PV Gap

Florence Said:

I have been thinking of replacing my in ground pool heater with solar panels, is this a good idea?

We Answered:

Probably so. Up until California Gas and Light gave away electricity, solar panel heaters were by far the best low cost way to warm pool water. They are surging in popularity again - an hour searching the web brings up a lot of comments about the modern costs of gas or electric heating of pool water.

You need a decent amount of sunny days, the space to dedicate to it - a 4X8 panel seems to be enough - and a pump on your filter that can handle the extra piping and load. It's not as cheap an add-on as a pool heater, but the long term running costs are much less these days.

Look around on the net for what is offered in the way of panels, costs, plumbing, etc. You can pick up a lot of info before jumping in to do it yourself or contract the job - which will save you money, too, as you will understand what is really needed and what is a false economy.

Andrea Said:

How many solar panels do I need for a 12' x 25' pool?

We Answered:

I've found http://renewenergysources.blogspot.com/ is a great blog with some links to ways to use solar energy in your home.

Jerry Said:

what type of pipe is used for pool solar panels?

We Answered:

If your making the panel out of it .. most people use a small diameter black polyethylene plastic pipe as it absorbs more heat than lighter PVC