Pool Solar Panels | Pool Solar Heaters

Solar heaters are also covered with a glass panel to act as a greenhouse, trapping heat within the enclosure. Since heat cannot escape through convection (due to glass), the only way of dissipation is through conduction. Fortunately the rate of conduction is much slower. Therefore most of the heat is retained.

How they work

Cold water runs into a heat exchanger and out comes warm water for your pool. This happens as the black-painted pipes absorb heat from the sunlight and transfer them to the water passing through. The surfaces of the heat collector box are also painted black and certainly helps warm up the air within. This, too, adds to the temperature of the water in the pipes.

The sunlight intensity, rate of water flow and diameter of pipes determine how hot the water will be. Generally, the thinner the pipes, the more efficient the heat transfer. This is because there is more surface area through which heat can be conducted from the pipe into the water.

Advantages

Solar heaters rarely need any maintenance at all. They can also last many decades without significant wear and tear, provided it’s built and installed properly. Most importantly, solar heaters are cleaner and cheaper than gas and electric heaters.

The typically payback period of a pool solar panel is about 1 to 2 years, depending on the sunlight intensity and fuel costs.

Because solar heaters are very simple in design, they make very popular DIY projects. Homemade heaters will obviously cost much lesser than commercially made pool solar heaters. A typical heater may cost within the $4,000 price tag while a do-it-yourself solar heater often cost only a tenth of this price. Therefore the payback period is much shorter.

Installation

Installing a pool solar panel will not be a very tedious task. Most importantly, you should tilt your panels toward the south (if you are staying in the northern hemisphere) so that they can receive more sunlight throughout the year.

Other installation considerations include local building and insurance requirements as well as safety issues. An option is to have a qualified solar thermal contractor to install your solar heating panels for you. This will ensure quality.

With its simplicity, ease of installation and durability, pool solar heaters are getting more popular with consumers. Many DIY enthusiasts are also beginning to put together copper pipes to make their own homemade solar heat collectors to warm up their pool. Such do-it-yourself projects will only get more popular as consumers realize the benefits of using pool solar panels.

Continue Reading:

1. What Are Solar Heaters, How They Work And What They Are Used For
2. 7 Different Ways of Using Solar Energy At Home and In Your Office
3. Heating Up Your Swimming Pool Using Solar Energy

If you are looking for affordable solar panels that last, you can benefit from some tips here.

What you’ll need is as follows:

1. A list of local solar panel manufacturers
2. A list of overseas solar panel manufacturers
3. A list of solar installers

Generally, it is cheaper to buy from local suppliers. This is because of the high shipping cost of solar panels — they are heavy and occupy a large volume. By buying locally, the risk of damage during shipping is also reduced.

However this does not mean foreign-made PV panels are always more expensive. Some distributors import solar panels in bulk, making them more affordable.

Therefore you have to look through the list of local and overseas solar manufacturers in order to find out which of these are affordable and suit your design and requirement.

You can purchase PV panels from resellers or you can inquire directly from the manufacturers. It may be cheaper to buy directly from the manufacturers. However, many resellers offer attractive packages that lower the overall cost of installation.

Bottom line: You must know what you want in order to decide which is the best option for you. It is good to seek professional advice. However it is not wise to be swayed by every contractor who talks to you. You’ll only be confused in the end.

Before making your purchase, ensure there is sufficient hardware and installation warranty. Many solar panel manufacturers have a warranty as long as 20 to 25 years.

During this period, should your PV panels be damaged due to fair wear and tear, their technicians will repair your hardware for you (free-of-charge), or do a one-to-one exchange.

Many manufacturers also guarantee a minimum performance for your solar panels array for over 15 to 20 years.

In order to save cost, you can also consider buying used solar panels or re-manufactured ones.

Used solar panels do not perform as well as new ones. They also do not last as long. But you can often get a lot more power for each dollar spent.

Re-manufactured solar panels can usually perform almost as well as new ones. They are also likely to last for as long as 25 years. However the warranty period will almost always not be as attractive as brand new PV panels.

You can go to auction sites to look for used solar panels. You can also consult your installer since they are in touch with many other solar panel owners who may want to get rid of their old system.

They will often have the latest news about shipments of re-manufactured panels too. Solar professionals can be a great help to you in your search for affordable solar panels.

Continue Reading:

1. Why Are Solar Panels The Best Investment For Your Home?
2. How Do You Know If Solar Panels Are Suitable For Your Property?
3. How To Determine The Payback For Your Solar Panel Investment (Part 1 of 3)