Other useful bits of information

Here are some other pool heating and heat consolidation system products and considerations that may be of interest.

Solar rings

Solar rings are a new innovation that, it is claimed, offers a similar pool heating performance to solar matting or solar panels, but at a lower cost.

Each ring is approximately 5 feet in diameter and floats on the surface of the pool. A number of solar rings are required for each pool that equate to a 70 to 80 percent pool surface coverage for a cool climate like the UK, and a 60 percent coverage for a warmer climate like Spain or Florida.

Each ring works by allowing approximately 50 percent of the suns heat to pass through the ring (for deep water heating) whilst retaining 50 percent of the sun’s energy for heat conversion within the ring.

The rings connect together using low energy magnets, but can easily be removed and do not offer an entrapment danger like a pool cover.

The claimed heat output for the rings is 1070 BTU per square foot per day. The rings can be easily removed and stored.

Pool thermostats

Most pool heaters come equipped with a thermostat and heat setting control panel, but some cheaper models do not. If a pool heater does not have a thermostatic control, it is well worth the extra expenditure to buy one.

The energy costs, on an annual basis, of heating a pool to one extra degree centigrade can run into hundreds, or even thousands, of dollars or pounds Stirling. Using an accurate thermostat is one of the most effective ways to maximise the use of a pool whilst minimising the all important running costs.

Most out door pools are heated to between 78 and 82 degrees Fahrenheit (25.5 to 28 degrees Celsius), so there is a big potential energy saving envelope between these two temperatures.

Dehumidifiers and ventilation

Dehumidifiers and ventilation are very important to indoor heated pools in permanent structures. Condensation and water vapour can make the pool area humid and sticky and can cause mould, bacteria and premature corrosion and decay of furniture and fittings in the pool’s enclosure.

When dehumidifiers and pool heating are required together, it can be possible to use some form of heat exchanger to gain secondary power from the energy used by the other system, thereby saving overall pool environment energy running costs.

Pool heater plumbing

All but the cheapest of above-ground pool heaters will require some kind of plumbing and many heaters (and heat exchangers) require a dual system. One half of this system takes water to and from the pool and heater, whilst the other takes pre-heated water to the heat exchanger or condenser from the main energy source.

With these systems, plumbing can be a significant cost and it is important to have a good idea of these costs before investing in a pool heater.

In the case of heat exchangers and inverters, the plumbing and fitting costs can exceed the heater’s sale price.

Pool location versus pool heaters location

It is always important that pool heaters be placed as close as possible to the swimming pool so that heat and energy loss through the pipe work is kept to a minimum.

This is especially true of the lower output energy heaters like heat exchangers where every bit of heat energy needs to be conserved and used to warm the pool.

Having solar matting on the roof of a house may be tidy and convenient, but if the pool is some distance from the property it may not be the most energy efficient location.

Being aware of the potential heat loss between the pool heater and the swimming pool, and taking measures to reduce it, can result in a warmer and cheaper to run pool.

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