How to Use Solar Energy to Heat a Pool

How to Use Solar Energy to
Heat a Pool

Heating a pool can be a very costly
undertaking that could be potentially damaging
to the environment. As pools are mainly used
during the summer heat or in locations that
are hot year round, sunlight may be a smart
option to keep the water at a comfortable
temperature. The success of heating your pool
with sunlight will vary depending on how much
sun you get, the size of your pool, and the
method that you choose to heat your water.

Add more length to your hose when
you are filling your pool. The length
of the hose contributes to the temperature
of the water within it. While fifty feet of
hose is generally sufficient, more length
means that the water in the hose will have
more time to warm up and the added
surface area gives off more heat as well.
[1]
Use a dark colored hose because the
darker the color, the more solar
energy is absorbed. [2]
A black rubber hose is ideal and is
relatively inexpensive. Alternately,
use black garden irrigation pipe
because it is thin-walled to allow
quick heat transfer. While it is
inexpensive, it will also kink easily.
Both are readily found in most home
supply stores.
Angle your hose towards the sun and
try to expose as much of it to the
sun. When filling your pool, point the hose
directly towards the sun or leave space
between your hose and any surface so it
does not cast a shadow onto itself. This
allows a greater angle for the moving sun
to strike the hose and heat the water
within.
Mount your hose on a board that can
be angled towards the sun for more
exposure.
In some cases you may want to
mount the hose on a board and
attach it to a sun-facing roof. This is
not recommended unless you have a
suitable low roof, such a shed, or are
skilled at working at roof height.
Fill the pool slowly. Use a thinner
stream of water when filling your pool
because it will heat more quickly. Try
keeping the stream around half an inch in
diameter to allow it to take in heat while
still filling the pool at a decent rate. Use a
hose that is ⅝ or ¾ inch to slowly fill the
pool. [3]
Most in-ground pools will have a hose
bib that may be used to drain water
from the pool. allowing the pool to fill
slower will allow the water to spend
more time collecting heat as it moves
from the pipes, to the hose, to the
pool.
Set many pipes in parallel when
using an above ground pool to
increase heat gain. Water will heat up any
time they flow within exposed pipes that
are above the ground. Be cautious
because the sun can heat exposed pipes
to a temperature dangerous to the touch.
If your system is working correctly,
your pipes should be cool to the
touch, as this means the solar heat is
being harvested and transferred to
the water, instead of being released
to your hand.
Above-ground pools will lose more
heat overnight, when overnight
temperatures drop below the pool
water temperature.
Prevent energy from being lost. The
biggest loss of energy within water is
from the surface due to evaporation. This
can be prevented by buying a pool cover.
A pool cover that is translucent will allow
the water to absorb solar energy during
the day without losing it throughout the
night. [4]
When a cover is on for 12 hours of
the day, up to a 5 degree fahrenheit
difference from air temperature can
be seen. [5]
Pool covers not only reduce cleaning
time but also the amount of
chemicals needed to clean the water.
[6] This will prevent you from needing
to drain your pool and thus, start
collecting energy over again.
Use a solar blanket. Solar blankets
are pool covers that look like bubble
wrap but are designed specifically to soak
in the maximum amount of solar energy,
and transfer it to your pool. [7] They are
noted to produce a 5-15 degree increase in
water temperature. [8] Simply cover your
pool by placing the bubble side down and
heat cannot escape, even or cold and rainy
days.
Solar blankets are an inexpensive
option as they cost approximately
$75 and will last up to five years.
Solar blankets also keep debris off of
your pool and are great to use at
night when most of the heat that was
collected from the daylight is lost.
Method One of Two:
Harnessing Solar Energy on a Budget solar collector on
the roof of your home. These are
made of heavy duty rubber and coated
with a UV light inhibitor to extend the life
of your panels.

 [9] Solar collectors work by
pumping water through the solar collectors
which are then warmed by the sun.
Unglazed solar collectors have
inexpensive parts and simple designs
making them significantly less
expensive than glazed solar
collectors. Unglazed solar collectors
are approximately $3000 and last up
to 7 years.
Mount glazed solar collectors around
your home. These are a more
expensive alternative to unglazed solar
collectors but are more effective in
producing heat. Glazed solar collectors are
made from copper tubing sandwiched
between an aluminum plate and iron-
tempered glass.
 [10]
Maintain your filter to ensure that it
is effectively cleaning debris from
your pool. Pool water is pumped through
both the filter and the solar collectors so
keeping them properly maintained ensures
that they are performing at their peak and
no heat is lost.
 [11]
Maintain your pump. Usually a pump
circulates the heated water from the
solar collectors back into your pool. If your
pump is working poorly, you aren’t getting
the most out of your solar collectors.

[12]
Be careful not to let water drain from
the hosepipe so that the pump is
running "dry" as this will damage the
pump. Once water is flowing be sure
to keep the end of the hose in the
pool to prevent it from running dry.
Employ solar rings. These clear,
inflatable disks will heat your pool
effectively, as one ring transfers up to
21,000 BTU a day. [13]
The advantage to solar rings is that
they are easily removed and
disassembled for winter storage. [14]
Buy enough rings to cover
approximately 80% of your pool. A
ring is generally 59 inches in
diameter.
Rings will generally last 5 years and
cost up to twenty dollars each but,
considering that they don’t use any
electricity, this is a moderate cost.
To set up the rings, use 4-5 breaths
to fill the outer ring with air. Next,
inflate the inner rings using the same
method. Remember to scrunch the
ring up with your hand to distribute
the air. It’s unnecessary to fill the
rings all the way as they will be just
as effective while mostly filled. [15]
Rings can be left on your pool while
the cover is being used.