Solar pool heaters
To
help you make your decision as to whether or not solar
pool heaters are right for you, and to help you install one, here
are some tips:
• Pumps
– If your pool already has a filter pump
keeping it clean, you are not going to need a new pump.
Your current pump should be sufficient enough to circulate pool water
through the solar panels.
• Cooling – Many solar
pool heaters can actually cool your water during the hot summer
months. Instead of circulating water into the collectors during the
day when the sun is hot and the water is heated, they can be turned
on to circulate water through the collectors during the night, and the
water will be cooled.
• Gas heater – If you want to ensure that
you can have a warm
pool for as many days of the year as possible, consider having a
gas heater
for back up. On a rainy day, heavily overcast day, and during the winter
months, a solar heater cannot keep the temperature high.
• Location – for a solar
heater to be most effective, the collectors must be placed somewhere
where they will receive a lot of sun. Note that an array of solar collectors
can take up a lot of space. Make sure that you have the space for them.
They can be placed on the ground (at an angle). If they are placed on
a pitched roof,
ensure that they are facing south to get the most advantage of the sun.
• Size – Size varies with the area of the
pool,
the temperature desired, shading, the direction the collectors face,
the angle the collectors are at, etc. In general, a collector will be
about 60% of the surface area of the pool.
• Tax credits – while the federal government
does not offer a tax credit for installing a using solar pool heaters,
some states do offer tax credits and/or other incentives. Find out if
your state does! Go to dsireusa.org
for more information.