Solar Pool Heater Buyers Guide

By Mandy Schwimmer on May 12, 2011

This year is bringing a huge surge in the number of people who are interested in buying a solar pool heater for their swimming pools. The advantages are obvious: in these days of high energy prices, the operating cost is virtually nil, it is relatively easy to install yourself and it’s environmentally friendly. Add to that the fact that any pool heater will increase your swim season by at least one half and you have a recipe for pool success.

First, let’s take a quick look at a solar energy diagram to see how solar pool heaters work.

Solar Energy Diagram

Solar Energy Diagram

In general, your existing pool pump pushes cold water from the pool through the black solar heater tubes that absorb the sun’s heat and transfer it to the cooler water as it passes through. The warmed water is then pumped back into the pool. As you can see, the concept is very simple and environmentally sound. Click here to see a solar heater plumbing diagram.

You, like many others, may have questions about solar pool heaters. For example:

  • Is a solar pool heater right for your location, climate and type of swimming pool?
  • What types of solar pool heaters are available and which one is right for your pool?
  • How long will a solar pool heater last?
  • What accessories will you need with a solar pool heater?

Let’s examine some answers to these questions.

Is a solar pool heater right for your location, climate and type of swimming pool?

If you live in a climate that has mostly sunny days and if you have a large area of your roof or yard that gets eight or more hours of sunshine per day then a solar pool heater could be right for you. Whether you have an in ground pool or an above ground pool, there is a model that will work for your pool.

What types of solar pool heaters are available and which one is right for your pool?

Solar heaters are available in a number of configurations for both in ground and above ground pools. Your choice will depend on the type of pool you have, the amount of space you have available and the orientation of that space to the sun.

Solar panels can be mounted on your roof (south-facing is best), on the ground or on panels along the side of your above ground pool (again, a south-facing orientation is best). Roof mounted solar panels, like the ones from Enersol work best for in ground pools. Mounting panels on the ground, along the side of the pool or a fence can be a good solution for above ground pools. SunGrabber is a popular choice for above ground pools.

The rule of thumb for how many solar panels you require is: the surface area of the panels should equal the surface area of your pool.

Also available are solar coils that require less space and can be “daisy-chained” to achieve the amount of heat you require. These can be laid on the ground or on a nearby roof in a sunny spot.

Another option is the liquid solar blanket, available in several formats. Basically, the liquid blanket is a thin layer of invisible, environmentally friendly liquid that covers the surface of the pool, trapping heat and preventing evaporation. Liquid solar blankets are biodegradable and will not affect your pool’s chemistry mix. The advantage of a liquid solar blanket is that it is relatively inexpensive to purchase, requires no “installation” and does not require any space outside the pool. The drawback is that the liquid film degrades over time and with use and must be replenished frequently.

How long will a solar pool heater last?

Solar panels, like those from Enersol and SunGrabber carry warranties of ten to fifteen years, so you can expect a long life from this type of heater if you maintain it properly.

Solar coils, carry a one year warranty and are subject to size and pressure restrictions on the pool pump. By choosing carefully and maintaining the coils according to manufacturers recommendations you should be able to get several years use from them.

Liquid solar blankets, as mentioned before, are biodegradable, so they must be replenished on a regular basis. There are several devices available to automatically dispense the liquid when it gets low, but these must also be checked and refilled on a regular basis.

What accessories will you need with a solar pool heater?

Regardless of the type of solar pool heater you decide on, it is highly recommended that you also use a solar blanket to help retain the heat that is gained during the daylight hours. Solar heaters heat the water slowly, only a few degrees per day, so preventing evaporation and heat loss is critical to the effectiveness of a solar pool heating system.

Solar blankets are available in large sheets sized to fit your pool. You will want to consider having a solar blanket reel to help prevent snags and tears when removing these blankets. Solar rings are smaller and are held together by magnets placed into the edges of the rings. These can be removed one at a time, but it is usually necessary to get into the water to remove all of the rings.

If you decide on a roof mounted heater, you may need an auxiliary pump to help lift the water to the roof. You will also want to install an automatic thermostat that measures the temperature differential between the pool water and the water in the solar heater. When the temperature differential reaches the set level, the thermostat opens a valve to circulate the heated water to the pool. When the water temperature is equalized, the valve closes to prevent circulating cooler water back to the pool.

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Aqua Pro Inground Heat Pump Review

By Mandy Schwimmer on December 6, 2010

Save on heating costs with these commercial grade heat pumps!

Aqua Pro Heat Pumps are the most efficient, trouble-free way to heat your in ground pool. Heat pumps compress the outdoor air, extracting the heat from it and sending the heated water back to your pool. Heat pumps are so efficient that they are the cheapest way to heat your pool; less expensive even than natural gas. Aqua Pro heat pumps are so well constructed that they have some features only found on commercial grade heat pumps: Pure 100% Titanium Heat Exchanger technology – commercial grade technology carries a lifetime warranty – NO CHEMICAL EXCLUSIONS!

Other features of the Aqua Pro Inground Heat Pumps include:

  • Aqua Pro Pool HeatersPro Smart Controls
  • Self Diagnostic Codes for ease of diagnosis
  • Automatic defrost allows heating with outside temperatures as low as 38 degrees
  • High temperature lockout feature
  • Compatible with all known remote systems
  • Program the controller to eliminate the need for a time clock
  • Override any time clock to maintain your desired temperature
  • Silent Series – innovative design makes this line of heat pumps virtually silent
  • Compact footprint – compact design will fit any size pad
  • 15 yr. Limited Warranty
  • ARI Certified BTU Rating System means all Aqua Pros heat output claims are factual & certified
  • Environmentally Friendly – efficient ‘EcoAPEX’ design
  • Manufactured with quality in mind
  • Certified by ETL, UL, ISO9001 Quality

To choose the right size of Aqua Pro Heat Pump for your pool, Click Here.

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By Mandy Schwimmer on November 27, 2010

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Solar Pool Covers Keep Your Pool Warm

By Mandy Schwimmer on November 14, 2010

For LOW prices and great service on Solar Pool Covers Click Here

Whether you have a swimming pool heater or not, you want your pool water to get warm as early as possible in the spring and stay warm as late as possible into the fall. Even if you live far enough south to have a year-round swim season, you have some cooler nights that make you long for some additional heat in the pool. Really, no matter where you live or how long your swim season is you can benefit from a solar pool cover.

Solar pool covers, similar to bubble wrap, are two layers of vinyl separated by a layer of air bubbles that provide an insulating layer of “dead air space” on top of your pool. You may not realize that approximately 90% of heat loss results from evaporation. By preventing evaporation and separating the cooler atmosphere from the warmer pool water, a solar cover preserves the heat absorbed during the day or generated by a gas, electric or solar pool heater. Keeping the heat in the pool can save you a lot of money on energy costs if you are running another type of heater.

Solar covers come in several types. Let’s take a look at those to see which one is right for your pool.

Solar Blankets

Solar Blanket A solar blanket is sized to fit your pool. It will cover the entire surface, so it will help keep dust and pollution out of the pool as well as keeping the heat in. Solar blankets are usually used with a solar cover reel to make putting it on and taking it off easier as this will need to be done before and after every swim. The reel also helps protect the cover from tears and punctures so it will last longer.

Sun Rings

sun ringsSun rings are like big flat pillows that have magnets in the edges to keep them correctly spaced. Because they are in multiple pieces, they are easier to remove than a large blanket when you want to swim. Even though they do not cover the entire surface of the pool, they cover enough to keep the heat in and they provide the further benefit of allowing air circulation and sunlight to help keep the pool water healthy.

Liquid Solar Blankets

liquid solar blanketsLiquid solar blankets form a thin layer on the surface of the pool. You can swim without having to remove or store anything and they can last up to 30 days. Usually they come in a container that automatically releases more liquid after swimming or whenever the heat layer gets disbursed.

Get low prices and great service on solar pool covers..

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Technorati

By Mandy Schwimmer on November 3, 2010

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Loop-Loc Picked For Best Safety Cover

By Mandy Schwimmer on October 31, 2010

Free Shipping on all Loop-Loc Stock safety cover purchases!SPECIAL:
Free Shipping on all Loop-Loc Stock safety cover purchases!

A sign in the Loop-Loc manufacturing facility reminds their craftsmen daily: “The Quality of the Cover you make today can save a life tomorrow.” The sign has been there since the company’s inception in 1977. This dedication to superior workmanship is embodied in every Loop-Loc cover that is produced. Loop-Loc safety covers are designed to exceed established industry standards. They even carry an Underwriter’s Laboratory (UL) certification meaning that all their specifications have been tested and found to meet or exceed the stated tolerances. So you can rest assured that when you purchase a Loop-Loc pool safety cover you have chosen the very best.

Loop-Loc covers pass the elephant test

Loop-Loc covers pass the elephant test

Loop-Loc demonstrated the integrity of their mesh pool safety cover by bringing an African elephant and her trainer onto a covered pool. The safety cover performed perfectly, even when the elephant accidentally punctured the mesh cover with her tusks! Many grateful customers have reported incidents where lives were saved by a Loop-Loc cover. Needless to say, they are loyal Loop-Loc customers for life.

In addition to being strong and durable, Loop-Loc covers are lightweight and very easy to use. They can be put on and taken off by a single person. Since the mesh panels let water drain into the pool below, there is no need for a pool cover pump. Loop-Loc winter pool safety covers do not allow water to accumulate, making them a life saver for any person or animal that might accidentally find themselves on the covered pool. It prevents decomposition of leaves and other debris that can create a real hazard with a solid pool cover.

Loop-Loc covers are available for in ground pools and above ground pools. At least a two foot width of self-supporting decking is required for installation on an above ground pool. Safety covers are available in blue, black, tan or gray to fit in nicely with your landscaping.

Irregularly shaped pools are no problem. Your Loop-Loc cover will be custom designed to exactly fit any size or shape of pool using Computer Aided Design (CAD). You can also get wedge or rectangle shaped panels for pools with multiple levels or attached spas, giving your pool a completely child-proof and animal-proof safety seal.

You can choose between an all mesh pool safety cover or a solid safety cover with mesh drainage panels that block most of the sun’s light helping to prevent algae growth in your covered pool. A solid pool cover without mesh panels is also available, if that is your preference. It blocks 100% of the sun’s light and comes with an automatic pool cover pump that must be used at all times to meet ASTM safety cover standards.

Get Free Shipping on Loop-Loc Stock Covers

Get Free Shipping on Loop-Loc Stock Covers

Free Shipping on All Stock Loop-Loc Pool Safety Covers!

For measuring instructions and to order your new Loop-Loc cover Click Here.

Need Loop-Loc repair kits or extra hardware for your cover? Get them here

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Pool Cover Pumps: It’s Not Just About Safety

By Mandy Schwimmer on October 29, 2010

If you own a solid pool cover you are probably aware that a pool cover pump is a strongly recommended or required (on a solid safety cover) pool cover accessory, but do you know why?

A pool cover pump will provide a number of benefits. Many of them are safety related, which is why cover pumps are so highly recommended, but not all. In fact, your pool cover pump is a really hard-working part of your overall swimming pool system. Here’s why:

  • The first and most important benefit of a pool cover pump is that it eliminates standing water that can create a drowning hazard. Animals and small children can drown in a tiny amount of water, so getting rid of it is crucial.
  • Beyond that, the cover pump prevents leaves and other debris from rotting and creating a stinky unhealthy environment where mosquitoes and other disease-carrying insects can breed.
  • By reducing the weight on top of a solid pool cover, the pump helps keep the cover from pulling out from under its weights and sinking into the pool.
  • By reducing the stress, a pool cover pump helps the cover to last longer.
  • It can be used to lower the water level or drain your pool and remove standing water from a basement or a boat.

Pool cover pumps are available in manual models that you must turn on and off as water accumulates and in automatic models that sense the presence of water and turn themselves on, then back off when the water level goes down. Automatic pumps usually come with a stand or wide base to allow them to stand upright on a pool cover. Even automatic pumps should be checked periodically to make sure that they have not become clogged with debris and that all standing water has been removed.

If you take good care of your pool cover pump it can keep your swimming pool cover a healthier, safer place for years to come.

Click Here to read our review of the Water Wizard Pool Cover Pumps.

Click Here to find low prices on pool cover pumps.

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The Pool Heater Cover – A New Solution To An Old Problem

By Mandy Schwimmer on October 29, 2010

If you own a swimming pool heater I’ll bet you’ve experienced something similar to this: one weekend in the early spring you go out to open your pool. You can just feel the warm comforting water surrounding you and you are really looking forward to that first swim of the season. But to your dismay you find a mess of leaves, seeds, pine needles, twigs and who knows what else crowding into every nook and cranny of your heater. All of these items absorb moisture and hold it next to your pool heater system. Worse yet, a thick coat of dust covers every surface. Instead of enjoying that long anticipated swim, you now have to clean all those nooks and crannies and remove all the debris. As you clean you notice that some of your pool heater fittings are corroded from all the moisture that absorbed into the leaves and trash. That requires a trip to the nearest pool store for new parts so you can make repairs. You may have to order in the parts and wait for them to arrive.

If this has happened to you, you may have addressed the problem by tying a plastic tarp around your heating system. You tied it down tight and looked at that ugly tarp all winter long, sure that in the spring you would remove it to find your pool heater nice and clean. But that’s not what happened. When you pulled off the tarp you found that it had been nibbled by critters and blasted by storm winds and now it had tiny holes all in it; tiny holes that let in moisture that, once inside, could not escape. Despite your best efforts, leaves and other debris still got inside and became soggy. Condensation formed inside at some point and it was trapped too, resulting in lots of corrosion on your heater fittings. In fact, that tarp might have created more problems than it solved. Time for more parts and more repairs.

You just know there has to be a better way, one that is effective and attractive to look at. And you’re right. It’s time you tried a pool heater cover.

Pool heater covers from Weather-Out are made from high quality durable vinyl that won’t tear or deteriorate in the sunlight. Unlike your tarp, they have a non-woven interior lining that will not retain moisture but will prevent condensation, mold, mildew and corrosion. They are fitted to your swimming pool heater to effectively keep out rain, snow and debris. The roomy fit allows for plenty of air circulation so that your pool heater system stays clean and dry all winter. It closes with a 1” Velcro strip so you can get a snug fit with no need to disconnect any piping. And they do all this while looking fabulous.

You may be wondering why you’ve never heard of a pool heater cover before or why your pool professional has never covered your swimming pool heater. The pool heater cover was developed by a pair of swimming pool owners who had been struggling to keep their pool heater systems clean and dry just like you. While the product has been around for a while, it is only now enjoying wide exposure.

When you consider all the damage that can occur to an unprotected or improperly protected swimming pool heater, it is easy to see that a reasonably priced pool heater cover would quickly pay for itself and actually save you money on cleaning and repairs. You can use the money you save for some cool pool toys and you can spend the time you save enjoying your pool with family and friends.

Click Here to read our Weather-Out Pool Heater Cover Review.

Click Here to get the best price on your Weather-Out Pool Heater Cover.

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In Ground Winter Pool Covers – What You Should Know

By Mandy Schwimmer on October 6, 2010

If you are thinking about purchasing an in ground winter pool cover you should know some of the benefits and drawbacks before you buy one. Here are a few things you might want to consider.

Winter pool covers are great at preventing leaves, pine needles, twigs and other debris from dirtying your pool and at preventing evaporation of your pool chemicals over the winter months. They are not pool safety covers, nor will they help keep heat in your pool. Inground pool covers are available in mesh or solid configurations and are kept in place by water bags or blocks, planter boxes, cinder blocks or other heavy weights that will prevent the cover from blowing off or sinking into the water. They are also available in a variety of colors; usually blue, black or tan, to blend in with your landscaping.

Inground winter pool covers are made of UV resistant vinyl material to resist deterioration. Better quality pool covers are made from multiple layers of materials that add strength, prevent punctures and help deter algae growth.Theygenerally stay on until you open your the next spring. The cover lies on top of the water, below the level of the pool deck.

This creates one of the most serious drawbacks of a solid pool cover, namely that they require continuous maintenance. Because the cover lies below the level of the pool deck and the cover is impermeable, it collects rain water, snow and ice that are trapped there and create a potential drowning hazard. As leaves, dust and other debris collect on the top of the pool cover, a slimy mess develops that is extremely dangerous to small animals, pets and children.

In order to eliminate this potentially life threatening hazard, a pool cover pump needs to be used on a regular basis to remove standing water. Leaves and other solid debris should also be removed frequently so the pump does not get clogged. Keeping in ground winter pool covers clean and dry makes opening the pool in spring much easier since you don’t have to deal with the added weight of the dirty water or worry about spilling it into the pool.

You can avoid this maintenance in one of two ways: either add a leaf net to the top of the solid cover and remove the accumulated leaves and debris frequently (you will still need a pool cover pump to remove standing water) or use a mesh winter pool cover. A mesh cover will permit rain, snow and melted ice to drain into the pool but holds the leaves and other debris on top where they can be easily removed. This simplifies winter maintenance, makes pool opening quicker and eliminates the need for a pool cover pump. A mesh in ground pool cover is not as effective as a solid cover at preventing algae and evaporation, but it is better than leaving the pool uncovered.

The advantages of in ground winter pool covers are that they are fairly reasonably priced and they keep your pool water clean throughout the fall and winter seasons. This saves a lot of work when the time comes to open the pool in spring.

Keep in mind that a child-proof safety fence should always be in place when using in ground winter pool covers because these covers do not meet the standards of the ASTM for pool safety covers.

To learn more about specific pool covers check out our pool cover reviews

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Weather-Out Pool Heater Covers Review

By Mandy Schwimmer on September 1, 2010

Weather-Out manufactures high quality pool heater covers that protect your expensive swimming pool heater from damaging and efficiency hampering debris; that is, leaves, pine needles, twigs, and any other sort of debris that can land in or be blown into the pool heater.

During the fall and early spring, trees are shedding an abundance of leaves, twigs, seeds and pine needles which can land inside your heater trapping moisture. In the winter, rain, snow and ice accumulate in, on and around your pool heater. This debris can damage the heater by sitting and getting jammed into the heat exchanger (The expensive copper and finned tubing that the pool water is sent through to be heated). This debris will collect and retain damaging moisture, attract insects and rodents, and in worst case scenarios, catch fire. This sort of debris can simply be brushed off the top of a heater covered with a Weather-Out™ pool heater cover.

If you live in a southern locale your swimming pool heater can be covered at other times of the year as well. In the summer, or during any period of extended non-use, cover your pool heater to protect it from sprinkler systems, rain storms and salt water spray.

The Weather-Out™ pool heater cover features:

  • A high quality durable vinyl exterior that resists tears and damage from sunlight while protecting the heater from rain, salt water spray, sprinkler systems, ice, snow, leaves, and other debris.
  • A non-woven interior lining that will not retain moisture and prevents condensation.
  • A generous fit that allows plenty of air flow. The result is a clean, dry heater.
  • A Velcro seam that allows easy installation and removal, fitting nicely around pool heater plumbing without having to disconnect or remove any piping whatsoever.

Weather-Out Pool Heater Covers
Weather Out pool heater covers prevent moisture build up and resultant rust from harming your swimming pool heater components. In fact, your pool heater cover will probably pay for itself in just a couple of seasons.

To buy a Weather-Out pool heater cover, Click Here.

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