Solar Heating a Florida Pool – There have been many advances in solar pool heaters, and they are a great way to heat your pool without paying the gasman.
Swimming without a Heater in Florida
A lot depends upon how you use your pool and your tolerance for colder water temperatures. Pool owners up north are completely comfortable swimming in 75-78ºF water and 78º is typically the temperature required for pools hosting competitive swimming events. Here in Florida residents usually like their pool water a little bit warmer, usually at least 80º or more.
During the swimming season here in Palm Beach County a screened pool will typically be at least 80º or warmer for at least three months and may reach as high as 83–85º from mid-August to mid-September. Open air pools are a bit warmer because the pool surface generally receives more direct sunlight and thus more solar energy, and may it may stay comfortable for an extra month or more.
What are the health benefits of heating your pool?
Physicians and physical therapists regard swimming as a beneficial form of exercise because it works the entire body without direct impact stresses on joints. A properly heated pool can safeguard your health and contribute to your general well-being by allowing you to be able to more safely exercise throughout the year. Many Florida residents heat pools for therapeutic reason and you will probably want to heat it to the 85 – 90º range.
Pool Heater Costs and Economics
Compared with a gas heater or electric, about how long will it take for a solar pool heater to pay for itself with savings?
Every pool is different. Not counting the installed cost of a gas heater and propane storage tank you have priory installed, you can usually recoup the additional cost of a solar pool heater within about a year for propane and approximately 2 years if you are currently hooked up to a natural gas line. On average, a pool in Florida uses about $600-700 a season when using an electric heater, so the return is even quicker (costs are much higher if electric or gas is used “year-round”).
“Year-round” use assumes you have been keeping a pool at least 80°F or so during the spring and fall and at least at a minimum of 76°F or so during the winter. A large financial benefit of solar is that today’s quality solar pool heating panels have useful lives of 20-25 years or more, while the average gas heater lasts about 7-8 years.
Solar Heating a Florida Pool
Crystal Clear Aquatics Pool & Spa Services
Solar heating your pool is as completely automatic as using propane or natural gas. All you do is set your pool pump automation system to run during the daylight hours, then set the solar pool heater automatic control temperature to the desired temperature. The system takes care of the rest. Sensors compare the temperature at the solar collectors with you pool water temperature. The typical set up is whenever the solar collector temperature is at least four degrees warmer than your pool water, the control system adjusts a valve which diverts pool water through the solar collector panels if your pool temperature is not at the desired set temperature.
And even if your pool cannot reach your preferred temperature setting during the coldest, cloudiest winter weather, your pool will always be warmer than a neighbor’s unheated pool, without you spending a one red cent on electric, propane or natural gas fuel.
In the interest of fairness, if you have never heated your pool, and you install a a solar pool heater, your electric will go up a wee bit, as your pump will be operating not only to filter, but to heat as well. If you currently heat your pool with either electric or gas you already know this.
Will solar heating a Florida pool work for me?
Florida gets its fair share of sun, so put it to good use. At Crystal Clear Aquatics we see every situation as different and relying upon established “rule-of-thumb” thoughts can lead to unrealistic expectations. Some of the many factors CCA considers when solar heating a Florida pool are;
Type of pool use (therapeutic, general exercise, children playing, casual dips, etc.)- Distance between pool and pool heater
- Preferred general swimming temperature
- Therapeutic temperature requirements
- Screen enclosures and other direct shading of pool surface
- Open space and general wind flow patterns
- Availability of sufficient direct sunlight (un-shaded roof or other location)
- And more, such as current use of pool covers, etc.
The bottom line is solar heating a Florida pool beats gas or electric hands down. If you currently don’t heat your pool, it will easily double your swimming season year after year.
Contact Crystal Clear Aquatics Pool and Spa Services today for all your Palm Beach County pool cleaning, maintenance and equipment needs today at (561) 318-6750 or info@ccapoolservices.com. Call or drop us a line and get honest answers to your questions today!