Solar Collectors
A solar heating system connects a pool pump to a collection of solar collectors where solar energy heats the water before it returns to the pool. Unglazed flat plate collectors are the most cost-effective solar pool heaters. They use copper tubing that runs horizontally across an aluminum plate with a tempered glass covering. These collectors have been known to raise a chilly pool’s temperature up to 15 degrees Fahrenheit. Meanwhile, glazed solar collectors are much more expensive but they can also heat the pool even in winter since they have an absorber plate made of low iron tempered glass that collects more solar energy.
Pumps
Before you install a solar heater, it’s important to make sure that your pool pump will work with it. You should be able to use a standard 2-horsepower pump for small pools and a 3-horsepower for larger pools, but it’s best to consult with a pool professional.
To figure out the right size pump, you’ll need to know your pool’s volume; its turnover rate (the time it takes for the flow of water to be filtered through the pool); and its total dynamic head. You should also consider your electric company’s rates and the number of times you will need to run your pump. Running your pump during non-peak hours when electricity is cheaper will help reduce your overall utility bill.
Flow Control Valves
The plumbing system that runs your pool consists of pipes and valves that allow water to move from the pool, through the filter, past the heater, and back into the pool. These parts work seamlessly together to create a perfectly circulating system, but it’s important that you understand how they all work.
Flow control valves make sure that the filtered pool water doesn’t go to the solar collectors when the sun is out and the collectors are too hot. Typically, they’re attached to the pipe that leads from the pool to the solar panels. This is because the solar panels are usually located on a home’s roof to capture the best sun, and whenever the pump shuts off, that pipe would naturally backflow into the pool.
Want to swim comfortably all year long? Well now you can, with a quality solar pool heating system installed by Mohave Solar! They’re a solar pool heating company in the Lake Havasu City, AZ region, providing cost-effective, sustainable heating solutions to maximize the enjoyment you get from your pool. The time to make the switch to solar to heat your pool is now, and they can make the process fast, easy, and affordable. Contact them today!