Protect Your Pool Over the Cold Winter Season
Solar Pool heaters can greatly reduce your energy costs. They?re more cost effective than either gas or heat-pump swimming pool heaters. You?ll be able to save on annual operating costs once a solar pool heater system is installed. Best of all, a solar swimming pool heater can be used in most climates.
The typical solar pool heater system consists of a solar collector, a filter, a pump, and a flow-control valve.
- The solar collector is the device which the pool water passes through, to be heated by the sun.
- The filter removes the dirt and debris before the water is pumped into the solar collector.
- The pump is the what circulates the water through the filter and solar collector, and brings it back into the swimming pool.
- And finally, there’s the flow-control valve. It is either an automatic or a manual device, which redirects the water through the solar collector.
- A solar pool heater system works in the following manner.
The water from the pool is pumped through the filter and then enters the solar collector, where it is again heated before it returns to the pool. In hot climates, the solar collector can also be utilized to cool the pool, by circulating the water at night.
Some solar pool collectors use sensors and a valve, which redirects water through the solar collector when the collector temperature is greater than the pool water temperature. When both temperatures are the same, the filtered pool water won’t return to the collector, but will simply return to the pool.
There are different types of solar pool heating systems. They differ in the types of materials they are made out of. You will need to find out which type is best for your region?s climate, and how to use it.
There are glazed and unglazed solar collectors. If the temperature in your area reaches above freezing, then you?ll probably just need an unglazed solar collector. This is made out of heavy-duty rubber or plastic, treated with a UV light inhibitor. Unglazed solar collectors are cheaper than their glazed counterparts, because the parts are inexpensive, and their design is simple.
Glazed solar collectors are typically made from copper tubing and aluminum plates, with iron-tempered glass covers. These are quite expensive, but in colder weather, this type of system is more efficient in heating pool water than unglazed collectors are. Glazed solar collector systems can also be used as domestic hot water heaters. Both types of solar pool heating systems need to have freeze protection when used in harsh cold weathers.
As you can see, solar pool heater systems can be a good investment. You?ll save a lot of money in terms of energy costs, in the long run.
Anna is a webmaster and a blogger who educates others on solar energy uses and cleaner living styles. You can find more information on solar pool heating systems on her blog, at Choosing the Right Solar Pool Heater.
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