ECOShift

In Part 1 of the Solar Pool Heating series we provided an overview of the basic operation of a solar pool heating system. In Part 2 we are now going to focus on why a Solar Pool Heating system might be a good choice for you.

Solar pool heating is a great way to get off of fossil fuels and save money while keeping your pool warm during the summer months. According to Natural Resources Canada the cost of a Solar Pool Heating system is very competitive with that of a natural gas heating system and may be even less than that of a heat pump based system. The average cost of a solar pool heating system is around $3000 (based on a 16ft x 32ft in-ground pool). Now if you consider you may pay a similar amount, or a little less, for a natural gas or electric system the benefits of a solar based pool heating system are many. Let's take a look at some of these benefits:

No Fuel Costs

Your solar pool heating system doesn't require any fuel for heating. Heat from the sun is transferred directly to your pool water as it circulates (typically using your existing pool pump) through the solar collectors on your roof. Energy from the sun is free. According to NRCAN data a typical 16ft x 32ft in-ground pool cost between $300 and $600 (using gas rate of ~$0.34 m³) to heat with natural gas each year (if you use a pool cover) with a heater efficiency rating of 68. If you don't use a pool cover your heating costs can almost double. A solar pool heating system would cost $0 in fuel if you don't need to supplement your pool heating during the season with natural gas. That's a potential savings of $3000-$6000 over 10 years just on fuel costs alone. If you need to replace an old existing system or are installing new it's certainly worth considering solar. In Canada, and particularly Ontario, many people might not realize it but we actually have some great solar energy potential. This graph from NRCAN shows the typical temperature for a solar heated pool in Ontario:

Extend Your Pool Season

A properly sized solar pool heating system could add as much as 2-4 weeks to the start and end of your pool season. Many people don't open their pools early in the season, or keep them open later in the season, because the cost to heat the pool can be excessive due to the potential for temperature fluctuations in early spring and early fall. However, during these times there is still potential for some significant solar energy to be captured and used to heat your pool if you have a solar pool heater. Since there is no cost associated with the suns energy you are not wasting money on fuel if you open the pool earlier or keep it open a little later in the season. Just make sure you don't open it too early or keep it open too late if things are still freezing.

Life Expectancy

According to an NRCAN study you can expect to get 7-10 years out of your natural gas pool heater. Most gas heaters come with a 2 year warranty, and heat pumps carry a 2 year warranty with 5 years on the compressor. In comparison, many solar pool heating systems come with a 10 year warranty or longer (I've seen some with 15 years) and the expectation is 15-20 years of service or longer.

Maintenance

It is generally recommended that you have your gas heater serviced each year, just like your furnace. Now, in reality, how many people service there pool heaters each year? How many people have their natural gas furnace serviced each year? However, the point here is that the expectation, to get maximum life from your traditional pool heater is to have it serviced each year. Solar pool heating systems require very little servicing due to there extremely simple design, and it can often be done by the homeowner.

Environmentally Friendly

Solar heating is environmentally friendly. Heating your pool with solar energy won't generate any carbon emissions since you are not using any fossil fuels to heat your pool water. According to Natural Resources Canada a solar pool heating system can reduce Green House Gas (GHG) emissions by 3-10 tonnes annually. Depending on your perspective, this is either the primary reason you would consider solar pool heating or just icing on your environmental cake. Either way, it does look like it's an alternative to fuel based heating systems that is worth looking at.