How does a solar pool heater work? Well much like solar power in general for your home works. Solar pool heaters collect sunlight to heat your pool’s water. A pump pulls water from the pool and sends it through a strainer and filter to remove any debris that could clog the system.
How Do They Work
After the filter, the water is sent to the solar collectors, the heart of the system. The collectors are thin rectangular panels, typically installed on your home’s roof. Inside the collectors, the water runs through thin pipes, usually made of copper or plastic, where the sun heats it to desired temperatures. Once heated, the water is sent back to the pool (or a heater if necessary) for you to enjoy in all its warmth.
A flow control valve monitors the pool’s temperature and diverts the water to the solar collectors when it dips below the set temperature. If your pool’s water is too warm, it will stop sending water through the solar collectors.
Solar water heaters are actually pretty simple systems and only need four basic pieces of equipment to operate:
- Solar collector(s): Water is pumped through the solar collector, where it is heated by the sun.
- Filter: Removes debris in the water before being pumped to the solar collector.
- Pump: Circulates the water through the system.
- Flow control valve: The device that diverts the pool water through the collectors.
How Much Can One Save With a Solar Pool Heater
Once you’ve installed a solar heating system, heating your pool is absolutely free. That is unless you use an auxiliary heater.
If you heat a 1,000 square foot pool with a gas pool heater, you can expect to pay about $1,500 to $3,600 a year, depending on utility costs, location, and ambient temperature.
At this rate, a solar pool heater that you paid $3k to $4k for would pay itself back in one to three years. In real life, that ROI could extend to 7 years or so if your utility costs are lower than most, you installed premium components that increased your installation costs, or you live in an area with less sunlight.
Replacement costs for solar water heaters are also low. Unlike heat pumps and gas heaters, which last about five years, solar heaters have no moving internal parts that wear out over time, so solar pool heaters tend to last much longer.
And financial savings aren’t the only benefits to solar pool heaters. In an effort to save money, many pool owners with gas heaters tend to turn on their heaters only when they want to swim. While not a huge issue, this does require a bit of planning beforehand. Solar pool heaters, however, are working anytime there’s daylight, so you can enjoy more spontaneous dips in the pool on a nice day!
These are just a few of the best reasons why you need to look into solar energy today. Call us at Net 0 Energy to discuss your solar options. Net 0 Energy is based in Palm Beach, Florida and has been installing solar panels residentially and commercially in the South East for over a decade.
Net 0 Energy Homes employs a highly experienced team of expert solar panel installers of domestic and commercial solar panel (PV) systems across South Florida, including West Palm Beach, Fort Lauderdale, Miami, Florida Keys, and the Bahamas.
We also provide and install radiant barrier attack shield, quality insulation, solar water heaters, solar pool heaters, and a myriad of other amazing products to keep your homes heating and cooling costs as low as modern science will allow.
Net 0 Zero Energy solar electricity systems are made of high-quality US manufactured modules of top tier quality. While our solar water heating systems are manufactured by Solar Development Incorporated, Florida’s oldest solar manufacturer located in Palm Beach County since 1974.