Heater recommendations?

[geordie]

Thanks Carl,

It is opinions I'm looking for ;-). I am not new at pools, but I'm new at thinking about heating the thing. I'm getting wimpy as I get older and I just don't enjoy it less than 85 anymore. My kids are mid teens now, and no longer want to swim at 75 like they have for the last six years. They have turned in to hot house flowers, like me!

I was positive I was going to go solar this year, but even if it is economical I don't want to put my husband through the install if it isn't going to help. I don't have to worry about the electrician or plumber costs, but like everyone else am concerned with LP and gas costs.

The pool itself is 24 round, 48" deep. Roughly 12-13K gallons. Gets sun almost all day. Oddly enough, it is the only place on my property that does. My garage roof has a side that faces south. If my neighbor's tree interferes, it wouldn't be until late afternoon, but in the late summer and fall that late afternoon time is the period in which the sun is the strongest. I figure worst case scenario I'll get six hours a day of sun on the garage roof.

I would like to push the pool from 75-78 to 85 degrees during late spring and early fall (May and August- early September). In June the pool usually hits 85 on its own without using a solar blanket. July is unpredictable.

Just measured the garage and it appears the roof area is 20x8 give or take a couple of inches.

Jean

[Piney]

Good discussion on solar heaters vs others--I've been considering a heater (propane- no gas feeds here)

Quick question--

In general, how close to the pool or pump/filter systems does a solar pannel system need to be ?

Thanks--

[geordie]

Piney,

Carl and a couple of others here have good experience with solar panels so will be able to answer your question when they see it. The size of your pump will be important to the answer, especially if you are talking about mounting it on a roof instead of at ground/pool level.

I gave up on the solar thing myself. I've managed for many years without a heater and although I've become a bit of a pansy... I'll just keep on going. I don't think we're going to get much sun this spring anyway, so I don't regret my decision yet. I might in September when the pool starts dipping into the 70s again.

Jean