Or, if you're someone who is looking into pool-heating options for the first time, why not skip those costlier options and invest in a heating system that doesn't have to be plugged into the power grid? Once you install it, it's free, it's environmentally sustainable, and it requires little maintenance.
SWIMMING POOL SOLAR HEATING SYSTEMS
Basic DIY solar hot water heaters have a few standard parts. Obviously, they come with solar water heater panels that are placed on your roof, where they gather heat from the sun. Most systems also include a pump, which circulates water through the heating system. And most also have filters that clean the water as it returns to the pool.
That's all there is to it. Heat from the sun warms the water, and the warmed water is circulated through the pool. Ideally, you'll also have a insulated swimming pool cover to hold in the heat for when you want to swim after dark.
WHAT DO YOU NEED?
First of all, if you want to put in a DIY solar water heater, you don't need to live in a warm climate. Contrary to popular belief, solar power doesn't require hot temperatures to work. All it needs is the sun. If you don't believe me, consider the fact that most of the research facilities in Antarctica are solar powered. That's the coldest place in the world, and they do just fine with their solar energy. It's all about sunlight, not sun-heat.
Next, you need to know how powerful your system needs to be. A good rule of thumb is that your solar power collectors need to equal your pool in square footage. In other words, if your pool is 10 ft by 20 ft (200 square feet), you'll need 200 square feet of solar collectors.
Meanwhile, if you invest in a high quality pool cover, you'll be able to make sure your system runs as efficiently as possible. If your cover is well-insulated, you can even cut back on your collector square footage by 10% or so.
Finally, all you need to do is compare the costs and qualities of the systems that are on the market, and find the one that best suits your needs. If you want one of the higher-end swimming pool solar heating systems, there's a good chance it'll be a little too complicated for self-installation, and you may have to hire someone to do it for you. On the other hand, if you're only interested in DIY solar systems, avoid the cheaper options that are made of lower-cost materials. Invest in quality, and you'll get a return in savings.
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