Saving pool heating costs - solar heating
Maintaining a warm outdoor swimming pool can be costly in all but the warmest of climates, so any cheap or free energy is well worth consideration.
This is where solar power becomes an option. For a comparatively small initial investment a solar heating system can be installed and, by using a solar pool cover or blanket, the generated heat can be retained when the pool is inactive.
How it works
A solar heater uses solar panels or, more usually, solar matting to collect the sun's energy and convert it into useable heat.
The way this works is by circulating the pool’s water through a collector. This is a large heat exchange surface area (made of mats or panels) that can be situated on a roof or any other horizontal or slightly sloping surface. These collectors soak up the sun's heat and transfer it to the swimming pool water as it circulates.
Most collectors resemble a flat mat with hundreds of fine capillaries running through them, all of which circulate and warm the water. These mats are cheaper and more robust than solar panels and they are made from specially formulated plastic materials.
All solar heating collectors (matting or panels) operate at a warmer temperature than the ambient air temperature. This is how they generate their heat energy.
Integrating the solar system
A swimming pool's solar heating system will be integrated into the pool pump and filtration system and normally the water will be channelled to the solar collectors once it has left the filtration system. This means that it is directed to the swimming pool immediately after being cleaned and then heated.
Applications of solar heating for swimming pools
A solar heating system is ideal for a small to medium sized outdoor swimming pool.
These heating systems (when used under the correct conditions) can generate water temperatures up to about 80 degrees Fahrenheit. They do of course require good natural lighting and clear days to perform at their peak.
System costs
A basic solar heating system will have an initial equipment and system fitting cost of between three and six thousand dollars (i.e. £4.5K to £9K UK Stirling). This is for a home pool with a surface area of between 300 to 400 square feet. Naturally larger pools will require larger and more expensive heating systems with more solar mats.
Solar heating versus other options
As an example of pool heating costs, the cost of heating a typical outdoor home pool over the main summer period will be similar, in terms of energy consumption, to that of heating an average house over an entire year. Consequently swimming pool heating can be very expensive.
Using an efficient solar pool heater is the most cost-effective and energy efficient way of heating a swimming pool and, by comparison with other heater types, the solar heating system will pay for itself very quickly by saving energy, using free solar power and having low maintenance costs.
Summary
A solar heating system will –
- Save money.
- Have no greenhouse gas or C02 emissions.
- Have no running costs (in terms of fuel usage).
- Require very low (minimal and simple) maintenance.
- Have a long and trouble free life.
The down side is the requirement for solar energy, which is limited on cloudy dull days, and the limitation on the top end temperature range. This is why some systems use solar power supplemented by a fossil fuel heater for cooler days, or when a boost to the water temperature is required.