Welcome to DU! The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards. Join the community: Create a free account Support DU (and get rid of ads!): Become a Star Member All Forums Issue Forums Culture Forums Alliance Forums Region Forums Support Forums Help & Search

phantom power

(25,966 posts)
Sat Apr 13, 2013, 03:35 PM Apr 2013

solar pool heating -- April update

We actually flipped on the solar heating in late March. The day I re-enabled it, the water temp was 63F. In about four days, the panels got it up to 82F (afternoon high temp). On the edge of brisk for an AZ resident, but... we were swimming in March!

So far, we've had a few days when it got up to 87F. To nobody's surprise, it's somewhat sensitive to weather. A cloudy day, or cooler weather, can swing the temperatures by 5F easily.

We can lose up to 10F over night. 10% relative humidity makes for some ferocious evaporative cooling. Here is where a pool cover would have a big impact. I'm still resisting, but may yet cave in.

Oh, also we ended up getting about $2300 in tax credits between state and fed, which is nearly exactly 50% of the cost of the thing to begin with. I feel almost like I just robbed the taxpaying public.

11 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
solar pool heating -- April update (Original Post) phantom power Apr 2013 OP
Do you cover the pool at night? SheilaT Apr 2013 #1
I don't currently cover it at all... phantom power Apr 2013 #3
Okay. Do what works for you. SheilaT Apr 2013 #5
A cover is definitely the way to keep heat in OKIsItJustMe Apr 2013 #10
Do you mind explaining the system or do you have a link to your original post? Esse Quam Videri Apr 2013 #2
We installed a helio-col system phantom power Apr 2013 #4
Heh - sounds like the system my dad designed and built about 40 years ago muriel_volestrangler Apr 2013 #6
bubble wrap -- clever phantom power Apr 2013 #8
We're thinking of adding solar to heat our pool to extend the season some madokie Apr 2013 #7
we looked pretty hard at the chlorine generators phantom power Apr 2013 #9
We have hard water too but maybe not as bad as you madokie Apr 2013 #11
 

SheilaT

(23,156 posts)
1. Do you cover the pool at night?
Sat Apr 13, 2013, 04:32 PM
Apr 2013

I know that a simple night-time pool cover without any heating can extend the swimming season at least a month in either direction in AZ.

phantom power

(25,966 posts)
3. I don't currently cover it at all...
Sat Apr 13, 2013, 04:48 PM
Apr 2013

Which is for the not-especially-rational reason that I just like looking at my pool without a cover, and that I'm kinda lazy so I'm not eager to sign up for putting the thing on and taking it off, and figuring out what to do with it when it's off.

I've been experimenting with this stuff, as an alternative:
http://naturalchemistry.com/Pool_amp_Spa_1/Products/COVERfree.html

So far, I'm unconvinced it works very well, but I haven't collected any systematic data.

 

SheilaT

(23,156 posts)
5. Okay. Do what works for you.
Sat Apr 13, 2013, 07:00 PM
Apr 2013

When I last lived in AZ, in Phoenix from 1983-87, many people or apartment complexes were just using a relatively simple plastic sheeting of some kind cut to the size of the pool. It would be spread over the water surface in the evening, pulled off in the morning and just rolled up and left near the pool. At some point it would be staying warm enough over night to just put the plastic away in a storage shed or somewhere until it started cooling off again at night.

In our time there we were first in an apartment, then bought a townhome in a community where we didn't need to fool with those things ourselves, so I understand about not wanting to sign up for putting it on and off.

Esse Quam Videri

(685 posts)
2. Do you mind explaining the system or do you have a link to your original post?
Sat Apr 13, 2013, 04:33 PM
Apr 2013

I've always thought that pool owners in Co should utilize some type of solar heating for their pools (pool season is extremely short here). I'm thinking some type of solar hot water where the filtered water goes through a series of hot water solar panels before it is returned to the pool.

phantom power

(25,966 posts)
4. We installed a helio-col system
Sat Apr 13, 2013, 04:53 PM
Apr 2013
http://www.heliocol.com/
http://www.heliocolwest.com/

As you say, water passes from pump, through filter, and then either directly back to the pool, or routed through the panels. The valve is controlled by computer, which decides if the panels can provide heat (and if we asked for it).

muriel_volestrangler

(101,155 posts)
6. Heh - sounds like the system my dad designed and built about 40 years ago
Sun Apr 14, 2013, 06:45 AM
Apr 2013

We had an old south-facing greenhouse right next to the pool (I guess that may have been why he built the pool there). The first design was corrugated iron, painted black, underneath the glass of greenhouse, with the channels running vertically, and the water running down them from a pipe at the top, and collected in a trough at the bottom. But the old glass panels occasionally came off in storms, and he ended up getting rid of them, and changing to a design with black plastic sheeting on top of bubble wrap (and another sheet of plastic under that). The water drizzled into the bubble wrap, distributed very nicely down all the channels, and picked up the heat from the top black sheet. The exit water temperature was about 10F more than coming in, on a sunny summer day (and that's in Britain). And, as you say, you'd be running a pump to filter it for some time anyway (though, since the pump had to send the water up too, it ran slower when using the heating). No computer 40 years ago, of course - it was up to us to keep an eye on it and the weather.

phantom power

(25,966 posts)
8. bubble wrap -- clever
Mon Apr 15, 2013, 01:23 PM
Apr 2013


The new variable-speed pumps are nice for these scenarios -- the controller automatically increases the pump rate a little bit to compensate for pushing up to the roof. The increase in pump work is essentially the only energetic cost of the system, aside from the embodied energy of manufacturing and installation.

madokie

(51,076 posts)
7. We're thinking of adding solar to heat our pool to extend the season some
Sun Apr 14, 2013, 07:50 AM
Apr 2013

The same solar collector can disperse some of the unneeded heat that accumulates during the hottest part of the the summer as well utilizing the cooler night time temperatures.
We've been using a chlorine generator and recently added a copper ion generator for several years now rather than mess with chemicals. The added benefit is the salt makes the water so soft that it almost feels like a sin to enjoy it.
We have a 21 ft above ground pool and we use a relatively low cost chlorine generator made by intex that seems to be bullet proof so far. No chemicals in use here.
No red eyes, not tight feeling skin just good old soft, slightly salty, water and it didn't cost an arm an a leg to buy or install either as I did our own installation as I will do if we do start using solar to extend our season. Our season is pretty long as it is so we may not ever do that.

phantom power

(25,966 posts)
9. we looked pretty hard at the chlorine generators
Mon Apr 15, 2013, 01:26 PM
Apr 2013

The landscape designer kind of talked us out of it, due to problems with frequent scale build-up on the electrodes. However, we have wicked hard water here in AZ, so that kind of thing is not as big a problem in all areas.

madokie

(51,076 posts)
11. We have hard water too but maybe not as bad as you
Mon Apr 15, 2013, 02:38 PM
Apr 2013

so far we've not had a problem with scale. From my understanding the salt helps to lower the hardness. I may be wrong on that though. The instructions says if you have any scale build up to remove the electrodes and soak them in vinegar. I keep the salt at 3000 ppm and that makes the water so soft that it would be difficult to go back to the old way. In fact If I was to have to go back I'd still put the salt in the water because of that. Everyone loves our water and can't get over how good it makes their skin feel.
Once we open the pool up I never turn the pump off. We have a filter that is sized for a 30 ft pool so I only back flush twice a year sometimes three times and then its not because I have to its because I just can't stand not doing it any longer. So far I replace the sand every third season. I put the pump and filter a good 30 ft away running the 2 inch pipes under the ground making for a quiet peaceful swim. I'm retired so I have time to stay on top of the maintenance, check the water daily so the pool is a good experience for us.
By leaving the pump on 24/7 and with the big filter the water is crystal clear, amazing just how clear it is. In fact I've never seen water so clean. Since going to salt water I've not had to shock the pool once, well when we open it up and when we shut it down and cover it I do but other than that no shock.
I think not having to buy chlorine pretty much offsets the cost of running the pump 24/7. The generator we have uses copper ions to keep the algae under control so there is very little chlorine involved.
Thinking about it I'm getting anxious to go for a swim but we're still 6 weeks or so away from being able to do that.
I'm curious about how much it cost to run the pump and generator so this year I plan to use my kill-a-watt meter to see just how much it does cost. At any rate we see it as a necessary expense. I shower before I get in the pool but never after as the salt water makes my skin feel so good that I don't want to wash that feeling away.

Latest Discussions»Issue Forums»Environment & Energy»solar pool heating -- Apr...