Taking a swim in your pool can be a great way to cool off after a hot day. Less relaxing is repairing a broken pool heater or paying expensive bills to keep your pool warm.
Depending on your pool and location, solar heaters can be a cleaner and cheaper way to keep your pool heated and ready for use. In fact, in most climates, solar pool heaters have lower annual operating costs and are more efficient than traditional heaters.
What is a Solar Pool Heater & How Does It Work?
Solar pool heaters use the sun’s energy to pump water through your pool filter and a series of solar collectors — devices where the water is warmed in tubular panels by the sun. Once warmed, the water is circulated back into the pool. Solar collectors are often installed on roofs, though they can be placed anywhere with sufficient sunlight. In hotter climates or warm summer months, they can also serve a double purpose by cooling down the pool by routing water through the collectors during the night.
The collectors within a solar swimming pool heater come in two forms: unglazed and glazed.
- Unglazed solar collectors are often cheaper because they use less expensive material and labor to produce. They are made coated with plastic or durable rubber. The technology is similar to how a garden hose in the sun will eventually heat up and pass that thermal energy onto the water inside.
- Glazed solar collectors typically use copper tubing with a glass covering. These upgrades make the process more efficient, but it comes at a higher cost. In addition to heating your pool, glazed solar collectors can also be used to heat the water you use indoors all year.
In addition to the solar collectors, many solar pool heating systems also include manual or automated sensors and flow control valves. If the pool is sufficiently heated, water from the solar collectors can be diverted and water from the pool will still be filtered but won’t enter the collectors.
How Much Does A Solar Pool Heater Cost?
Solar pool heaters and installation often costs between $3,000 to $4,000. While the upfront cost of a solar heater can be a bit higher than alternatives, they require very little upkeep and have no associated fuel costs. According to the Department of Energy, they “typically last longer than gas and heat pump pool heaters.” In fact, most properly installed, high quality solar heaters will last up to 20 years.
While the payback period for most solar heaters is between 1.5 to 7 years, the actual time will depend on a variety of factors including:
- The size of your pool
- How hot you like to keep your pool
- The local cost of electricity or gas
- The amount of sun in your climate
- How much your roof is shaded
- Orientation of the solar collectors
Solar Swimming Pool Heater Sizing
According to Swim University’s “Three Quarters Rule,” you’ll need enough solar collectors to cover about three quarters of the surface of your pool. For example, a standard pool size is 15 X 30 feet, or 450 square feet. Your solar collectors’ surface area would thus need to be around 338 square feet. However, if you plan to use your pool all year, you’ll probably want to plan on bumping up from three quarters to 100% coverage. For this example, you would need 450 square feet of available surface area to install your solar pool heaters on.
Best Solar Pool Heaters of 2021
There are a variety of solar pool heaters on the market but finding the best heater will always depend on the specifics of your home and pool. A few top models we recommend considering include:
If you’re already considering going solar, adding a rooftop solar photovoltaic system in addition to solar pool heaters can be a great way to consolidate projects. In fact, many installers will install both PV panels and solar collectors.
Solar Pool Heater vs Solar PV Panels
Depending on your home’s roof size, you may not have enough space to accommodate both a solar pool heater and solar panels to power your home. If this situation arises, you’ll need to do a cost-benefit analysis of which system will provide you with greater savings over time.
In general, we’d recommend pairing an efficient electric pool heater and pump with your solar PV. That way, you can power everything with solar and will likely have the best savings. The added electrical needs from the electric pool heater and pump will add only 3-5 solar panels to the system, depending on panel wattage.
Our energy experts are ready to guide you through the rooftop solar process, and help you find the right option for your needs.
FAQs
Larger pools (20,000 gallons) might require 2-4 days under similar conditions to reach the same temperature rise. Cooler regions or less efficient systems could extend heating times to 3-5 days for both pool sizes.
How many solar panels are needed to heat a pool? ›
If your pool has a total surface area of 400 square feet, 50% offset means you will need a total of 200 square feet of solar panels to heat it. As a reference; a single 4'x12. 5' solar panel has a surface area of 50 square feet, so a system with (4) 4'x12. 5' solar panels has a total surface area of 200 square feet.
Do solar pool heaters actually work? ›
Yes, solar pool heaters work and have proven to be an effective and eco-friendly way to heat your swimming water. They can raise the temperature by several degrees, making it comfortable for swimming even during cooler months or in areas with colder climates.
What is the best pipe to use for a solar pool heater? ›
For an aesthetically pleasing installation, we recommend Black PVC Pipe & Fittings. Black PVC pipes and fittings will blend nicely with the solar pool heating system and they don't fade in the sun over time as painted pipes do.
What is the best hose for a solar pool heater? ›
A black irrigation hose is your best bet. Like the frame, it's important that your hose is black to maximize the amount of heat collected by the sun.
Should I leave my solar pool heater on all the time? ›
It is advisable to turn off the heater if you will be gone for a couple of days or if you only plan to swim during weekends. There's no reason to leave the pool heater on throughout the entire week in these cases.
What is the lifespan of a solar pool heater? ›
Long lifespan. Solar pool systems generally come with 12-year warranties (compared to 1-5 years for heating alternatives) and an expected lifespan of 15-20 years.
How many degrees will a solar cover heat a pool? ›
By harnessing the heating powers of the sun, solar pool covers offer the added benefit of raising pool water temperatures by an average of 10 to 15 degrees Fahrenheit.
How much does a pool solar heater cost? ›
A solar pool heater costs $2,500 to $6,500 installed on average. A solar pool heating system costs $2,000 to $5,000, plus $500 to $1,500 for installation labor. Pool solar panel costs depend on the type, size, brand, location, and if the pool is inground or above-ground.
How warm can a solar heated pool get? ›
An unglazed solar system used in Southern California would likely keep pools between 78 and 85 F from April through October. In cooler months, the temperature would be a little lower but you can use a pool cover to significantly reduce heat loss at night.
According to Swim University's “Three Quarters Rule,” you'll need enough solar collectors to cover about three quarters of the surface of your pool. For example, a standard pool size is 15 X 30 feet, or 450 square feet. Your solar collectors' surface area would thus need to be around 338 square feet.
Why is my solar heated pool cold? ›
Weather must be suitable for solar to heat. You may need service on your control system. It is not uncommon for a control sensor to fail and needs to be replaced. If you have a time clock, and there was a power outage, the solar system will not heat if filtration cycle is during the evening.
Do solar pool heaters work at night? ›
Will My Solar Pool System Work at Night and With Downcast Weather? Although solar pool heating systems rely on sunlight, they can maintain your pool's temperature efficiently when it's overcast or at night. The heat accumulated during the day is sufficient to keep your pool warm.
How much will a solar pool heater raise the temperature? ›
Realistically speaking, on a sunny day that is not below 50°, you can expect the heat rise in the swimming pool to be about 1° every for or five hours will a rooftop solar pool heater in operation. That is enough heat to maintain most swimming pools at a very comfortable swim temperature for most people.
What do you need to install a solar water heater? ›
Six steps to solar hot water installation
- Mount solar collectors on your roof.
- Install storage tanks & heat exchanger.
- Install piping systems for transfer fluid.
- Install water transport pipes.
- Install control systems.
- Insulate the system.
Homemade Solar Water Heaters
- Electric water heater tank (used is fine, as long as it's in good shape)
- Black paint.
- Plywood box (large enough to hold the tank)
- Sheets of glass.
- Hinged lid for the box (to reduce nighttime cooling)
- Insulation material.
- Pipes/fittings.
- Mountings (for roof, side of house, or ground level)
Connect the line gong to the panels to a bypass valve after your filter for the water supply and tie the bypass line and returning solar heated water line into your return line with a tee fitting. Now you can turn on the pump, open up the by-pass valve and send the water to the solar panels.
What size pool pump do I need for solar heating? ›
If you have an average-sized inground pool with a deep end, say a 16 x 32 size pool, you can usually run a 2-horsepower pump and sufficiently keep it clean and still run a heater. Smaller size pools can run even smaller horsepower pumps.
