How much warmer will my pool become thanks to solar heating? It depends, is the correct response. Continue reading to find out, however, on what.
One of today’s most economical applications of solar energy is solar pool heating. How warm, though, can a pool be heated by solar energy? The quick answer is, for a standard 32 m2 pool, between around 2.5ᵒ and 5.5ᵒ C per day, based on where you live.
Learn more about the maximum temperature your solar-heated pool can reach by reading this blog.
How Warm Can a Solar-heated Pool Get?
Comparatively speaking to other hot water uses like baths and showers, a comfortable swimming pool’s water temperature is quite low. Flat panel solar collectors are most effective at low temperatures and are thus well suited for pool heating where a larger volume of water needs to be heated to just a few degrees above the ambient temperature rather than a smaller quantity to a much higher temperature.
A properly sized solar heating system can gently raise the pool temperature by at least 5 to 10oC (10 – 20o every time water passes through the solar collector, it is kept at least one degree (F) above the typical water temperature to maintain a comfortable swimming temperature. See How Long Does a Solar Cover Take to Heat a Pool?
Factors That Influence How Much Your Pool Water Warms Up
Prime among these is the size of your solar collector area – if it’s not big enough, it’s going to underperform. Equally, it’s going to underperform if it’s facing in the wrong, or at least less than ideal, direction.
The type of roof material and color will matter if you plan to mount the solar collector on your home’s roof. Also,, is your pool near a particularly windy area, and is the solar collector affected by shade?
| Solar Collector Area | In general, the solar collector area ought to be at least 80%, and more frequently at least 100%, of the area of your pool. |
| Solar Collector Orientation | The best orientation is toward the north because north-facing roofs receive the most direct sunlight. Having said that, even if your collector is oriented up to 45ᵒ east or west of true north, you should not experience a significant reduction in performance. West-facing roofs or flat roofs rank second and third in terms of efficiency. |
| Solar Collector Pitch | Solar collectors ought to be pitched (i.e. tilted) at an angle roughly equal to your geographical latitude plus 10-15ᵒ. However, it’s not absolutely necessary. Additionally, you will be constrained by the roof’s existing pitch if you plan to install them on it. |
| Roof Construction | Compared to tile roofs, metal roofs conduct heat more effectively. Slate roofs are not particularly solar-friendly. Darker roofs conduct heat more effectively than lighter roofs. |
| Solar Collector Color | Solar collectors come in a variety of colors. The most effective color is black. However, if you’ve got a light-colored roof and want your collector to match or compliment its color, you may need to increase the m2 of the collectors. |
| Shading | The performance of the collectors will undoubtedly be impacted by direct shading. Additionally, if your pool is shaded, the water temperature will be lower, necessitating the installation of additional collectors to make up the difference. |
| Winds | Pools in windy locations lose heat more quickly than those in still locations. If the location of your pool is naturally windy, you might need additional collectors. |
| Pool Covers | You can swim earlier in the day if you use a pool cover in conjunction with solar heating. |
What Solar Pool Heaters Can’t Do?
Solar pool heating is probably not the best choice for you if you prefer your swimming pool water to be unusually warm all the time. When we discuss people who prefer their swimming pools to be at 82 degrees or higher, we are referring to those who like them to quickly reach that temperature if the water has dropped on chilly days.
You must remember that solar pool heaters are not made to quickly raise the water temperature in swimming pools. Even days with only a little sunshine can be used to complete this slow but reliable process. However, if you live in a more southern climate zone and faithfully cover the pool with a solar blanket when the pool is not in use, they do a very nice job of keeping the temperature under 82 degrees.
Additionally, you must avoid believing that your solar pool heating system will operate consistently every day that it is turned on. This is because the effectiveness of your rooftop solar pool heater varies depending on the amount of sunlight, the wind speed, and the temperature of the surrounding air.
Realistically, on a sunny day that is not below 50°F, you can anticipate that a rooftop solar pool heater will cause the pool’s temperature to rise by about 1°F every four to five hours. The majority of swimming pools can be kept at a temperature where most people can swim comfortably with that amount of heat.
You might also wonder whether pool heaters can freeze. Solar pool heaters prevent this from happening, though!
Conclusion: How Warm Can a Solar-heated Pool Get
For a standard 32 m2 pool, between around 2.5ᵒ and 5.5ᵒ Depending on your location, C per day.
If you are aware of the limitations, expenses, and difficulties of maintaining heat in open bodies of water, you will be able to use solar pool heating panels or any other pool heater much more effectively.
FAQs
How Quickly Will a Solar Cover Heat a Pool?
According to the experts, a fully covered pool will heat between 10-15 degrees in about 6 hours. There is mixed information out there. According to some experts, three days in a row of the sun will bring temperatures of 7 to 10.
Why is My Solar Heated Pool Cold?
You may need service on your control system. Control sensors often need to be replaced when they malfunction. If you have a time clock, and there was a power outage, the solar system will not heat if the filtration cycle is during the evening.
