November 2011
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Changing Your Hot Tub Water in 4 Simple Steps
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How to Choose the Right In-ground Pool for You
in Maintenance
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Related Articles
Does your summer pool use have you sweating over high energy bills?
A solar pool heater can help you cut down on the energy costs related to heating your swimming pool. By harnessing the warmth of the sun through solar collectors, pool water is warmed without the use of traditional utilities like gas or electricity—creating a more energy-efficient option as well.
Although a solar pool pump is an investment, there are several reasons to consider installing one. It’s a low-maintenance option that reduces your heating costs significantly and saves you money over time.
“You won’t have to worry about the dramatic price fluctuations for natural gas or rising electricity prices from your local utility,” says Monique Hanis, the communications director for the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA). If you’re seeking ways to reduce your carbon footprint, a solar pool pump is also a more environmentally sound way to heat your pool.
And the trend seems to be catching on. The sales of such systems were the single largest segment of the U.S. solar energy industry in 2009, according to Hanis.
How solar pool heating is unique
If you get a solar pool heating system, you’ll most likely install several parts:
- A solar collector
- A filter
- A pump
- A flow control valve
But, how does it all work? Pool water is pumped through the filter and then through one or more solar collectors, which are plastic panels that can be mounted on your roof or on a frame near the pool. Water is filtered and channeled through the collectors, which heat the water on its way back to the pool. When the water reaches your desired temperature, it bypasses the collectors and goes directly to the pool.
There are different types of systems, but collectors are generally made of rubber or plastic treated with an ultraviolet light inhibitor. (Sizes vary—the Energy Conservation office of Texas estimates that the amount of collector area should be at least half of the pool surface area.)
What are the benefits of solar pool heaters?
Because of their low annual operating costs, solar pool heating is a very cost-effective use of solar energy. A system will cost $3,000 to $4,000 to buy and install, but it provides a payback between 1.5 and 7 years, depending on your local fuel costs. If you still have your doubts on the cost, consider this: You’re paying upfront for most or all of your pool heating needs for the next 20 years, Hanis says.
They also typically last longer than other heating devices. And unlike other heating systems, solar energy produces no pollution. When you use one, you’re not relying on nonrenewable fossil fuels—just harnessing the sunshine in your own back yard.
How solar compares to other options
Although gas pool heaters remain the most popular heating option, it may not be the most energy-efficient one. With these heaters, natural gas or propane burns in a combustion chamber, heating the water before it flows back into the pool. If you use your pool frequently, it can cost upward of $3,000 a year.
Meanwhile, a heat pump pool heater, which uses electricity to capture heat, saves up to $384 per year over gas heaters, according to the U.S. Department of Energy. Yet even those can cost $1,500 a year in a city like Miami. Also, electricity relies on resources like coal, nuclear energy and natural gas, making it much less environmentally sound than solar energy.
The potential savings of a solar heat pump depend on such factors as how big the pool is and how much utility rates are for that region of the country.
“Heating with electricity is usually the most expensive option, so a homeowner may save $1,000 to $2,000 a year with solar water heating,” says Neil Lurie, the director of the Colorado Solar Energy Industry Association (COSEIA). “Utility rates tend to be much more expensive in regions like California and Hawaii so savings can be even greater.”
Climate considerations
The systems vary depending on where you live, as will your savings, because the collectors rely on sunshine to operate.
Lurie explains that the heat transfer is done via a fluid like glycol that doesn’t easily freeze. If you live in Hawaii, though, your water may be heated directly, without any additional fluid.
“In a northern climate you want to be sure you’re planning for four seasons, not just the warm season,” Lurie says.
Solar pool heating is a great way to save money and the environment. A pool is meant to be enjoyed, and lower heating bills and a smaller carbon footprint will make the experience all the more enjoyable.
Tip: Have a qualified solar thermal systems contractor install your system, and consult your contractor and owner’s manual for maintenance requirements, because maintenance will depend on climate, building codes and other factors.
