Swimming Pool Solar Heating to Save Energy Bills

Swimming Pool Solar Heating to Save Energy Bills

If you own a swimming pool, you will probably be looking for ways to extend the season to continue to use your pool for as much of the year as possible. But with growing concerns about costs and the environment, people are looking for ways to reduce their spending, particularly when it comes to energy bills. For this reason, many owners of in-ground or above-ground swimming pools are looking for an alternative source of energy to heat their pools. Swimming pool solar heating systems are fast becoming a cheap, and a green alternative to traditional forms of pool heating.

A solar swimming pool heating system can easily heat your pool to your required temperature while helping you save money on your energy bill. A solar pool heater is powered from the sun and once installed is almost maintenance free - and costs nothing to run.

Although some solar pool heaters work differently, most cycle the cold water from your pool through solar panels. These panels capture energy from the sun and use this free energy to warm the water before cycling it back into your swimming pool, ready for use. A solar pool heating system can significantly lengthen the season for using your pool.

Another type of swimming pool solar heating system is a solar pool blanket. A solar pool blanket is one of the more widely used pool heating systems. In-ground solar pool blankets are covered with thousands of tiny sealed air pockets which act as insulators as well as heat transmitters. They capture heat from the sun and transfer it into the pool water, raising the temperature by up to 10 to 15 degrees Fahrenheit. At the same time , the special design of the pool blankets reduce evaporation, thereby preventing water and heat loss.  Pool blankets are available in a variety of thickness and size to suit most pools.

For those with an above-ground pool, you can still have  a solar heater. An above-ground pool can have  a 'roof top' cover. This type of cover sits on the roof of your home while collecting energy. This has the advantage of being unobtrusive.

Another type of solar powered pool heater is a dome. These are usually made up of vinyl and aluminum. They provide a complete enclosure to your pool, preventing heat loss and also helping keep your pool clean. Pool domes are easy to put up and take down and require very little work once installed.

Solar sun rings are another form of solar pool heating. These are made up of two layers of UV resistant vinyl. The top clear layer holds insulating air and also serves to focus sunlight on the bottom blue layer. This blue layer absorbs about half of the sunlight, converting it into heat energy. Several of these rings are used together and sit on the surface of the swimming pool. This creates an insulating blanket to cover 70 to 80 percent of the pool's surface. They are highly efficient and easier to handle than the solar blankets.

In addition to the above, you can also use solar pills. These go in your pump basket and release a swimmer-friendly compound which spreads across the surface of the water, forming an invisible shield which inhibits heat evaporation. Solar pills work for 24 hours per day and last for up to 30 days. Although solar pills are very convenient, they are only about 60 percent as effective as solar blankets.

With so many different types of pool solar heating systems, it is easy to find one that suits both your pool and your pocket. Once having chosen your solar heater you can start harnessing the sun's free energy quickly and easily, saving you significant amounts on your energy bills. You can enjoy an extended swimming season  knowing that heating your pool with solar energy is not harming the environment as well as saving money.