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What are solar pool heating
panels made of? What are solar pool heating panels made of? The solar pool panels
that we use are made of a lightweight, rigid plastic (polypropylene).
Each panel is made up of two headers (or manifolds) and numerous smaller
tubes. The small tubes are solvent welded to the headers, creating a
very sturdy and durable panel.[top] Do I need another pump to run the system? No. The pump already in place for your filter system is usually enough to operate the solar system. Hence, the system will not cost you more to run than what you are already paying to filter the pool throughout the season.[top] How does the system "know" when to turn on and shut off? An automatic control is included, along with sensors to detect solar panel and pool water temperatures. If the panels are warmer than the pool and the pool has not yet reached your desired temperature, water will flow through the panels and heat the pool. If these conditions do not exist, the automatic control will turn the jandy-valve, water will cease from flowing through the panels and your pool will function normally.[top] How long does it take to install a solar pool heating system? Installations usually do not take more than one day.[top] Do I need to use a solar cover also? Although some sources may say yes, the reality is that it will not really noticeably increase the performance of the system. A solar cover may help your pool retain some heat over night, but the solar heating system will rebound your pool quickly in the morning hours anyway, so the cover is not necessary.[top] Quite the opposite,
actually. The panels are mounted using stainless steel hardware so there
will never be rust issues and the hardware will not break over time.
All penetrations into your roof are sealed from both above and below
with silicon to insure that you will have no leaks. Also, since the
panels transfer the sun's radiant heat from your roof to the pool water,
the system actually cools the area of the house below the panels, hence,
reducing the cooling load of your house. [top] Much like solar electricity, south is the optimum orientation. However, systems can be mounted in any direction, except north, but may need to oversized to compensate for reduced sun hours.[top] What happens to the system during the winter? Solar pool heating systems are meant to be drain-down system - meaning, when they are not working all of the water drains out of them. The panels are mounted on a slight slant such that gravity will drain all of the water out of the panels when they are not functioning. Also, all installations include unions and ball-valves to allow for complete after-season draining to prevent freeze damage during the colder months. Upon completion of your system, customized winterization instructions will be provided for you and/or your pool company. [top] Does the system have to be mounted on my roof, or can I put it on the ground? System can be ground mounted, but they are more expensive due to the cost of the additional materials and the labor time to construct the rack.[top] Do I have to run my filter at the same time as the solar pool heating system? Yes. Your solar controls run off the same power as your filter and pump, and since your pump runs the solar system, it cannot work unless your pump and filter system are operational. It is recommended that you run your filter from about 8am-4pm to ensure that you maximize your sun hours, and hence, maximize your heating time.[top] How much will the system cost me on an annual basis? Once your system
is installed and operational, it will cost you $0 to heat your pool
You will only spend about $2.00 per summer to run the automated control
unit. .[top]
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