Many people are choosing solar pool heating as a means to extend their swimming season during the cold months of the year. To make this a possibility, there are a few aspects that need explanation as highlighted below.
How Ribbon or Strip Collectors Work
Ribbon or strip collectors are manufactured utilizing specially formulated plastics and rubber. They comprise of an array of tubes fastened to a roof with adhesive. They run horizontally to enable pool water to flow evenly through them obtaining heat from the sun’s energy in the process. The heated water then returns to the swimming pool via the filtration system or a completely independent suction and return line to the pool. Solar pool heating has been widely used for many years making it a cost effective solution to extend the swimming season.
How the Pool Water is Heated
Pool water is pumped from the pool through the collectors on the roof (the collectors absorb heat from the suns rays which heats up the water inside the tubes) and then returns to the swimming pool via return jets. This process is continually repeated until the desired pool water temperature is reached. The solar pool heater controller is usually connected to a dedicated pool solar pump. Some solar pool heating systems utilize the same pump and filter as the pools main filtration system.
Solar Pool Blankets
Solar pool heating is simple to install and very economical to operate. The use of a solar pool blanket can reduce running costs even further and increase the efficiency of the system. It warms the pool by preventing evaporation and cutting down on radiation loss. Blankets are individually cut to size and custom-fit any size and shape pool. The blankets are suitable for below and above ground pools.
Sources:
Solar Heating Systems for Your Pool, www.dummies.com
How To Install, www.poolheater.be