The Power of the Sun Can Really Heat Up Your Swimming Pool

Posted on July 6, 2009 by Joyce Benson Add a Comment |
Tag(s): Energy, Greenhouse Gas Emissions / Global Warming, Greening the Home, The Great Green Outdoors

Craving a longer swimming season? A great way to achieve this is with a solar thermal heating system. Not only can you keep the pool feeling warmer for 2-4 weeks longer, but your summer electric bills won’t skyrocket. Plus, utilizing the power of the sun does’t create any pollution or greenhouse gases like conventional electricity generation. Other benefits of solar equipment include: less required maintenance, longer lasting and comparable upfront costs as gas or electric pool heaters.

Solar pool heating systems consist of a solar collector, a filter, a pump, and a flow control valve. “Pool water is pumped through the filter and then through the solar collector(s), where it is heated before it is returned to the pool. In hot climates, the collector(s) can also be used to cool the pool during peak summer months by circulating the water through the collector(s) at night.”

This equipment is suitable in a variety of climates, although there are some things to consider before purchasing a solar pool heating system. A qualified solar thermal systems contractor will help you: evaluate your site’s solar resource (how much of the sun’s energy reaches the area); determine the correct size system considering your pool’s size and regional temperatures; the efficiency of the solar collectors and potential cost savings of investing in a more efficient type of collector; and adhering to local building codes and regulations.

Source: Dept of Energy