Swimming Pools

To heat your swimming pool by solar energy in an ideal choice as after the initial investment it is a free heat gain regardless of rising fuel costs. The use of solar heating for swimming pools is probably also the most cost effective use of solar power as the cost of heating a pool by any other means is very expensive both financially and environmentally. In fact, in Switzerland and recently Austria legislation has been put into place banning the heating of outdoor pools by other methods. This may well come into force over here in a few years time.

One problem with heating a pool by solar has been that the conventional unglazed panels and hoses need vast areas (at least half the surface area of the pool) and struggle to do anything in poor weather, early and late seasonal months.

Using vacuum tube systems is an effective method for combating this problem, but using this system may become prohibitively expensive except for indoor pools.

We have found using high quality glazed solar panels are the best for swimming pool applications. Only costing a little more than the unglazed panels, they have the advantage of markedly extending the season for comfortable swimming. They need a much smaller area (typically quarter of surface area of the pool) and can also provide hot water for showers or the main house (up to 25 metres away). When the pool is not in use, they can be used to provide background heating to the pool house.

They can provide enough heat on their own or can be installed alongside other heaters for people requiring high temperatures, typically 28 o C+ and indoor pool systems.

Average installed costs:

• 20'X10' £3900
• 30'X15' £4900
  

The major advantage of heating a pool with solar power is that regardless of rising fuel costs no future heating costs will incur. Plus, it adds to the salability of the home.