This article will explore all of the associated costs to solar pool heating for inground pools in Orlando and surrounding areas. When summer comes to an end, the daytime swims in your swimming pool can be difficult to say farewell to. Luckily, the swimming season can be expanded to the not-so-hot months of the year—and it’s both environmentally friendly and financially beneficial.
The pool solar system pumps heat back into your pool water directly from solar energy. It is free to run and can extend your swimming season up to 9 months. It is our intention to educate consumers on how the installation of a solar pool heating system goes, for easy functionality and usability and to get the most out of your investment.
What are Solar Pool Heaters?
Solar pool heaters are among the most common heating technologies being used in Orlando for heating swimming pool water. However, before you put your hard-earned money into a solar heating system for your in-ground pool, it is important that you do as much research as possible first – especially about solar heating pool costs.
Solar heating pools, like everything else, have lots of advantages and a couple of drawbacks as well. This is why it is important for you to pick the best solution for your pool according to the climate of where you live, especially since there are so many unique systems available on the market.
This is why we’ve assembled this useful and detailed guide to solar pool heating costs, which includes everything you should know, from the expenses to how it functions and even the pros and cons, in order to support you in making the best buying decision.
How Do Solar Pool Heaters Work?
A solar heating system works by using a solar collector, which is a device that collects pool water and circulates it to capture raw energy from the sun. Solar pool heating is perhaps the most eco-conscious and the most efficient approach to heat chlorinated pool water.
“The basic principle of solar thermal is to transfer solar radiation into heat thermodynamic system.” [2]
In-ground pools have a filter, which gets rid of all the debris in the water before it is pumped through the solar collector. The existing pool pump distributes water through the aforementioned filter and solar collector and brings it back to the pool. The pool water is constantly pumped through 2-inch plumbing pipes to the solar collector and back again.
Finally, an actuator control valve, which can be an automatic or manual device, uses the solar collector to divert the pool water, based on the temperature you program it for. The water is circulated to the pool through the valve at a higher temperature it gains from the roof and because the motion is continuous, it raises the pool temperature 2-4 degrees per day and cumulatively increases the pool water 12- 15 degrees overall.
A standard inground pool pump needs a relatively low amount of energy, typically less than 1kW per hour to operate. Aside from that, all of the heat transfer is used by the solar pool heating system is obtained from the sun’s energy.
How Much Does a Solar Pool Heater Cost?
A solar pool heater on average costs between $3,000 and $4,500 to purchase and install. This would have a payback period of 1.5 to 5 years, based on the local fuel prices. They also have a longer lifespan as compared to gas or a heat pump pool heater and cost considerably less.
The real solar heating pool costs, expenses, and payback period will be determined by a variety of factors. This is why, before purchasing and installing a solar heater for your inground pool, it is necessary that a specialist like Everything Solar does the following:
- Examine the source of solar power.
- Determine the appropriate scale and size of the pool heating system you will need.
- Figure out the proper location and orientation for the solar collector.
- Assess the efficiency and effectiveness of the solar pool heating system.
- Advise you on the expectations, any maintenance obligations, and guidelines.
Comparing Solar Swimming Pool Heating System Costs
To measure and compare solar heating pool costs, you or a solar contractor on your behalf will advise the following:
- The thermal efficiency and performance rating of a solar collector.
- The correct amount of collector panels required to heat the pool.
- The total cost of installing the system.
- The direction and adjustment for maximum performance.
However, at the end of the day, try not to choose a solar pool heater or a collector depending just upon the expected costs. When it comes to choosing a solar pool heater, all aspects, such as the size and efficiency of the design and being less invasive to the integrity of the roof, must also be considered.
What are the Different Panel Types of Solar Pool Heaters?
All solar pool heaters operate on the very same simple idea, by pumping water out of the pool, using your existing pool pump to panels heated directly by the sun, and returning to the pool at a higher temperature.
Thermal Solar Collectors
Thermal solar collectors are the most common solar heating systems used around the world. The solar collectors, often referred to as the solar panels, are normally placed on the rooftop of your home, although in some cases they can also be installed near the pool or at ground level.
The most efficient solar panels are made from UV stabilized polypropylene, over which you move your pool water through a system of headers and tubes. These solar panels are perfect if you live in a humid, sunny environment such as Orlando Florida, but they are normally not as powerful in colder climates. This implies that the pool might not be heated for as many months throughout the year, but could be used alongside other types of pool heaters.
Solar Pool Covers
They hold in the heat during periods when the temperature falls below 60 degrees at night, preventing convection losses or heat escaping from the surface overnight. You can also use Solar Sun Rings which are 4 foot round pool covers that are stackable and much easier to store and remove from the pool when it’s time to swim.
Solar pool covers help to conserve water evaporation, reduce energy loss, make better maintenance possible and even prevent harm from airborne substances.
How to Install a Solar Pool Heating System
Now that we have discussed the solar heating pool costs and the availability of different kinds of panels, it is time to get right into the installation process.
You should also go for a well-known, experienced firm that provides longer warranties for their solar pool heating systems. Many vendors also have ten-year or longer warranties on solar pool heating systems.
Installing the Solar Collector
Among the most critical components of your solar pool heater is the solar collector, which provides the heat that heats up the pool. Collectors must always be correctly assembled and installed so they can perform their job efficiently, which necessitates a few diligent measures.
The next step is to figure out the overall size of the solar collector you will need to set up. This depends on the total size of your pool and the orientation of your roof. We recommend taking our professional advice on this matter, but the general rule of thumb is that if your panels are facing south, the rough estimate should be about 70 percent of the pool’s size, 90 percent for the panels facing east, or west.
Running the Pipes
Once done installing the solar collectors, the plumbing which channels the water and brings heated water back to your swimming pool can be color matched to the body color of your house if you have the same paint color on hand. This looks clean and blends in with the house for aesthetics.
Why Choose Solar Pool Heating?
Choosing a solar pool heating system will save money in both the short and long term, reducing utility bills and saving you money. They offer convenience and little to no maintenance. Below we have provided a list of advantages of solar heaters for inground pools to consider.
Convenience
Solar heaters enable you to heat your swimming pool without incurring repetitive energy costs, while at the same time helping you reduce your total impact on the environment, that other heaters do not offer. Since the supply of solar energy is essentially free of cost and abundant, you can heat your pool without having to pay large sums on energy bills.
Whole house Electric solar panels in Florida currently have a 26% tax credit available, however solar pool heaters do not. However, they still offer more cost saving opportunities when compared to their more expensive electric and gas equivalents.
Comfort
If you enjoy a dive, playing water sports with your friends, or just relaxing and drinking under the sun, solar pool heaters in Orlando will allow you to indulge in any of these fun activities without breaking the bank. A solar pool heating system will extend your pool season either side of the warm Florida summer.
Minimum Disturbance
Even though you shouldn’t be the one installing the solar pool heater yourself, it is a huge advantage that the entire installation process can be completed within hours from a professional solar contractor, such as Everything Solar. You won’t have to take any time off work or your weekend.
For the last 30+ years, solar energy has not only been used in heating pools but also for power generation and heating water in homes, rental properties and industrial parks. There really are no engines or fans you need to worry about rupturing, and there is no corrosion by the heat transporters. Each solar pool heater is made from robust, weather-resistant, UV stabilized polypropylene.
Little to No Maintenance
Due to the aforementioned reliability of solar systems, maintenance is often not required as well. Some might even argue that they don’t have to be maintained at all. In a way, solar pool heating systems are literally a one-time investment.
We all know that heaters powered by gas or electric are usually good for fast results, but eventually, they become troublesome and require more maintanence, because of more moving parts. You can always count on solar pool heaters to never short-circuit, burn out, become rusted, or even be blocked by foreign debris, such as pollen, dirt, and dust.
The Bottom Line
Now you know everything you need to know about the solar pool heating system, we recommend contacting Everything Solar for a free consultation. Call us today and book a free survey at your property: 407-545-3590.
How much does it cost to heat a pool per month?
The cost of heating an average size pool per month with a heat pump will cost around $150 – $300 in winter and roughly $100 in spring and fall. Plus, the initial cost of a Heat Pump will cost around $4,000. The cost of heating a 10,000-gallon pool per month with a gas heater will cost you over $600 per month in fuel and the initial cost of the Gas heater is $2600.
A cheaper alternative is a solar pool heater. It has no operating costs because it is connected to the existing pool pump, which sends water to the solar pool heating panels. The only time that they can be less effective in the winter months, December through February, because the days are shorter and the nights are longer. If you need a light jacket or sweater to go outside, the urge to be in your pool isn’t as strong either.