Pool solar heather

[Zef]

Originally Posted by imcarthur

When I had a pool installed in the late 80s, we used a heat pump. That combined with a thermal blanket did a good job. North of Toronto btw so similar climate. Probably higher costs though.

Certainly this summer, relying on the sun might be a problem . . .

Ian

You talk about the sun....? WTF is that....???
The Montreal summer sun is not here yet....!!!

[911pcars]

Originally Posted by milt

You know the drill. That post is useless w/o ....

I'm right with ya, Milt.

Heathers; heat, with or w/o a pool:


Sherwood

[azasadny]

No solar heater here, but we have a Hayward H150, 150,000 BTU natural gas heater for our 16/24' oval pool, which holds 10,500 gallons of water. We use a solar cover in the evenings/nights and we can raise the water temp 1 degree per hour and the cost is about $3 per day. We use the heater in the spring, fall and during especially cool summer days.

[sammyg2]

My pool and spa are computer controlled and I can use the remote control to program it any way I like. It's nice being able to turn on the spa and set the temperature while I'm sitting on the couch watching TV.
Right now the solar heating is set to kick on when the water in the solar panels is 3 degrees hotter than the pool, but doesn't turn on (or it shuts off) when the pool water is above 85 degrees which it is all the time right now due to the warm weather we're having.

There's a way to control my pool/spa over the internet but I haven't figured out how yet, mostly because I don't care.

[rnln]

My pool needs repair. Anyone in SCal knows any reasonable place to take a look at it?
Thanks.

[Joeaksa]

What do you need done? This is not rocket science you know.

I do most everything on my pool and its not difficult.

[sammyg2]

Originally Posted by rnln

My pool needs repair. Anyone in SCal knows any reasonable place to take a look at it?
Thanks.

The place that built my pool jacked me around for $300 so I will not recommend them.
Sorry that's no help to you, but it is an example of how stupidity in business can follow a company around.

[agrimmitt]

Re:
I'm interested in this heather...sound like a good cheap alternative to gas or electric heather...Anybody have experience with that type of pool heather...Thanks guys...
http://www.fafco.com/SolarPoolHeater/FAFCO-above-ground-pool-heaters.html
Zef:
You received a lot of very good input on solar heating. But to start solar is an additional way or option to heat any pool. I extents the swim season is the best way to look at it. If your pool has a spa as part of the system you will still need your gas or electric heater to hold or bring up the temp to say 102. And solar by itself with not keep or raise a spa or pool at night. A heat pump is a option in some case, but it's like solar it's in additional to a gas or electric heater of some type. Your local fuel (type of cost) are big factors, in Arizona the electrical rates are say lower than in California. And propane vs nature gas pricing needs to be address if you on bottle gas. And solar raise the pool temp over days in the summer, and only when the sun is out. But solar does work, just not year around in every area. Better in the summer, less if at all in the winter; and not during the rains or snow. And snow or freezing temps can damage solar panels, you will need to winterize them.

General idea's to review: Remember all this is a math formula
Total gallons in your pool
Check with a local solar company to do an energy review; parts of any country get more or less usable solar sunlight than others.
Gas or Propane>what your charged
Electric rate>what your charged
Type of pump you currently have> A variable speed pump would be a good grade to save energy with or without solar. What you save on electric you put towards gas. A new pump could or may be needed to pump the water to the roof or panels
A pool cover is a must with solar and should be on almost every pool. Saves energy, heat, water lose, and lowers chemcial usage.
Number of hours you are currently running your pool filtering system.
Talk to your poolman and then go of some of the website's.
Hope this input helps>enjoy your pool
Art

[rnln]

I know nothing about pool beside it is a big hole in the ground and is cover with different tyupe of compound to keep the water in there. This house has one and is in bad condition. I don't even know how the solar works or if it's is still working well. There are many piping and equipments in the back yard which I am not sure which is which. My options are rescueing it or destroying it depend on how it is now. I hope I know enough to see if all these equipments are still working, pumping, filtering, providing heat, etc.

[Rick Lee]

Originally Posted by rnln

I know nothing about pool beside it is a big hole in the ground and is cover with different tyupe of compound to keep the water in there. This house has one and is in bad condition. I don't even know how the solar works or if it's is still working well. There are many piping and equipments in the back yard which I am not sure which is which. My options are rescueing it or destroying it depend on how it is now. I hope I know enough to see if all these equipments are still working, pumping, filtering, providing heat, etc.

Find some independent pool maint. guy on Craigslist, tell him you need him only to get your pool up and running and not a monthly service. Offer to pay him well and use him when you go on vacation, but make it clear that you just need temp. help. I did that and spent around $200 for him to teach me everything, rebuild my filter, drain, refill and treat. I'm on my own now and can handle it. I'll call him back here if I run into trouble.

[Joeaksa]

Like Rick said, this is not rocket science. I did much the same thing and 10 years later have never used a full time pool service. There are even times when I have been gone for 3 months and just taught my friends taking care of the place what to do.

Its largely just putting the chlorine tabs every week (I do it on Sunday to remember) and test every so often. All this BS about it being expensive to keep up and time consuming is just that, BS. I have had the pump motor go out one time in 10 years, was a $75 overhaul job. The biggest maintenance pig is the Haward automatic cleaner that scurries around the bottom of the pool. At least once a year something needs working with on it and that runs from $30 to $50 to fix.

Went swimming in it yesterday, will prolly do it today as well. That and a margarita in your hand sure helps with the afternoon heat!

Joe A

[Joeaksa]

Originally Posted by stinbinnwats

Edited- spam post removed. -Z-man.

Hmmm, this looks an awful lot like SPAM??!!!!

[sammyg2]

One thing that eventually came as a surprise, the $90 solar blanket I bought at lowe's does more to keep the water warm than the solar heating system.
it's blue and kinda looks like heavy duty bubble-wrap.

It might not heat the water as much as a solar heating system but it keeps it from losing temperature at night so the net affect is better overall.
it also reduces evaporation so lower water bills and will reduce chlorine burn off. It keeps the pool cleaner too.
It's kind of a pain to put on and take off every time but it's worth it.