Concrete Deck Based Solar Heater

[tphaggerty]

One of the moderators or big-time forum contributors has this, maybe CarlD??

There is definitely a company that makes solar heating built into decking material. Search the forum and/or the web, it is out there. Unless you have an AG, you have to plan it out as part of construction, not an add on!

[PhantomAndy]

One of the moderators or big-time forum contributors has this, maybe CarlD??

There is definitely a company that makes solar heating built into decking material. Search the forum and/or the web, it is out there. Unless you have an AG, you have to plan it out as part of construction, not an add on!

Hmm - your right - here's one: http://www.pacificgunite.com/solar%20pool%20heating.htm

Interesting - but no data on how well it works. Looking for more details.

Maybe Carl will see this thread. I didn't find anything in a search of the forum.

[tphaggerty]

Here's another:

http://www.sunworksco.com/indek_heaters.html

[CarlD]

Ok, what I have is the same concept: Go to LeisureLiving.com and look at their FantaSea pools for the decking.

It's not concrete, it's a hollow plastic panel, 4'x2' and about 1" thick. It's hollow and has to be completely supported along all four edges (but not in the middle). There's about a 1" intake at one end and an output at the other end. The water snakes through it and that's how my solar deck works.

But I think a clever person could design an in-ground system using these panels. They come in gray as well as brown...You'd need a shallow trench 1' 6" wide to support the panels on concrete. You'd need cross pieces every 4 feet and room for the connecting hoses. And you'd need very good drainage of this trench.

But if you want to embed piping in concrete I suggest you check out installers of in-floor heating. A flexible tube is buried in the concrete near the surface to heat it. I can't think of any reason why that wouldn't work in a deck to absorb heat rather than emit it.

But you'd have to be VERY careful with you site prep to avoid damaging the piping if there's any settling. And you'd have to be VERY careful with your winterizing to get all the water and antifreeze in.

[cleancloths]

I think the reason you don't see this is because of high cost. Plus it would be a nightmare to get all the water out in a climate where you have freezing winter weather.

My deck is some sort of light-weight concrete, not exactly sure what the PB used, but it only gets hot when the outside temp is closing in on 100 degrees. Otherwise it only gets warm and is always comfortable to walk on.