Eco-friendly pool heating

ECO-FRIENDLY POOL HEATING

Enhance your swimming season with a solar system

The principles involved in solar pool heating are pretty simple. Imagine a garden hose that has been lying in the sun for several hours. When you turn on the tap, out comes hot water. The sun's energy has been absorbed by the hose and transmitted as heat to the water inside it. Basically the hose acts as a solar collector, which is the process of solar heating.

Solar pool heating works on a similar system whereby the sun's heat is captured and transferred to your swimming pool.

The water in your pool is heated as it flows through a series of solar absorbers – also known as the collector – strategically installed in the contours of your roof. Heated water is then returned to the pool to increase its overall temperature and extend your swimming season.

To capture the maximum amount of energy produced by the sun, the solar collector is usually installed on a north-facing surface such as the roof of the house or garage, on a patio cover, or specially built structure. This way, a typical daily temperature of 20-25°C (68-77°F) can achieve a roof material temperature of around 50°C (122°F).

Unlike other pool heaters on the market, solar pays for itself in just a few years. After the initial setup cost, the ongoing running expenses are minimal as heat is provided free from the sun. This enables you to increase the amount of time you spend in your pool without worrying about expensive energy bills.

Swimart use and recommend Zane solar heating products (Zane Gulfstream and Zane Gulfpanel pictured [left and right respectively]) and can arrange for an authorised solar heating expert to tailor a heating system specifically for your swimming pool.

SIX SOLAR HEATING FACTS

1. A solar heated pool can often double, or even triple, the average swimming season – increasing it from two to three months to eight or nine months
2. Depending upon the weather and the system, most pools can be heated with solar in less than 24 hours
3. Some solar systems only require a small pump to push water onto the roof; the actual heating of the water is carried out by the sun at no extra cost
4. Solar controllers allow you to heat pool water initially with the sun's free energy, and then automatically switch over to secondary heating
5. Ideally, leisure pools should be heated to 28°C (82°F), while pools used for fitness and training are best around 26°C (78°F)
6. The most effective way to prevent heat loss is to install a pool cover. An un-blanketed pool loses 2-3 times more heat than a blanketed pool. Pool covers virtually eliminate evaporation and reduce heat loss by insulating the surface of the pool and greatly reducing pool-heating costs.