SOLAR POOL HEATING FAQ

The weight of a pool solar panel varies based on the model, size, and water volume. Generally, pool solar panels are lightweight, and weight is not an issue when considering installing pool solar panels to a roof.

When it’s completely dark out at night, your pool solar system will not work. However, this is not a reason for concern as it is more than made up for during the day. If you wish to retain some heat overnight, it is highly suggested to use a pool cover. During times of cloudy climate, your pool solar system will still be able to operate as long as the temperature on the roof is higher than the temperature of your pool water.

Unfortunately, no State or Federal tax incentives or rebates for solar pool heating. Solar pool heating systems have not obtained the same preferential treatment as solar electricity and solar water heating. Mostly because solar pool heaters are essentially a luxury item, not a necessity. However, Florida’s legislature has acknowledged that solar energy utilized to heat pools offsets electrical usage and fossil fuel, so a sales tax exemption was provided for solar pool heating systems. In addition, solar pool heating systems will not increase the assessed value of your home, so your property taxes will not go up even though you are adding value to your residence.

With the correct installation of your solar pool heating system, maintenance costs are nearly non-existent. A solar pool heating system that is professionally installed will operate at its highest efficiency and save money by reducing future repairs. Our solar pool heating systems often will outlast the roofs that the panels are installed on, making them highly reliable and adaptable for your needs. A Solar Pool Heater will pay for itself in less than two years; then, by simply choosing solar pool heating, you’ll be collecting dividends in the form of free heat year after year. Contact SES of America today for a free quote to find out what it would cost for you to have solar pool heating!

While there are some home improvement projects that are ideal for DIY, other projects are best left to licensed professionals. The installation of a solar pool heating system is one of those projects, as it involves roof heights, water, and extensive materials. Not only are you protected from liability when utilizing a licensed, professional, and insured contractor, but a professionally installed solar pool heater will operate at its highest efficiency and save money by reducing future repairs. Further, you can ensure that your system will fulfill the requirements to qualify for a warranty, and all labor costs are included in the warranty when an authorized dealer installs the system.

Little to no maintenance is required on a properly installed solar heating system. The manufacturer of our solar pool heating systems has a patented plastic panel clamp that the panels are connected with, which never requires maintenance or replacement, never rusts, and is guaranteed against leaking. This solid design and dependability make maintenance costs basically non-existent on a solar pool heating system. Other manufacturers utilize rubber hoses and metal clamps to connect their panels; rubber hoses require upkeep every six months, and metal clamps often rust and stain the roof.

Solar pool heating systems can typically be installed on nearly any roof type, including metal, composite, asphalt shingle roofs, and tile. While mounting to shingle, tile, and 5V Metal roofs is pretty standard, custom mounts are required for Standing Seam Metal and flat roofs.

Yes! While many individuals find that solar pool heating independently is sufficient to fulfill their needs, using solar pool heating in conjunction with another heater has its benefits. Jointly utilizing the two systems can give the owner the best of both worlds, giving the flexibility to accomplish a precise temp regardless of weather conditions such as a cold snap or overcast day and avoid the exorbitant energy cost of using gas or electric full time. Solar pool heating will keep a constant, elevated temperature and has no operating cost, while a gas or electric heater can add heat as desired.

Generally, your existing pump and equipment are entirely sufficient to operate solar. Sometimes, a different pump may be required if the residence is multiple stories or the current pump is especially old or undersized.

You can predict warmer pool water every day of the year. An unheated pool will retain the same temperature as the Gulf of Mexico. An appropriately sized solar pool heating system will heat a pool between 10-15 degrees beyond the Gulf temp. Since solar pool heating is a weather-dependent technology, performance alters based on assorted factors. Homeowners typically regulate their pool solar during the Spring and Fall months to keep their pool at the desired temperature because this is when the solar radiates and can reach temperatures well into the 80s. It is common for most homeowners to turn their solar pool heating system off during the summer months to keep the pool from becoming undesirably warm. Using a pool cover improves the performance and preserves more heat overnight (this is valid for any heat source, including gas heaters and electric pool heaters). Warmer and sunnier weather conditions will usually result in the best performance, which is great because that’s when most individuals desire to enjoy their pools!

Solar pool heaters are compatible with nearly all existing pool and spa automation systems. These controllers will automatically turn a valve when solar heating is available and desired based on your selected setpoint temperature.

Pool Solar panels can be attached to any roof type, including shingle, metal, or tile. The attachment strategy varies depending on the kind of roof, but a system of stainless-steel fasteners, Gator Clamps, and Pipe Straps are used to attach the collectors to the roof. We use a construction polyurethane sealant where penetrations are made that ensure no leaks. All of our system of attachment surpasses the Miami‐Dade wind codes.

Yes! Most solar pool heating systems are completely automatic and as straightforward to operate as any fossil-fuel heater. Merely select your preferred high-limit temperature, and the pool solar system will do the rest. Pool water will automatically redirect to the solar panels if there is a sufficient amount of thermal solar energy at the area of the collectors and/or when the pool’s preferred temperature has not been achieved.

• There’s no one-size-fits-all solution to this question, and the number of panels you require will depend on several factors, including:
  • The total square footage of your pool
  • Functional roof space
  • Exposure and orientation of the panels
  • The time of year you desire your pool to be heated
  • Desired efficiency

• Solar pool heating systems are rather straightforward in terms of how they operate and will function headache free for many years in most circumstances with minimal maintenance. Nevertheless, there are some things you can do to maximize your solar pool heating system’s performance.
  • Pool Covers: Using a pool cover is the single most effective way to improve the performance of your solar pool heating system, as it can keep heat and water in your pool. The most effective result of a pool cover is that it decreases evaporation. Evaporation releases warmth from your pool, and having to refill the pool because of lost water is wasteful and puts additional cold water in the pool! If you heat your pool with an electric heater or gas heater, you tend to lose heat overnight or when the pool is not in use. If your pool starts off already warm from the day before, the solar pool heater can perform more effectively. With solar pool heating, typically uncovered pools will have a lower starting temperature each day, which results in lower maximum temperatures attainable with solar heating throughout the day.
  • Automated Controllers: Installing an automated solar controller like the Pentair SolarTouch or Hayward GL235 maximizes the solar pool heating performance. Pool solar panels can actually cool your pool under various circumstances, likely cloudiness, rain, shade, dusk, and dawn. Manually operated solar pool heaters depend on the owner to turn the valves into the proper position manually, and it’s evidently impossible to frequently monitor and modify the valves to maximize the solar panel performance. When the system is likely to have available solar energy, a manual system will rely on the existing circulation pump to perform, but a simple timer can’t detect the weather! That’s where the controller comes in. Automated solar controllers are utilized to set a max temperature for your pool and/or spa, and the automated controller will shut the solar off when the setpoint is reached. With the automated controller, they will “switch” your solar pool heater on and off based on some preset criteria. The automated controller will turn off your solar pool heater when the solar panels cannot make your pool warmer. The roof and pool temperatures are regularly monitored and compared. A motorized valve changes the solar pool heater on and off as required; turning the system on when there is solar energy available and needed, off when there is no solar energy available to heat the pool. Occasionally, pools have an existing pool and spa automation that is compatible with solar pool heating systems and can effortlessly be set up with the pool solar system to control valves automatically. If your pool doesn’t have an existing automation system, we can easily add one that controls the solar part of your pool operation.
  • Clean Your Filter: It is essential to clean or replace your filter regularly, as keeping your pool cartridge filter clean will improve the performance of your solar pool heater. Clogged and dirty filters can result in more inferior flow rates due to boosted pressure on the pump’s outlet, preventing the pool solar panels from filling evenly and thoroughly, resulting in more inferior flow rates, which implies less overall heat transfer to the pool. They also contribute to a typical phenomenon of “bubbles in the pool.” We get this call often, and after running the pool pump with the cartridge removed and comparing the system pressure or flow rate, it’s quickly affirmed there is a dirty filter. Occasionally a filter that seems to be clean is actually heavily impacted with tiny debris. Even when wet, your filter cartridge should be pretty light, and if your filter feels weighty, you’ve likely got a clogged filter. If you’re unable to clean the clogged filter adequately, then it’s time to replace your cartridge. The lifespan of a cartridge relies on multiple factors like size and how dirty your pool gets.
  • Variable Speed Pumps: Variable speed pumps help optimize solar pool heating performance. These pumps use variable frequency movements and brushless motors to significantly lessen pool circulation and filtration costs. A favorable side effect of the variable essence of the pump speed is that we can control how much water moves through the solar pool heating system, optimizing performance. Manufacturer suggestions vary, but typical solar pool heating panels demand about 4 gallons per minute per collector for optimal performance. Any additional flow improves marginal pool heating performance at high and unjustified costs to pump extra water. By installing a variable speed pump with a flow meter, we can “dial-in” an optimum pump speed that counteracts the need for solar pool heating performance with pump operating expenses. Many individuals believe that a low flow rate is more reasonable, allowing the water to spend more time in the solar panels obtaining heat, but letting water stagnate in a solar panel just heats up the panel, reducing efficiency. Pool solar panels perform much better when operating at a low temperature. Moderately high volume with a low, steady temperature elevation is ideal. The water coming out of your pool jets should be slightly warmer than the rest of the water in the pool.