as much as $4,000. The payback on this system could be around seven year, so, that’s not a bad system to consider.
I could see a savings of $360 per year.
If you are able to augment your domestic hot water with this system, your return on investment could be much, much faster. If I look at my hot water costs, of about $60 per month, even if I could cut my bills in half, I could see a savings of $360 per year.
No matter how you look at this, if you own a pool, you should consider pool solar panels to heat your pool to give you a wonderfully warm pool to swim in and also permit you a longer season of swimming if you live in areas that experience cooler winters.
