Swimming Pool Heating

A heated swimming pool entertains poolside parties, early morning workouts, refreshing dips, family fun, or a romantic late night swim.  If you are planning to install a swimming pool or already possess one and would like additional benefits, then you should consider solar pool heating.  Solar pool heating is simple, reliable, and best of all affordable. Solar swimming pool heaters provide you these benefits with no operating costs since the energy from the sun is free. Pool heating systems such as solar pool heaters can reduce your fuel bills, and still let you enjoy your own heated pool.

Why Solar Pool Heaters?

Solar swimming pool heating is one of the most common energy sources made readily available today.  A solar pool heating system is an economical alternative to otherwise expensive conventional heaters.  Solar pool heating extends your swimming seasons each year and reduces monthly fuel bills without depleting valuable non-renewable fossil fuels.  If you already own a pool with another heating system such as conventional gas or electric swimming pool heater, either can be replaced with solar heating. The initial investment can usually be recovered in approximately three years or a little less.

How does a Solar Swimming Pool Heater Work?

A solar pool heater is simple to operate and doesn’t require you to change the way you operate standard pool equipment. Solar collectors are typically mounted on the roof of your home or other structures such as a shed or garage. The existing pool pump is used to circulate water from the pool through the solar collectors and back to the pool. An automatic controller diverts the water to the roof location by a motorized valve on bright and sunny days. The automatic valve uses special temperature sensors to determine when the solar collectors should be used.

Heat Pumps and Gas Pool Heaters
 
Though different types of heaters are available, the most commonly used include natural gas heaters and electric-air –source heat pumps.  Natural gas heaters are popular where natural gas is easily available. Compared to a natural gas heater, heat pumps put out less power. To ensure adequate heating of your pool, you will need to install the correct size. Heat pumps are excessively noisy because they run continuously. Though it is cheaper than a natural gas heater, it is less reliable and takes longer to heat the pool when compared to a natural gas heater. In summary, when compared to natural gas heaters and heat pumps, solar pool heater is the best heating solution.

Solar heaters are more expensive to install when compared to gas heaters, but less expensive than heat pumps.  However, solar heaters use free energy from the sun and can save you lots of money in energy costs over time.