Hot water heater to heat pool

[CarlD]

One of you, either Carl or Al, wrote about a solar heating system that's somehow integrated into the deck planks. Am I remembering this correctly? Could you point me to that description, please? And are the photos of it somewhere?

Anna

Yup. I have that. It's a FantaSea pool, by Island pools. You can check out their pools on their web site. My pool is in one of the threads on pictures of above ground pools--look for the cedar fence around it. The deck panels are 2'x4' hollow poly. The water is pumped through them and is solar heated AND, at the same time, the deck is kept cool enough to walk on. I have a 16'x40' pool and the decking around it has the same surface area as three 4'x20' solar panels

[AnnaK]

I'm having a hard time finding the Website. I get to a pool supplies place that sells FantaSea parts but can't find a photo gallery Might you have a link?

Anna

[CarlD]

I'm having a hard time finding the Website. I get to a pool supplies place that sells FantaSea parts but can't find a photo gallery Might you have a link?

Anna

Try:

http://www.poolsupplies.com/pools/solar-pools.asp

It's all the same company: Island Pools out of Grand Island, NY, between Buffalo and Niagara Falls. I have the "Add-a-Deck" model. 16'x40' is an odd size for them--they make 16'x32' and 20'x40' (and a 12'x40' lap pool), but they easily made a 16'x40' for me as the stock parts didn't have to be altered, just fitted to this size. The only thing was the liner had to be custom made for that size.

[AnnaK]

Thanks for the link, Carl.

I really like this concept and I especially like what people have done with it, expanding their decks beyond the solar planks and incorporating them in the design. Are they slippery when wet? That's a major concern we have because of all the running and racing the dogs do around the pool deck.

I've hijacked this thread and I do apologize.

Anna

[CarlD]

Slippery? Not really. They are textured with a diamond pattern. They are relatively high-maintenance and cannot stand up to excessive pressure. if you see them bulge at all you must decrease the pressure or they spring leaks. However, since each panel is only 2'x4' they are easy to change out.

I've changed my system to separate the panels into two separate systems. This allows both to get about the same pressure as the single system but increases the overall flow, making them I guess about 40% more efficient.

BUT, they work, they don't look like add-ons (my wife didn't want it to be "ugly") and they keep the deck cool so you don't burn your feet on it. This will be our 8th season with it.