Solar Swimming Pool on a Budget

Solar Powered Swimming Pools offer Free Fun

Solar Swimming Pool pumps and heaters take a load off your energy costs. Here's how solar powered swimming pools offer low cost, rapid payback, greener footprints and extended swimming season, all within your budget.

Solar power applications don't have to be expensive. Many projects take as little as a year to pay for themselves and then they begin paying back... for years.

Energy costs for running a swimming pool can be enormous, eating up as much as one third of your energy dollar. Swimming pools are often a first sacrifice when cutting back on expenses.

A solar powered swimming pool, on the other hand, costs nothing to run once the initial investment has been paid off. All of your heating and filtering tasks will be run by sunlight.

If fear of the initial cost has you cooling your heels maybe we can help. Check out our tips for keeping it affordable.

Complete systems for solar powered pools consist of the following components:

• Solar Collector - Thermal panels for water heating
• Filter and Strainer
• Pump
• Solar Panels - PV electric panels to run the pump.
• Flow Control Valve
• Various hardware and electrical supplies

Solar Pool Heater - Thermal Collector

Solar collectors vary a great deal in price depending on what your needs are. Don't pay for what you don't need.

Making your own solar swimming pool heater is the least expensive option, and it's an easy diy project.

An unglazed solar collector is the next least expensive choice (no tempered glass cover) collector. If you only intend to have your swimming pool functional during summer months or you live in a climate where the temperatures never dip below freezing, the cheaper unglazed solar collector is the one for you.

See our recommendation for an above ground pool solar heater.

The most expensive collector is the glazed solar unit. Only necessary if you wish to have a year round solar powered swimming pool in a climate where temperatures dip below the freezing point.

Solar Pool Pumps

One of the biggest expenses of a solar powered swimming pool, the pump, circulates the pool water through the filters and heater and back to the pool.

This is one of those "you get what you pay for" scenarios. Solar pumps are DC (12V) pumps and are more expensive than conventional AC pumps but... and this is a big but... they last longer than AC pumps and are about twice as efficient which means that (a job that requires a 1 hp AC pump can be handled by a 1/2 hp DC pump). This means that in the long run the solar pump is the more economical choice.

It is possible to run an AC pump with solar panels but not efficient. In order to make the system functional you'd need the addition of an inverter which adds to the expense and maintenance of your system and subtracts from the efficiency (the inverter needs power too and it takes it from the panels). more about solar water pumps

Solar Swimming Pool - PV Panels

PV Panels run the pump and the Wattage you'll require will depend on the size of the pump. The size of the pump will depend on the number of gallons you want to filter per day.

Buying used solar panels can keep costs down and it can be a good option for a solar swimming pool project.

Check out our cheap solar power ideas for lots of inexpensive ways to harness solar power for solar swimming pools and more.

If you've done your homework and know which components you need and the appropriate sizes, e-bay can be a good option.

Should a Solar Swimming Pool be Covered when Unused?

Absolutely - over 90% of the pool's heat loss will occur through evaporation and conduction at night and on cool days. Covering an outdoor pool will have a huge impact on your energy bill - in a very good way.Don't underestimate the importance of covering the pool. Not only does a pool cover keep the heat in, it can generate it's own heat, warming a pool as much as 15 degrees F. on sunny days.

Additionally, the pool cover keeps debris from falling or blowing into the pool.

A cover pays for itself in the first year and at times it's the only heater you'll require.

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