Most pool owners want to enjoy their pool for more time than normal, especially during spring and autumn seasons. But the use of gas or electricity for heating will become too expensive soon enough. And when it comes to heating your pool by using solar panels, it surely becomes a good option.
SolarTubs helps homeowners in setting up systems that can give them hot water without having to pay huge amounts on utilities each month. While other heaters use fuel, solar heaters are powered by natural energy provided by the sun.
We will show you in this guide what you need to know about how these devices work, the cost involved, and what you need to consider before installation.
How Do Solar Pool Heaters Work?
In order for your solar panels to warm your pool, your existing pool pump will pump water through your filter and into the solar panels that have been installed either on your roof or on the ground frame. The water inside the solar panels is warmed by the energy from the sun and then returned to your swimming pool.
What is a Solar Pool Heating System?
Solar pool heaters are plumbing systems designed to utilize the energy from the sun to heat the pool. The process does not use the same method as photovoltaic solar cells because pools use solar collectors, which are black colored plastic pipes used to heat up the passing water.
Core Components
There are always four primary parts involved in every standard system:
- Solar Collectors: These are the collectors that take in the energy from the sun.
- Pool Pump: The water circulation pump (your existing pool pump).
- Filter: Used for filtering out all impurities before water enters the small pipes of solar panels.
- Flow Control Valve: This is the diverting valve that diverts water into the solar panels whenever there is sufficient sunlight.
Step-by-Step: How the System Works
Knowledge of the path that the water takes through the entire system can come in handy when you are installing the setup. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, a good setup requires the following process:
- Circulation: The swimming pool pump pulls cold water from the pool.
- Filtration: The water then goes through the swimming pool filter to get rid of the dirt and leaves.
- Diversion: The bypass valve diverts the clean water to the solar collectors.
- Heating: The water gets heated by entering the solar panels from the bottom and gradually moving through the black tubes.
- Return: The hot water returns to the pool through the return jets after moving out from the top of the solar collectors.
Benefits of Using Solar
Many times, we hear from our clients that they are tired of paying several hundred dollars per month for the operation of gas heaters. There are several benefits to using solar energy.
Zero Monthly Operating Costs
After the installation of the equipment, the heat becomes free. The only electrical energy required is the one you use to operate the existing pool pump.
Extended Swimming Season
If you choose the right size of the system and take into account the climate of your area, then you get additional weeks or months at the beginning and at the end of the swimming season. For example, in Florida or Arizona, you can swim all year round.
Environmental Impact
There is no emission of greenhouse gases when using solar energy. You do not burn any fossil fuel.
Limitations and Tradeoffs
We strive to be upfront about the capabilities of solar energy. It’s very efficient, yet not magical, which means that the limitations should be known first before purchasing a system.
- Dependence on weather conditions: If it rains for three days straight, the pool will not be heated.
- Lower rate of warming: The gas system is capable of increasing the temperature of the pool by 1-2 degrees an hour, while the solar one requires several days.
- Need for space: The system requires a lot of open space, either on a roof or a lawn.
Solar vs. Gas vs. Heat Pump
How does solar compare to traditional heating methods? Here is a breakdown of the three primary options.
| Feature | Solar Pool Heater | Gas Heater | Electric Heat Pump |
| Upfront Cost | $2,500 – $7,000 | $1,500 – $3,500 | $2,500 – $5,000 |
| Operating Cost | $0 per month | $200 – $500+ per month | $50 – $150 per month |
| Heating Speed | Slow (Days) | Very Fast (Hours) | Moderate (Days) |
| Lifespan | 15 – 20 years | 5 – 10 years | 10 – 15 years |
| Best For | Extending the season affordably | Quick heating on demand | Humid, warm climates |
Sizing Your System
Determining the right number of panels is the first thing to do. Otherwise, you won’t get the water warm enough. It is advised that the area of the solar collector is from 50% to 100% of the swimming pool surface area.
Factors Influencing Sizing
- Climate: For the Sunbelt areas, one needs to aim for about 50%, whereas in the northern climates, one needs to aim higher, from 80% to 100%.
- Shade: If your roof has shade due to trees, you will require extra panels to make up for the loss of sun energy.
- Target Temperature: Would you like to have the water heated up to 85°F rather than 78°F? You will have to go for a bigger kit.
Roof Mount vs. Ground Mount
You have two main options for placing your solar collectors.
| Mounting Type | Pros | Cons |
| Roof Mount | Saves yard space; gets excellent sun exposure; out of sight. | Requires roof penetrations; harder to access for maintenance. |
| Ground Mount | Easy to clean and inspect; no roof drilling required. | Takes up yard space; requires building a custom rack. |
Most of our customers choose roof mounting. However, if your roof faces north or is heavily shaded, a custom ground rack facing south is the better option.
How Much Does It Cost to Heat Your Pool with Solar Panels?
The total price for your system will largely depend on whether you use a pro installer or install the system yourself.
Professional Installation
Generally, the price for employing a local pool heating specialist will be somewhere between $4,000 and $7,000. A large part of this price is labor costs, with two-story roof installations being particularly labor-intensive.
DIY Installation
For those who feel confident with basic hand tools and plumbing materials, like PVC, installation is easy. An average DIY solar pool heater package can cost anywhere from $ 1,500 to $ 3,000, depending on the size of your pool.
Considering the money saved by not using gas or electricity, most systems will pay for themselves within two or three years.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
There are some mistakes that keep recurring over the many years of our experience serving customers. You should avoid them in order to get maximum benefit from your system.
- Forgetting the Solar Blanket: Heating your swimming pool during the day while leaving it open at night is equivalent to heating your house using the furnace while having your windows wide open. Using the solar blanket helps you retain about 75% of the heat generated during the daytime.
- Facing Panels the Wrong Way: For solar panels in the Northern hemisphere, the south direction is preferred. Next after south is west. It is advisable not to install your panels facing north since they don’t get much sun.
- Using an Undersized Pump: Moving water upwards from a one-story building to a two-story roof needs more power than usual. This means you will need to replace your old pump with a more powerful one.
Key Takeaway
Solar panel installation for pool heating not only adds value to your property but also improves your quality of life. Despite the higher cost involved in comparison to a regular gas heater, the benefits are obvious. Through the use of energy provided by the sun, you will have the pleasure of warm water without worrying about monthly bills.
Bear in mind that the success of a pool heater setup depends on its adequate size, appropriate orientation to the south, and the application of a solar pool cover at night.
Are you tired of spending money on expensive pool heating? We are here to assist you. Call us or check out our solar pool heaters now.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you heat your pool with solar panels in the winter?
It depends on your location. If the region is a tropical or a desert environment with cold winters, solar panels can contribute to keeping the swimming pool usable throughout the year. When the area experiences freezing weather and snowfall, it is necessary to drain the system before winter sets in.
Do solar pool heaters work on cloudy days?
Indeed, but with reduced production levels. Even with slight cloudiness, the solar panels will continue to collect heat from the environment and diffuse ultraviolet rays, although in heavy rainfall and dense clouds, the system will not generate any heat.
How long does it take solar panels to heat a pool?
The properly sized system will raise the water temperature in the pool by about 3-5 degrees on every sunny day, and a few sunny days at the beginning of the season are required to achieve the desired temperature.
Do I need a special pump for a solar pool heater?
In most cases, conventional pool pumps (of 1 HP capacity or above) have sufficient power to move water through solar panels even on one-story roofs. For situations where you will be handling two stories or longer pipes, it is highly advisable that you consider a variable speed pump.
Can I leave my solar pool panels on the roof year-round?
Absolutely. Good quality solar panels are constructed in such a way that they can withstand any type of wind, ultraviolet radiation, and weather conditions. It is only important to drain water from the panels before the first freeze in winter.
