How
does a solar pool heater work?
How much does a solar pool heater cost?
Will I need another pump?
How much maintenance is involved?
How much could I save?
How long does a solar pool heater last?
How
do I know if my house would be suitable for a solar pool heater?
How big are the panels? How much space does it take up
on my roof?
What is the ideal orientation for the panels?
How are the panels attached to the roof?
How will the panels affect my shingles?
What happens when I have to change my roof?
Can I install a solar pool heater myself?
How
does a solar pool heater work?
A
solar pool heating systems ties into the pool plumbing after the pump
and filter with valves to divert flow to the solar collectors where
the water picks up heat, returning to warm the pool.
The diversion valve can be a manual 3-way valve or an automatic valve.
With the manual valve, you need to make sure the warmed pool water
doesn't run through the collectors at night (which will cool the pool)
-- timing your pool pump to run only during the day is one option
to avoid this occurrence.
The automatic option uses a small computer, sensors and a motorized
valve to control the diversion process. A sensor on the roof tells
the controller when heat is available, a sensor in the pool return
line tells the controller the baseline temperature of your pool and
it compares these inputs to the user-controlled temperature setting
to decide whether or not to send flow up to the collectors.
A
roof is typically the best place to put collectors, but they can also
be ground mounted on racks.
You
can read up in much more detail in the NRCan guide Solar
Pool Heating - A buyer's guide
How
much does a solar pool heater cost?
The cost of a solar pool heater will
vary based on the size of your pool (surface area) and the site conditions.
The
following are general price guidelines for a fully installed system
with automatic control.
- a small inground or small-medium above ground, up to 14x28 $2,500-$3,500
- average inground pool, 16x32 $3,500-$5,000
- large inground pool, 18x36 to 20x40 $5,000-$6,500
In
the case of self installation, subtract $700-$1000. Automatic control
as an option is worth approx $550.
Will
I need another pump?
Generally
not. Most pool pumps are actually well over-sized for the job they
do. Except in rare cases the existing pump will function well at powering
the solar system. A small, old, 1/2 HP pump may have trouble if you
have 2 stories or a really long plumbing run ( >150' one way).
How
much maintenance is involved?
Very
little. The only major concern is prior to winter, making sure that
there is no water left up in the panels or plumbing -- just as you
would protect your regular pool plumbing. The collectors and diversion
valve must be drained. In most cases you do not need to go on the
roof to drain the panels (for some installations this may be necessary),
any underground lines need to be blown out and the diversion valve
must be left open to avoid any trapped water. In spring make sure
everything is closed up and the system is ready for another year's
operation.
How
much could I save?
If
you had a natural gas heater running to keep a 16x32' pool at about
82F, a properly sized solar heater would save you about $800 a summer.
For propane or electricity the number will be higher by up to 40%.
How
long does a solar pool heater last?
A
well designed solar pool heating system with quality collectors, plumbing,
hardware and installation should function reliably with little or
no maintenance for about 15 years. Our panels are carry a full warranty
for 10 years, and we put a 5 year warranty on labour. The design of
our panels is such that you can flip them over after 8-10 years and
expose a fresh face to the elements to extend the lifespan. The warranty
on the electronics, should you choose automatic control, is 3 years.
Durability is the major difference between cheap panels that you find
rolled up in boxes in a pool store and a contractor grade collector.
The difference comes down the thickness and grade of material used
in the panels. Almost any collector will provide more or less equivalent
amounts of heat, but you pay more in the long run by going with (and
replacing) a cheaper grade product.
How do I know if my house would be suitable for a solar pool heater?
There
are a few basic points to consider.
1) solar pool heaters need fuel, sunlight, do you have roof area (or
space on the ground) facing SE to West without much shading?
2) solar pool heaters need a lot of room, do you have at least 50%
of the surface area of your pool available on the roof or ground?
3) Do you have a feasible way to get the pool water from your pump
to the panels through 1.5 or 2" pipes?
If
the answer is yes to all 3 then yes, a solar pool heater will be feasible.
How
big are the panels? How much space is needed on the roof?
The
standard sizes of the panels are 4' wide, by 8,10 and 12' long. Through
special order we can obtain 14 and 16' collectors, however 12' are
generally the most cost effective size to use in a system.
What
is the ideal orientation for the panels?
The ideal direction for the panels to face is directly South. The
next best is to the West, then to the East. North is a bad idea, period.
The tilt angle from horizontal is not critical for this application,
but a lower angle (20-40 degrees) is preferred over a higher one (>50
degrees).
How
are the panels attached to the roof?
The
panels make good sails, so we must be careful to fasten them securely
to the roof. We use a heavy duty outdoor grade nylon strapping and
stainless steel lag screws to run across the panels. Panels are fastened
with 3 runs of strapping. All fasteners are driven through roofing
sealant to guarantee a leak free installation. The panels do not have
to be removed for winter, and are designed to stay up on the roof
throughout their service life.
How
will the panels affect my shingles?
If
you install a good product that doesn't suffer prolonged leaks you
are actually prolonging the life of the shingles the panels cover.
We've seen this many times when removing old systems when it came
time to replace the shingles -- the shingles under the panels are
in the best shape. In some areas where there are many trees around
it is a good idea to keep leaves and debris from collecting at the
top and bottom headers and becoming compost-- this can be accomplished
with flashing or the odd bit of maintenance.
What
happens when I have to change my roof?
If
the roof needs to be redone, the panels will need to be removed and
replaced after the work is complete. The removal process usually takes
2-4 hours and the replacement takes 3-5 hours.
Re-roofing
is not a major concern but it does make sense to have a roof that
is in good shape.
Can
I install a system myself?
Yes,
a handy homeowner can install a solar pool heating system. To ensure
success one must be familiar with basic plumbing, carpentry, roofing
and electrical practices. Installation for a homeowner would likely
take a full weekend. If interested, Merlyn does provide a service
for self-install, we can deliver a supply of PVC pipe, fittings and
the proper solvent glues for putting it all together. We will pick
up the excess and only charge you for what was used.
The
cost of a solar pool heater will vary based on the size of your pool
(surface area) and the site conditions.
The
following are general price guidelines for a fully installed system
with automatic control.
- a small inground or small-medium above ground, up to 14x28 $2,500-$3,500
- average inground pool, 16x32 $3,500-$5,000
- large inground pool, 18x36 to 20x40 $5,000-$6,500
In
the case of self installation, subtract $700-$1000. Automatic control
as an option is worth approx $550.
th
Western Ontario: Ontario
Feed In Tariff: CREW
Solar Bulk Buy 2009
