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Basics On Solar Swimming
Pools Heating
Heating a swimming pool consumes a lot of energy. But you can
reduce dramatically your swimming pool's heating bills by:
- Installing a solar swimming pool heating system
- Using a pool cover
Swimming
pools heating alternatives
There are three alternatives concerning the heating of swimming
pools:
- Gas heating systems
- Electric heating pump systems
- Solar heating systems
Solar heating systems demand the biggest initial investment:
something between $3,000 and $5,000 for a typical 300-400 square
foot (28-38m2) residential pool, with average installation
requirements. But the payback period is very small, making solar
pool heating systems by far the most advantage solution.
Solar
swimming pool heating is
one of the most cost-effective applications of
solar energy, and it is particularly simple to integrate it in
the swimming pool system
See:
Prices and Payback of solar
pool systems
Swimming pool covers
You can significantly reduce swimming pool heating costs by
using a pool cover: it reduces dramatically evaporation and
consequent heat losses and, in a way, it reduces the
dimensions of the solar pool heating system.
See:
Manufacturers of
swimming pool
covers
Which are the
technologies available?
The basics of the solar pool heating equipment are basically the
same: solar collectors, a pump, a filter and pipes:
pool water is pumped
through the filter and then through the solar collector system (instead
of directly driven to the pools).
The water is heated in the panel-collectors system and then
piped into the pool.
Source: US Department of Energy,
www.eere.energy.gov
In colder climates it may be necessary a conventional pool
heater, to supplement the system in freezing months, if you
intend to use your swimming pool in winter...
See:
Glazed and unglazed
collectors technology
Sizing solar
pool heating collectors
Sizing of pipes and pumps for
solar pools
Lifetime and guarantees of solar panels and systems
Solar Swimming Pools Collector Warranties vary a lot. They range from 3 to 10 years
in most manufacturers, but you may find wider warranties (till
20 years) for some parts of the system, namely collectors.
Manufacturers
For a list
of suppliers and manufacturers, see:
Solar pool systems manufacturers
Pool covers
manufacturers
Prices and Analysis of Solar Swimming Pools Heating Market
Solar swimming pools systems prices vary
according to their size.
The cost is basically the initial investment: something between
$3,000 and $5,000 for a typical 300-400 square foot (28-38m2)
residential pool, with average installation requirements.
The maintenance costs after the initial
investment are very low.
See:
Prices and Payback of solar
pool systems
Quotes and the buying process of
solar heating pools
Typically to give you a quote, the
dealer or installer will assess
features as
- the landscape involving the swimming pool (to
determine orientation, shading, etc. of the solar panel
collectors).
- the temperatures and the sunlight access in your location in
order to calculate solar potential and needs.
- the dimensions, the volume and type of pool
- the swimming pool patterns of use
The installer will also explain how the solar system works,
possible incentives available in your
area, etc.
What to ask to installers and dealers of
solar swimming pools?
The questions that buyer's
may ask to suppliers and installers are very similar to those
you may ask to solar heating water systems...
See:
What to ask to installers and
suppliers
Payback of swimming pools solar systems?
The final cost of a
typical solar pool heating system usually amounts to something
between $3000 and $5000. This provides a typical payback of 2 to
5 years, depending on the uses of the system or its efficiency.
See:
Prices and Payback of solar
pool systems
Pools and solar
hot water financial incentives and rebates?
Some states and local municipalities have incentive programs to
encourage solar power and other alternative energies in their
areas, namely for solar hot water systems (extensive to solar
pools heating). For USA, see:
Solar incentives and
rebates. See also, for information on state and municipal incentives
in USA:
Database of State Incentives
for Renewables and Efficiency
For more information:
Sizing solar
pool heating collectors
Manufacturers of solar pool
collectors
Manufacturers of pool
covers
Sizing of pipes and pumps for
solar pools
Solar Pool collectors
technology
Prices and Payback of solar
pool systems
Domestic Solar Hot Water Systems
Solar Electricity: Photovoltaic PV Systems
Pros and Cons of Solar
Energy Panels
Back to top Basics of Swimming Pools Solar Systems
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