Make a Swimming Pool Solar Heater

  

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Using sunshine to heat your pool water is a very practical way of getting free energy from the sun. A solar water heating system allows you to extend your swimming season and to top up the pool heat over night without having to worry about the heating costs. Swimming pool solar heating systems can heat a large amount of water each day, and are quite capable of keeping the pool temperature at 80 to 85 degrees even in moderate sunshine.

Fitting a solar pool heater is also a good way of adding value to your property.

Buying a ready-made solar water heating system could cost you anywhere from $2,000 to $4,000 depending on the size of the collectors and the installation charges. But you could build your own swimming pool solar heater for an average-sized pool for less than $200, including materials and an extra recirculating pump.

Solar pool heaters are connected directly to your existing pool filter system. During the day while the filter is operating, the water is passed through the solar collectors and returned to the pool. You can have a swimming pool solar heater system which has no moving parts, such as a recirculating pump, but this is governed by the daily sunshine activityin your area.

The solar collector panels are typically installed on a roof in a position to receive the maximum amount of direct sunlight. Ideally the collectors should face the sun at mid-day and be tilted to your latitude less 10 to 15 degrees. Several factors will influence the size of the collector panels, but 50% of your pool area is a good starting point. Increase this to 75% if the collectors are laid flat or facing west. In some cases, where there are significant shade or strong prevailing winds, the collector area can be as much as 100% of pool size. Because these solar collectors are space-hungry, it is often better to fix them to a ground frame or even a suitable fence.

These are some factors which need to be considered in the design of a swimming pool solar heater:

• Climate and sunlight availability.
• Building codes and safety regulations.
• Pool size.
• Length of the swimming season.
• Required pool temperature.
• Solar collector efficiency.

This is why you should consider getting some guidance in designing your swimming pool solar heating system, because only a suitably-qualified person will have the necessary expertise to give you the right plans for making your swimming pool solar heating system work properly for you.

Making and fitting a swimming pool solar heater is very easy, and you need no special skills or fancy tools. You will find all needed materials in your local hardware shop. However, using the appropriate experts will make your job much easier and more fun. We have no hesitation in recommending one group of professionals who have produced a simple set of plans and a comprehensive set of clearly illustrated instructions to guide you every step of the way in making your solar pool heaters. For less than $200, which includes all plans, instructions, materials and expert guidance, you can make a fully working and professional solar water heating system for your swimming pool – quite an inspiring thought!

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