Solar heater for above ground pools

[Jlrymedic]

I was wondering if anyone has had any success with a solar heating system for their pool? I've had a smaller Intex pool the last few years so the sun didn't really have a problem with warming the pool. This year I upgraded to a 16 x 48 and I'm thinking the sun might need a little boost. I've seen some solar heaters of the DIY variety, and also the pre-made ones. I was just wondering if there was any honest feedback on the different systems available?

Thanks for your input.

[Watermom]

Solar heaters can make a world of difference. I have two 2x20 panels on my 24ftAG and they add a lot of heat to my pool. On May 31, my pool water was up to 90. (Which is a little warm for my liking, so I may leave the solar cover off for a night or two.) I *think* my solar panels were made by FAFCO.

[BigTallGuy]

Hi Mom! Ben sent you my e-mail addresses, drop me a line!

Anyway, I agree, 90° F and above is Soup. I live just outside of Phoenix and my pool water gets up to 96° F I need a good way to cool mine down. Anything above 90° F is not refreshing at all.

[Jlrymedic]

Watermom,

Can I ask where you live? I'm in Central Illinois. I've been searching solar heaters, and I'm thinking it would be good here. I was just curious as to how many degrees they actually add to the temp. I'm also not a tech person, but I'm pretty sure I can follow directions if they were clear enough. How much time did the solar setup take you?

[Watermom]

I'm in WV. I really can't say how many degrees we add, but I can tell you that without it, my swim season would not start as early or last as long. i can usually swim early to mid May until October. Without it, I'd guess probably early June to mid-September. If you have a sunny place to install solar panels, do it. They will make a big difference in a pool. Equally important is to get a solar cover (solar blanket) to cover your pool with at night. It keeps your pool from losing at night the heat that you gain during the day. That also makes a BIG difference. I don't think you'll regret getting solar panels. It isn't complicated. You just have to know how to do some basic plumbing. Some of the websites that sell these things may have tutorials about installation. Take a look and see. If you get it, there should be some people here on the forum who can help you with some pointers. I'm not one of them!!! You want help with pool chemistry? No problem. You want help with anything mechanical, electrical, plumbing, etc. Not my department!!:eek:

A good way to cool a pool down is to uncover the pool and run the solar panels at night.

[madwil]

cooling is an issue for me right now- no heater, no solar panels, water temp 92 yesterday!
I've been thinking about solar panels, like Mom said would help cool overnight and maybe extend the swim season a couple weeks earlier and a month maybe later...

[mommak]

Watermom,
Could you please tell me what kind of Fafco solar panels you have? Also, are they mounted on your rooftop or at an angle on the ground? Does it make a difference, as long as which ever you choose gets a fair amount of sunlight?
I am trying to find out as much information and then order solar panels for our AG pool. Also, what kind of plumping does one need?
This is all new to me, and I am feeling lost and overwhelmed.

[Watermom]

I have a 4'x20' solar panel on my 27ft AG pool. We built a south-facing rack to mount the panel on. I can either run all, none or part of the flow through those panels. The plumbing is basically some flexible hoses, a few pvc ball valves and some pvc. I will take a picture and post it in a while to show you my set up. The solar panel, combined with the solar cover, make a huge difference in the temperature of my water.

Whether rooftop installation or on the ground makes any difference, I don't know for sure but I wouldn't think so. I think most important is how it will best fit on your property.

[mommak]

A picture would be great. We have space in our yard for the solar panels.
Thanks

[BigDave]

I also love our solar panels. We had them installed by a contractor that specializes in solar systems. The panels are on a second story roof. Our setup includes a basic solar controller with temperature sensors for the water and the panels on the roof, a diverter valve controlled by the solar controller, a check valve, and a vacuum relief valve and isolation valves.

[PoolDoc]

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-3obP_9r_XAU/U4jASXihQ6I/AAAAAAAAHGw/N2KjGwTdq6s/s800/IMG_4617ed.jpg

https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-VNtq3gNKNZY/U4jAR8dV-6I/AAAAAAAAHGs/G_1rByCzw_M/s800/IMG_4620ed.jpg

https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-45CNOq8iG9A/U4jAS6r-2NI/AAAAAAAAHG4/2Fk-3gJino4/s800/IMG_4614ed.jpg

[mommak]

We want to be able to set up our own solar panels that we purchase and have them near the pool. As our house is too far away from where we intend to set up the pool. Also, since our home is a two story with a very high pitched roof, it would not be feasible for us.
Also, I have read that some people put a 1 1/2" or 2" pink styrofoam under the pool. Is this a good idea to do? Why do some do this?

[mommak]

Wow, this is some set up PoolDoc. Do you have the pvc running under ground? Also, the chicken wire, is that to keep little critters from chewing on it? That looks totally foreign to me, where do all those hoses go to?

[Watermom]

Those are actually my pics and he just posted them for me. The third picture that I just went back and added explains the reason for the chicken wire! ;) It had to be added to keep my two youngest golden retrievers from using the solar panel as a lounging area! They are scared of thunder and fireworks and anytime they hear either, for some reason they want to get on top of things!

The pvc is running underground. The inlet from the filter is the hose you can see on the right side of the pic which is fed from underground pipe. The outlet is the one you see on the left which takes the warmed water back to the pool. The valves are posted on a privacy fence that is around the pump and filter to hide it from view. Hope it makes sense. (I used to just have hoses laying on the ground leading to and from the solar panel but didn't like the messy look so buried them.)

[mommak]

Wow, seems likes a lot of work. Love the picture of your goldens. We have a golden as well, his name is Zeus, which is totally fitting as he weighs almost 90 lbs and has paws the size of a black bear.
I plan on bringing the pool up from the basement this evening and taking a look at it, I am hoping it has survived its time in storage. Then we will decide which area in our yard is the flattest and begin putting it together. My husband bought a new sand filter a year or two, and we have yet to take it out of the box. Not sure what kind it is, but it is larger than the 635T that originally came with our pool.

[Watermom]

You certainly don't have to have a solar planel plumbed with as much work as we did on ours. You can simply have a flat place to lay it out and hook up a hose from the filter to the inlet of the panel and another hose from the outlet of the panel back to the pool return and you are in business. The valves are there so that it makes it easy to divert the flow to the panel or to turn the solar panel off in the evening or whenever it is cloudy or rainy, etc.

It does make HUGE difference in the pool temp, however. Especially if you also put a solar cover on in the evenings so you don't lose so much heat.

(Those two little girls, Kylie on the left, Malia on the right, just turned 3 years old and are both around 70 lbs. They are the same two babies in my avatar picture. I also have another golden, 10 year old Kenzie and she weighs around 90 lbs.)

[mommak]

Yes, we will need solar panels and a solar cover for night. I looked at the Fafco solar panels, and there are different ones. Any particular one to look into? Also, what about the solar cover? What company has the best one?

(We are first time golden owners, and we absolutely love him, he is such a joy and terrific with our younger ones.)

[Watermom]

Mine is the Solar Bear from Fafco. I wanted a 4x20. You have to be careful. Sometimes you think you are getting a 4x20 but what you get is two 2x20 panels instead of one piece. That is more of a nuisance. I had to buy a new panel this year and I ordered off e-bay from a place called Leisure Living in Tonawanda, NY. It cost $280 with free shipping.

I usually just buy a solar cover locally. The last couple I have gotten have come from Lowe's.

(We have had 6 goldens over the past 26 years. They are wonderful gentle-natured dogs and we, too, love them.)

[mommak]

Thank you for the information on the solar panels, this helps a ton. Do the two 2x20 give off the same amount of heat as just the one 4x20? I read that if you have two panels than you also need some type of additional diverter for the additional panel.

[Watermom]

It does give the same heat. You can either hook them in a series or in parallel. I used to have two 2x20 panels in parallel; each was fed separately. The plumbing is easier with a 4x20 instead of two 2x20s and has less flow resistance which means lower operating pressure and less strain on the pump.

[mommak]

Just ordered the Fafco 4x20 from eBay. I am really looking forward to using our pool again this summer.

[Watermom]

Good deal!

[Watermom]

Bumping this thread up to make it easier for one of our new members to find.