DIY Solar - SunHeater????

[malbee]

Thanks everyone for the responses...

I have a 20x40 IG, southern exposure, no shade, perfect scenario for solar. My biggest concern is the quality of the SunHeater brand, and if anybody has had experience with this system. Or, can recommend something similar. The price is attractive, yet I could spend more if I was getting a lot more quality....make sense?

[Poconos]

Got a big enough property you could lay a bunch of black poly pipe on rolled roofing? I've got 1200' of 1/2" in my back field and works great.
Al

[Watermom]

I'm 99% sure that mine is a SunHeater panel. We have had it for about 5 years and have had no problems. It is amazing what a difference a solar panel makes for a pool. But, equally important is to cover the pool with a solar blanket at night; otherwise you will lose all the heat to the atmosphere that your pool gained during the day.

[AndyT86]

equally important is to cover the pool with a solar blanket at night; otherwise you will lose all the heat to the atmosphere that your pool gained during the day.

TRUE THAT - I found that my pool loses 2-3 F at night during the summer when I leave the cover off --- I live in west-central Georgia.

I used a single panel by SunHeater for several years. It did well for the amount of sun it got (only 2-3 hours direct sun per day). We replaced it two years ago with a Hayward heat pump because we just didn't get enough direct sunlight near the pool (we live in the woods), and the pool is too far from the house to put the panel on the roof (2-story) to get above the trees. The wife didn't like the panel laying out on the deck around the pool.

That heat pump allowed us to swim in March and through October last year. Before that, the wife and kids didn't get in until June, and only swam until Labor Day. But it was much more expensive than the solar heater, and the heat pump continues to cost us every month we run it.

I still like to use a solar blanket to keep that heat in at night. The family doesn't like to have to move it, but it does save money!