Solar Heater for Swimming Pools - Heat Your Pool for Free

If you want to continue using you pool when the weather starts turning cold, you need some kind of pool heater. There are many types to choose from - electric, gas or solar pool heaters. Let's discuss solar heaters for swimming pools in more details, to see if it will work for your pool.

Solar heater for swimming pools - how does it work?

Unlike other types of solar powered devices, solar pool heater works rather simple. Solar panels collect heat from the sun. They are typically installed on your roof or next to the pool. A pump forces water from your swimming pool through a filter that leads it into a solar collector. The water heats up in the collector then returns into the pool through the pump.

This won't allow you to swim in January, of course. But it will make swimming comfortable when the weather just turned to be too cold for a comfortable swim. In climates with cold winter, installing a swimming pool heater can bring your swimming season up to five, six month a year, when without it you would only swim two or three month. Generally speaking, on a sunny day a solar heater can raise your pool water temperature by 7 to 10 degrees.

How big a heater is needed and how much will it cost?

The size of a swimming pool heater you need depends on the size of your pool and the climate in your aria. For bigger pools and colder places you need bigger solar heaters. The price of your heater is usually proportionate to its size. Heaters with 2'x20' panels are the most popular. The price is about 150 dollars per panel. A set of two panels will keep an 18'-24' pool warm. For bigger pools you will need more panels.

Installing your solar pool heater

Unlike solar water heaters, pool heaters are fairly easy to install. Every set should come with instructions. First you connect the panels to a pump. Than place the panels where the sun can heat them up. You can mount the panels to your roof or position them by the pool using frames available from the dealer. At first you will notice that the panels get very hot, but after a few minutes they will cool down.

Maintaining your solar heater for swimming pool

Your heater doesn't actually require any maintenance. However it is important to keep balanced water chemistry. Also check the filter once in a while to assure that it is working properly.

Investing in a solar heater for swimming pool is a good idea. After you pay the initial cost, the heat will be free. Unlike other types of swimming pool heaters, solar heater will not increase your energy bill. And it will extend your swimming season, which can be very beneficial especially for your kids.