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This year was my first pool season, I think it went really well.
I am getting a little ahead of myself, but Im a researcher. I was wondering if anyone uses solar panels? There are a bunch out there, are they all of equal quality? do they work good? Any thoughts or comments would help, thanks.
Many of us use solar panels and they absolutely do work. Especially if you will combine it with using a solar cover on your pool at night to keep the heat you have gained in the day from being lost at night. The solar panels I have on my pool are made by FAFCO. I have the Solar Bear model.
Welcome to the Pool Forum!
There are all kinds of panels though I think Fafco are most common. I have Fanta Sea panels which have the advantage of being the pool deck at the same time, but require a lot of maintenance.
You can even make your own.
The standard formula is your panels should have the same surface area as your pool. I have found that to be overkill. But mine is less than half and it's EASILY more than enough.
I have a 27ft AG and a 4' x 20' panel. I bumped up a thread that shows my set up. Until your registration is completed, you'll have to first log out to be able to see the rest of the forum. So, log out and go and look at the Above Ground pool section of the forum. You should find the thread I bumped up. The title of the thread is 'Solar Heater for Above Ground Pools.'
Hope this helps!
Thanks for the fast replays, if anyone lives in snow climate, what do you do with it in the winter? thanks
I drain it and roll it up and store it in my shed.
I blow mine out but they are permanent.
Thanks, how many panels do you use Carl? I have a pool a little smaller then yours.
Carl has a FantaSea pool which has solar panels built into the walkway that surround his pool. A different kind of setup than what you'll need. My pool is also around 19,000 gallons. Sounds like your volume is similar.
My point was that there all kinds of solar heating solutions. My panels are 2'x4' and have to sit over an open channel, supported at each end. They are a VERY expensive solution unless you install them in lieu of the first 2' of your decking around your pool.