Solar Pool Heaters
Solar pool heaters are an excellent use of solar energy. They cost as much, if not less than a gas heater, and require no fuel. They start to save you money from day one. They typically raise the temperature of a pool from five to ten degrees, and in Canada they can extend the pool-use season by more than two months when compared to unheated pools.
How They Work…
- The solar panels capture the heat from the sun.
- When the sun shines, a manual or automated diverter valve directs the pool water up through the panels, and back into the pool.
Main Components…
- Solar panel: a four by eight, ten, or twelve foot panel made of black plastic / polypropylene material
- Diverter valve: this valve sends pool water up into the panels during the day, and prevents flow to the panels at night. This can either be done manually twice a day, or automatically with an electronic control system.
- Pool pump: the same pump your pool currently has. No change in pump size is required.
The Details…
- Lifetime: The standard lifetime of a system is 20 to 25 years.
- Costs: The average 16 by 32 in ground pool requires six four foot by ten foot panels. These systems with manual controllers start at $2500, and electronic controlled systems start at $3000. Firm quotes are available: please see our Site Evaluation page.
- Service Requirement: The only service requirement is at the end of the swimming season in preparation for winter: we provide a free system winter shut down visit in the first year to show you how to do it. Annual service visits are available after that at a cost of $50 each.
- Rebates: Commercial systems are eligible for the REDI program which supplies up to 25% of the installed cost to a maximum of $80,000. Residential systems are eligible for an eight percent PST rebate.
- Installation Time: The typical residential system takes one to two days, with no interruption to your pool use.
- Warrantee: All of our systems carry a complete two year warrantee on labor. Equipment warrantees vary from supplier to supplier, but they are generally for ten years.
- Payment Terms: A 50% deposit is taken at the start of installation, with the balance due within 30 days.
Common Myths…
Pool pumps can't handle the extra load of solar panels.
False: Most pool pumps are greatly oversized to begin with. Solar collectors add approximately only a three to five PSI load to the system.
The panels will shorten the life of my roof.
False: In fact, just the opposite; it's the sun that destroys shingles. The solar collectors will not only shade the roof they are on, but when operating they will remove the heat from your roof and send it to your pool.
These systems require lots of maintenance.
False: The only maintenance a pool system requires is draining when you shut your pool down at the end of the year.