Make A Swimming Pool Solar Heating System
Using sunshine to heat your pool water is a very practical way of getting free energy from the sun. A solar water heating system allows you to extend your swimming season and to top up the pool heat over night without having to worry about the heating costs. Swimming pool solar heating systems can heat a large amount of water each day, and are quite capable of keeping the pool temperature in the 80 – 85 degree range even in moderate sunshine.
Fitting a solar pool heater is also a good way of adding value to your property.
Buying and fitting a shop-bought solar water heater could set you back from $2,000 to $4,000 depending on collector size and installation costs. However, it is quite possible to make your own solar water heater for an average-sized pool for under $200, including materials, plans and expert guidance.
Solar pool heaters are connected directly to your existing pool filter system. During the day while the filter is operating, the pool water is circulated through the solar collectors and returned to the pool. You can have a swimming pool solar heater system which has no moving parts, such as a recirculating pump, but this will depend on the average sunshine levels locally.
The solar collectors are often mounted on roofs to get the best exposure to direct sunshine. Ideally the collectors should face the sun at mid-day and be tilted to your latitude minus 10 to 15 degrees. The area of the collectors will depend on a number of factors, but expect the area to be at least 50% of the pool size. This will be at least 75% if the collector panels are laid flat or facing west. In some cases, where there are significant shade or strong prevailing winds, the collector area can be as much as 100% of pool size. Because of the space requirements of the collectors, it is often better to fix them to a frame on the ground or even a suitable fence.
Factors affecting the installation of a solar pool heating system can include:
- Climate and sunlight availability.
- Building codes and safety regulations.
- Pool size.
- Duration of the swimming season.
- Desired pool temperature.
- Solar collector efficiency.
You really need the help of an expert to design your swimming pool solar heating system when considering these factors, because only a suitably-qualified person will have the necessary expertise to give you the right plans for making your swimming pool solar heating system work properly for you.
Making and fitting a swimming pool solar heater is very easy, and you need no special skills or fancy tools. Your local hardware store should have all the necessary materials. However, using the appropriate experts will make your job much easier and more fun. We thoroughly recommend one group of professionals who have produced a simple set of plans and a comprehensive set of step-by-step instructions to guide you throughout the build in making your swimming pool solar heater. For under $200, including all plans, instructions, materials and expert guidance, you can have your own pool solar heating system – quite an inspiring thought!
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