Comparing Pool Heating Options

[solar]

Hello, I am in the solar biz and a lot of companies like the one I work for also sell solar pool heaters. For my company, pool panels are really a tiny side-line to the main biz but I have some knowledge of this.

As a new pool owner, I want to know if solar is really the best option for free pool heating. I would never consider a paid energy pool heater. But, from researching I see that there are actually a couple other free heating options besides solar.

1. SolarAttic Pool Heater - heats a pool using heat from an attic.
2. Hotspot Pool Heater- heats a pool with heat recycled from an air conditioner

I think I pretty much know the advantages of solar as compared to heat pumps, gas etc. I am hoping somebody could tell me opinions about these other two options. And also, are there other free heating options beside solar and the two I mentioned?

J Baker

[CarlD]

Hi J,

They are not free...Attic solar pool heating is extremely, almost insanely expensive...and if there's any mistake in the protection and a pipe ruptures, it's a mess.
I don't know much about water-cooling the condenser other than such coolers are made. Of course, if the pool gets TOO warm you cannot shut it off.

Heat pumps are surprisingly efficient. They got a bad rap in the 80's because they were being used wrong: In climates where temps got into the 20's and the heat pump switched over to resistance heating. But when it's in the 70's, 80's and 90's outside, heat pumps can be very economical--much better than gas.

Many of us have solar heat. I do and so do my fellow mod, Poconos and Watermom (not sure if aylad or PoolDoc have them--don't quite think so.)

Carl

[Watermom]

Yep. I have solar panels, too. Works great for me! Welcome to the Pool Forum, by the way!

[famousdavis]

I know you've set aside a heat pump as an option as a "paid energy pool heater", but I'm curious to know, why?

We turned on our heat pump for maybe two hours last evening to warm our spa to 95 degree. The heat pump was only on for a portion of that time, though, as it didn't need to run the full two hours to get the spa up to 95 and keep it there.

We enjoyed the warm spa, then turned off the heat pump. I didn't need to worry about having a warm attic or having the sun outside (we warmed our spa after dusk). The heat pump appears to use about as much energy as my home central A/C does. By running my heat pump just for two hours, it will hardly put a blip on my monthly electric bill.

Wouldn't a very low-cost, somewhat higher maintenance option be to use a solar blanket? Once the blanket is purchased, you've got the trouble of covering/uncovering your pool, but maybe it's best for a "free" pool heating option, as you don't have to run either your pool pump or air conditioner.

[solar]

Yikes! I didn't even think about water lines, I guess they are in the attic? About the AC approach, according to the Link removed by mod there is some kind of control that only heats the pool when it needs heat. But I can't find any reviews on this product and that makes me worry. I know solar is totally the best choice but all of the good parts of my roof (only the north facing side is available) are used up by solar PV, meaning I would have to put the solar pool heating panels on the ground. I would like to avoid that if possible.

Edit by Watermom: I removed the link so I could mod your post in. Links within a post really slow down the moderation process.

[solar]

Hey you make a good point. But really I am just a treehugger at heart, its the reason I am in the solar biz. In my last post (which never showed up?) I mentioned that I have a roof full of solar already. It's a personal choice, I guess I can't bring myself to consume fossil fuel for such a luxury.

I already feel bad about running my AC but of course I have convinced myself that it is a necessity ;-) Running a heat pump pool heater to put 500,000 BTUs per day in a pool, at a COP of 5, eats up 29 kWh per day. That's not a lot of money, but it equals burning 1/2 ton of coal every month.

[PoolDoc]

Solar, I'm going to mod this in, and elevate your membership so you can post generally, but . . .

I'm not a treehugger, and I don't do "PC": I'm a rationalist, and I expect that of you. (I was a tree-hugger once - have you ever seen one of the old green "eco-flags"? Think 1970's)

I have nothing against solar heat, and as you may have noticed, many folks here use lo-tech black poly panel solar heat. But, I have no romantic attraction to it, either. And frankly, all the "love mother earth" bumper stickers I see on the 14 mpg SUVs, complete with added high-air-resistance kayak and bike racks, that are common in the 'hippie' part of Chattanooga irritate me no end.

So . . . I'm moving your post to the China Shop. The rules there are pretty simple: prove your point, or take your lumps!

But, before you promote solar generally, you need to make . . . and defend . . . your case there. If you can successfully defend the idea that expensive solar units -- with life cycle $$$ *AND* manufacturing KWH accounted for -- make sense, have it it, and welcome! For myself, I'm skeptical, but uneducated.

But, if you can't make the case, hush up!

[solar]

Ben you make good points and ask a tough question about kWh used in manufacturing solar equipment. That is a problem and it has a "ROI" of several years before the energy and emissions used to make a solar panel are offset by the "savings". But let me say that I did not join this forum to promote solar. Really I think at this point solar speaks for itself and has its followers, detractors, wait-and see'rs and those who don't care. I am not here to convince anyone or even discuss it further. My interest is in examining alternatives to solar, mostly for my own use, while using the most green approach that makes sense. For example the hotspot company product or the solarattic product I mentioned in my original post. Thanks to CarlD for his insight, and after researching the cost of solarattic, I have ruled out the attic idea for several reasons. I have also talked to the hotspot people and they seem to have a good product for someone in my situation. Since I bought this house that has a pool, I have learned about the real need for pool heating and understand why people buy it. I don't understand how the previous owners did without it actually. I am sure I will be back here with more questions and at some point may be able to contribute some answers for others. And if I get a hotspot pool heater I will post back with my review.

[Watermom]

Solar ---- Just a reminder that new members have to have their posts go through a moderation queue before they appear on the forum. So, that is why your post didn't appear immediately. People who become subscribers remove this moderation requirement and thus do have immediate posting.

(BTW -- I deleted your other post saying that you couldn't post.)

[PoolDoc]

But let me say that I did not join this forum to promote solar.

Good!

We welcome all kinds of information . . . but not promotion!