Solar Question

[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

[CarlD]

Not to doubt the effectiveness of your system, but that does not sound like much heat generation. I have a 20x40 IG and use a heatpump and solar cover. I had heated the pool up to 79 degrees with the heatpump. I am in NorthWestern NJ and my water is 85 degrees just from the outside temperature and the sun hitting the pool and being covered at night with no other heat added to the pool. In other words, just by having the solar cover on it it has gone up 6 degrees in the last week.

Please read it again: 13,500 gallons, 1 4x20, 1 4x10, and only 6 hours sun per day on the water or the panels. Even with a solar cover, my parents had troubles getting it to 78-79. With the panels and the limited sun, it jumped to 84-85 for the whole summer.

I get far better results in my pool, because I get far more direct sun, mostly all day.

But remember, solar heat is free heat. Even the most efficient heat pump cannot match it for cost.

[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.