Solar Question

[Karen_in_TN]

Here in middle TN, we had a warm April then cold May. I run a 4 x 20 panel on my 18' AG pool. Panels are elevated on racks in the yard (about 3 feet up) and get sun from about 9 am until 5 pm. They run from north to south. With the highs in the low to mid 80's, my pool gained from 75 degrees to 92 in about a week. I know this is not typical. (Friends pool in same town is just now hitting 82.) They were definately the best $200 I ever spent. I also use a 16mil clear solar cover, and it definately helped. For 2 weeks our highs were only in the 60's with almost no sun (40's at night) and alot of rain yet my pool was still at 75.

[NWMNMom]

For several years we ran one 2x20 panel on an 18'x48" deep pool averaging in the mid 80s for temps except when we had to bypass end of July/start of August because it was too hot - always WITH a solar blanket to keep the heat in. We are in the FAR northwest Minnesota, as cold a summer as you can get. We had ours on a 45 degree ground rack facing south - this year we have 18x33' x 52" and obviously more panels on an elevated rack facing south - not operating yet this year due to construction.

[tphaggerty]

20 x 40 IG vinyl here (30k gals). About 70 miles north of NYC. Opened after Easter, was at close to 80 before 2 weeks of clouds and rain put us back down to 65. Now we are at 86 and the solar runs about 2 hours/day. We typically get a 2 to 3 degree per day rise using a solar cover.

We have about 55% coverage on an East/slightly northeast roof. So far, we are thrilled with the system. Our neighbors are all swimming in low 70s due to fuel costs!!

[wer3angels]

20 x 40 IG vinyl here (30k gals). About 70 miles north of NYC. Opened after Easter, was at close to 80 before 2 weeks of clouds and rain put us back down to 65. Now we are at 86 and the solar runs about 2 hours/day. We typically get a 2 to 3 degree per day rise using a solar cover.

We have about 55% coverage on an East/slightly northeast roof. So far, we are thrilled with the system. Our neighbors are all swimming in low 70s due to fuel costs!!

How big of a solar panel are you using? We are new to a 12 x 32 IG pool and are hoping to have some heat in it this summer.

Barb in PA

[pj1016]

I'll let you know in a week or two.

I'll be assembling and installing mine starting this weekend. 487 sq. ft. of panels which yields 87% coverage for my IG pool.

Majority of the panels on south facing roof; the rest on a west facing roof.

I expect to be able to swim in an 84 degree pool just about all year round.

pj

[tphaggerty]

How big of a solar panel are you using? We are new to a 12 x 32 IG pool and are hoping to have some heat in it this summer.

Barb in PA

We have 8 4x14 panels, which give use about 450 sq ft of coverage for an 800 sq ft pool. I could have squeezed on another panel, but it would have required some custom work on the fittings.

My recommendation for an IG pool is to go for as much as you can afford and your pump can handle. Not so much for the maximum heat you can get to, but for recovery time. The more panels you have, the quicker you can recover heat after rain and the cold early spring/late fall nights. If you have no interest in extending the season but just want warmer water, I really don't think you need to go much more than 40 to 45% coverage.

I would say for a small pool like yours, you could easily get by with 4 4x12 panels, which is 50% coverage. BUT, if you have the roof space, I would add at least one or two more panels. The increased cost shouldn't be much more than the cost of the panels. We added a panel and went from the 4x12 to 4x14 panels for a couple of hundred extra.