The biggest attraction to switching to solar power is the savings that you can make on the more conventional forms of power. When it comes to heating your swimming pool, there are real savings to be made compared to the installation and operating costs of gas, propane or electrical pool heaters. But what are the solar pool heating costs and how well do they compare with the alternatives?
Solar pool heating systems might not be complicated but they are technical and detailed. Not only must you have the solar panels (or collectors) installed in a suitably sun-soaked location, you must also install piping to take the water from the pool to the panel and then back into the pool. You also need a filter to remove debris and such before the water enters the panel, a flow control valve and a pump to push the water through.
Installation costs for solar pool heaters are therefore comparatively similar to those for the alternative systems, with prices ranging from anything between $2,000 and $5,000. Gas pool heating systems are the least expensive and are relatively efficient (from 60%) but the build-up of dirt in the system can mean the efficiency level will decrease dramatically over the first 10 years.
The good news is that installation costs are by the far the biggest part of the investment. The fact that the system operates on sunlight means that the fuel on which the pool heater is driven is always free. Re-fuelling on gas, propane and electricity, meanwhile, will cost you several thousand dollars each year.
There are only two additional costs to worry about after you have installed a solar pool heating system. With a pump, flow controller and filter included in the system, there will be some maintenance. However, this is significantly less costly than with the alternative systems.
The pump, by which water is pumped through the solar panel and heated, is usually powered by electricity – although it can sometimes be powered by the sun. If it is powered by on-grid electricity then it will add anything from $50 to $100 more to your electricity bill per year, which works out at between $4 and $8 more per month. However, when off-set against the savings in fuel consumption, that cost itself is easily forgotten about.
Remember that the total cost of a solar pool heating system will depend on the size and type of solar array being used and the distance from the pool that the panel located. To maximise efficiency a pool cover is necessary as it will reduce evaporation levels and therefore the rate of heat loss. That can cost around $500 more but it too is worth the investment.
Overall, solar pool heating costs are small compared to those of more traditional systems. The initial investment may require a sizeable lump sum but with solar pool heating systems repaying investments after between 2 and 5 years, it is well worth slashing out on.
Solar Pool Heating Cost Video
Mechanical Considerations in Solar Swimming Pool Heating
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