What Are The Benefits Of Sunheater Solar Pool Heating Systems
In addition to our easy DIY installation kits, solar pool heating systems offer multiple benefits to enhance your summer, including:
- Affordable: Annual costs to heat your pool in late Spring and early Fall can quickly stack up when using gas or electric heating systems. The only cost involved in using an above-ground or inground solar heater is the cost of running your pool pump, which you would regardless. The high-quality, polypropylene material will last for years, paying for itself in a matter of months.
- Environmentally friendly: Solar energy is both free and eco-friendly, making it an ideal solution for heating a large body of water for several months at a time. You will reduce your carbon footprint while .
- Get more from your pool: Add several extra weeks of play and swimming with your Sunheater solar pool heating system!
Sun2solar Clear Heat Retaining Blanket
These clear solar blankets are made with thousands of tiny air pockets that hold in the heat from the sun. The fact that its clear makes it easier for the UV rays to penetrate.
With the Sun2Solar Clear Heat Retaining Blanket, youll also have the added benefit of lower water evaporation. This way, youll have to refill the pool a lot less often, preserving our natural resources.
Using this regularly when no one is in the pool will help you retain the heat it accumulates during the day.
What Is The Best Way To Heat An Above Ground Pool
As you can see from this article, theres more than one way to heat a pool and the best way depends on your specific wants and needs.
For example, for someone with a small pool in Florida, solar rings might be the best way to heat their pool. But for someone in, say, New York, the best way might be using a gas heater.
Overall, solar heaters are the most environmentally-friendly, while gas is probably the heftiest in terms of providing plenty of heat fast.
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Best Solar Pool Heaters
What is the best solar pool heater? There are three types of solar pool heaters available on the market. The first one is a solar panel system that is typically mounted on the roof of a nearby building. This is the best choice for in-ground and large-sized swimming pools. The second type includes more portable heaters that need to be placed on the ground, near the pool. Such portable devices are generally used to heat up inflatable pools. The third type of heaters is solar pool covers, which are less powerful but have some other advantages. In addition to trapping heat, they reduce humidity and keep dirt and debris away from the pool.
In this guide, youll learn everything about solar pool heaters you always wanted to know but were afraid to ask! Well answer the questions like how they work, what the benefits are, things to look for when shopping, as well answer some frequently asked questions that bothered consumers. By the end of the guide, well review the worth buying.
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How Do Solar Pool Heaters Work
Solar pool heaters work by directing your pool water through a series of valves to reach your solar collectors, which are solar panels. Water enters the collectors and is heated by solar energy. The heated water returns to the pool. The cycle repeats itself until the pool reaches your desired temperature.
Even though solar heaters are made from several types of materials, polymer systems are most common for above ground pools.
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Blue Wave Solar Blanket
- RETAINS HEAT – Insulating thermal cells trap heat and retain warmth on cool cloudy days allowing you to swim in warmer water all summer long
This solar blanket from Blue Wave is made with insulating thermal cells that trap heat to keep your water warm, even on cooler days. Its made with a UV-protected material that holds up longer than other products to those damaging rays.
In addition to keeping your pool warm, it also uses passive heating to raise the temp of the water up to 15°. And it prevents a lot of evaporative water loss, which will help you use less water filling it up, and keep your chemicals more balanced.
Intex Solar Heater Mat
- Dimensions: 47.25 x 47.25 in
- Weight: 5.3 pounds
- Max Temp: 5-9°F
The Intex Solar Heater Matt acts the same as any regular solar panel. I have a 16000-gallon above-ground pool with me, which is quite big, so I used two of these to heat it up. The temperature rose to 3 to 5 degrees Celsius, which was enough for me to have a nice swim. So I would say that for a family that há an 8000-gallon pool, one mat would be enough.
Connecting two solar mats was no problem, too, since it came with one connecting hose and a bypass valve. It was easy to install, too, because we can hook them up with no problem.
I also do not have to be worried about it being exposed to the elements that much since the PVC is UV-resistant. And if you want to keep it because its off-season, its no hassle at all, because it can be folded and stored in the shed easily.
- Hose will detach if your pump is stronger than ½ hp.
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Swimjoy Industrial Solar Pool Heater
The SwimJoymaximizes flow and increases efficiency. Headers and risers are formed together through a patented manufacturing process creating one solid piece eliminating seams and welds that can crack with age and stress. This produces the strongest possible connection and ensures a low maintenance system.
The solar pool heater features an innovative clamping system with a proven record. It connects panels to PVC plumbing in an efficient manner. The panels are mounted closer for a more efficient heating system. It also eliminates rubber hoses and metal clamps that require rooftop maintenance and replacement.
Pros
- Provides balanced heating to prevent hot spots
Cons
- Hard to achieve high temperatures
Dohenys Solar Heating Systems For Above Ground Swimming Pools
The days of having to turn on your gas or electric heat are over! Now you can enjoy a swim in the cold without worrying about how much it costs. This is because, with this solar pool heating system, all thats needed for creating warm water is sunlight reflecting off its panels. This system even works great during cloudy weather conditions as well. This allows you to add more time to your swimming season with free energy from the sun!
Additionally, if you want it warmer, you can connect multiple collectors to increase heating efficiency. Also, each dome can raise pool temps up to 10 degrees in seven days. The above-ground solar heating panels are an excellent way to save money and energy by using our solar pool heating system! These high-tech panels collect the suns rays, warming water that circulates through them before returning it back into your swimming pool.
Review:
This solar heater is a good value for the money. It reliably raises the temp of our pool by 7-10 degrees on sunny days. We did have to purchase additional tubing and attachments to make sure the solar panels can be in the sun.
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What Size Solar Pool Heater Do I Need To Heat My Above Ground Pool
Choosing the right solar pool heater size depends on the solar panels surface area and the size of your pool. Youll need enough solar paneling or tubing to equal 50% of your pools surface area. For example, if your pools surface area is 600 square feet, youll need 300 square feet of solar panels or tubing to heat it. Smaller above ground swimming pools of up to 8,000 gallons can get by with one unit. Larger pools require additional units with bypass kits. Youll also need to consider local landscape features and how much sunlight you get.
Evaluating Your Sites Solar Resource
Before you buy and install a solar pool heating system, you first need to consider your sites solar resource. The efficiency and design of a solar pool heater depends on how much of the suns energy reaches your building site.
Solar pool heating systems use both direct and diffuse solar radiation. Therefore, even if you dont live in a climate thats warm and sunny most of the time like the southwestern United States your site still might have an adequate solar resource. Basically, if your building site has unshaded areas and generally faces south, its a good candidate for a solar pool heating system.
Your local solar system supplier or installer can perform a solar site analysis.
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Evaluating Your Site’s Solar Resource
Before you buy and install a solar pool heating system, you first need to consider your site’s solar resource. The efficiency and design of a solar pool heater depends on how much of the sun’s energy reaches your building site.
Solar pool heating systems use both direct and diffuse solar radiation. Therefore, even if you don’t live in a climate that’s warm and sunny most of the time — like the southwestern United States — your site still might have an adequate solar resource. Basically, if your building site has unshaded areas and generally faces south, it’s a good candidate for a solar pool heating system.
Your local solar system supplier or installer can perform a solar site analysis.
Best Features Of Sunquest 8
The system is meant to end user-installable, and as such, the product designers left no stone unturned in order to include from various different plumbing fittings to individual screws.
Thus, giving the end-user the confidence, they need to build their own pool heating system and save greatly on gas heating.
Both In-ground and Above Ground Heater
Typically, the systems for in-ground andabove ground pool heating are different. This is due to the heat retainingcharacteristics of the category of the pool. However, one need not worry aboutsuch things.
The kit is made to the industrial quality check that allows it to be a solid heater for pools as well as in-ground pools.
All one needs is to hook up the kit with the existing water pump of the pool, and there you have it instant free of charge pool heating for the foreseeable future.
Excellent Compatibility
The complete system comes with standard 1-1/2 & 1-1/4 connectors for flexible hoses connection and 1-1/2 connectors for rigid piping.
Additionally, the system can be ordered with 2 connectors that designed for two-inch rigid PVC pipes.
Increases Temperature
The goal of the entire endeavor is to allowfor effectively free pool heating by harnessing the power of the sun. As such,it is paramount to know how much heating can be expected.
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Sunheater Ws220p Pool Heating System
- Raises swimming pool temperature by 15
- Extra-large surface area to accommodate bigger pools
- Heavy-duty polypropylene heating panels
- Sturdy tubing for improved durability
- Hassle-free installation with included hardware
- Somewhat pricey
Heating above ground pool units does not have to entail cumbersome work and costly maintenance. Effortless to set up, The SunHeater WS220P promises to heat the swimming pools water temperature reliably without requiring electricity.
I like this solar pool heaters simple design, belying its capability to increase water temperatures by 15. Although real-world results might vary, I am convinced this product does an excellent job of extending swimming pool times until late autumn. My kids will not shiver when diving into the pool with their friends during chilly weekends.
This product can cover a surface area of up to 40 square feet. In other words, one pair of these heaters are enough for 24 above ground pool units or 15×30 oval swimming pools. For the extra-large 18×34 oval unit at my house, I only need to equip four heating panels.
I am impressed with this products thoughtful design. The polypropylene material is thicker than my existing solar pool heating panel, giving me peace of mind about its longevity.
I also commend the rigid tubing, which supports the heating panel while allowing optimum contraction and expansion to mitigate the effects of air temperature fluctuations.
Hayward Heatpro Pool Heat Pump
For slightly smaller above-ground pools, Hayward also produces a model that is best suited for pools in the 90,000-140,000 range.
Made with a profiled fan that is engineered to be quiet, and with a corrosion-free gold fin, the Hayward Pool Heat Pump is designed to withstand the elements while also being relatively quiet.
The heat pump is efficient, but best paired with an above-ground pool cover when the pool is not in use. As one reviewer notes, leaving the pool uncovered combined with a half-decent wind quickly robs a lot of the heat being generated by the pump.
Again, Haywards stuff isnt cheap, with the 140,000 BTU model ranging in the $9k+ price range. With the explosion in backyard pools over the past couple of years, this has meant some models dont last long in stock .
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Goplus Solar Dome Solar Heater
Since I have great results using a solar dome heater for my above-ground pool, I thought I should find some more to add to my list. Then, this Goplus Solar Dome Solar Heater caught my attention.
This product is excellent to use when autumn is near, and we want our above-ground pool to stay warm. Due to the solar cover, heat gets trapped in the dome, letting us warm our pool. This is why it also makes it a perfect solar heater, especially when we live somewhere cold.
I managed to increase my pool temperature by 5 °F more to enjoy a warmer swim than usual when I used this product.
I also like the fact that when I received this product, it came with two hoses: A long one that measures 38.6 inches and a short one that is 14.5 inches. Its dome design is beautiful and unique, adding a modern vibe to my swimming pool.
We do not need gas connections to run this solar-powered heater. And we also save up on electricity when utilizing the system.
- The solar cover helps concentrate heat in the solar dome
- Can raise pool temperature to 5 °F higher
- Includes h a long and short hose for installation
- It comes with a beautiful dome design
- Does not use gas or electricity
- The hose is flimsy and may easily be damaged
How To Install A Solar Pool Heater For Above Ground Swimming Pool
Your solar pool heater should come with an instruction manual on how to install them, and it will usually be like the one below.
So, place your solar heaters in a proper place where they can get the most sunlight. Next, connect one of the hoses to the pump. If theres a controller with the product, then you should connect it too. From that, connect the end of it to the solar collector. Then connect the hose from the solar connector back to the pool.
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Determining The Efficiency Of Solar Swimming Pool Heating System
You can determine the efficiency of a solar swimming pool heating system based on the collector’s thermal performance rating if available.
A solar collector’s thermal performance rating is measured by Btu per square foot per day: Btu/
Or, the rating can be measured by kilowatt hours per square meter per day: kWh/.
It can also be measured by Btu per day, which is simply the rating in Btu/ multiplied by the area in ft2. Also used is kWh per day, which is the rating in kWh/ multiplied by the area in m2.
The higher the number, the greater the solar energy collection efficiency. However, because weather conditions, instrumentation accuracies, and other test condition constraints can vary, the thermal performance of any two collectors should be considered approximately the same if their ratings are within 25 Btu/ of each other.
High efficiency solar collectors not only will reduce your annual operating costs, but may also require fewer square feet of collector area to heat the pool.
Install Our Solar Heating Pool Products Yourself
Another reason many pool owners turn to Sunheaters solar heating pool products is the do-it-yourself design. You wont need to hire electricians or contractors to install this system, as its designed for the average person to set up. It has many features that contribute to easy installation and efficiency, such as the tube-on-web design that increases surface area and the wind vents that allow for stability in windy weather.
Enjoy free heat from the sun and make pool warming simple with an affordable DIY solution from the trusted experts at Sunheater.
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Sunheater S120u Solar Pool Heater
- Increases pool temperature by 10 degrees Fahrenheit
- Durable construction for guaranteed longevity of the heater
- Patented web design for maximum sunlight exposure
- Eco-friendly and affordable
- Easy to install and use
- Does not have a good warranty
Now another trusted brand for a solar heater for above ground swimming pool in the industry is SunHeater. One of their great products in the market today is the SunHeater S120U universal solar pool heater. SunHeater is among the brands you can trust to deliver you with well-made products that we can guarantee reliable performance.
The SunHeater S120U universal solar heater is a great choice. It is suitable for any above-ground or in ground pools. If exposed to maximum sunlight, you can expect it to increase pool temperature by 6 to 10 degrees Fahrenheit. You can easily enjoy your pool at any season and extend your summer with this heater.
The quality of the SunHeater S120U universal solar heater is also uncompromised. It is made of high-grade and durable materials. The solar above ground pool heater is manufactured with the most suitable artistry to ensure a quality product. It can withstand any outside weather conditions and elements to which may be exposed.
The SunHeater S120U universal solar heater offers maximum performance. Its patented web design allows more surface area to be exposed to sunlight. It enables the heater to harness more energy and heat to increase the pool temperature efficiently.
