Should You Use Solar Pool Heating?

Solar pool heating systems utilize the sun's energy to heat your pool. The key advantage here is that this energy is free of charge and in addition you are being friendly to the environment.

You will find additional advantages also:

• Does not require professional installation - Whilst solar pool heating can be installed professionally, kits are obtainable which suit both above ground and in ground pools and can be installed by a competent handyman. As there is no gas or electrical work concerned there is no need for these professionals. The key task is setting up the solar panels and locating these properly will be the prime factor in determining how effective the system is. These are normally positioned on a roof or on a frame slanting towards the sun.
• Minimal maintenance requirement - Once installed the a solar system requires little maintenance which compares favorably to gas heaters and heat pumps.
• Long lasting - A solar pool heater will last a long time and hence maximize the return on your investment. This is illustrated by the fact that some manufacturers offer fifteen year guarantees.

However there are a number of disadvantages to consider:

• Needs large area for solar collectors - As a rough guide the area of the solar collectors will be similar to the surface area of the pool. Even if you have a small pool this means that the solar collectors will take up a significant amount of room. Not only that but you may have little choice as to the positioning and this may spoil the appearance of the pool surroundings.
• Not as powerful as gas heater or heat pump - It has to be accepted that even in the best location the energy generated will not match that of a gas pool heater or heat pump. In addition it will be affected by the weather, whilst still working in overcast conditions the output will be reduced.
• Effectiveness highly dependent on correct conditions - The effectiveness of a solar pool heating system will depend on a number of factors including local temperature, wind, the amount of sunshine and particularly the orientation of the solar panels. To work at their best the solar collectors need to be facing south and not be shaded by trees or anything else at any time of day.
• Can be expensive - Most of the cost relates to the solar collectors and the number of these you need depends on the size of the pool. For an in ground pool it can work out more that a gas heater. Having said this the low on-going costs will make up for this in time.

Whether a solar pool heater will be effective for you really is dependent on your location and the period you wish to use your pool. Provided you can install your solar collectors in a good position and are not looking to extend your season into the colder months then you should give serious consideration to a solar pool heating system.