| ar pool heater enables you and your family to | | | | warmth to the water in the tubing. The tubing |
| enjoy your swimming pool or outdoor spa for a | | | | should be protected, say with with polythene |
| greater part of the year. Into spring and autumn. | | | | sheeting, from any wind chill. |
| And into cooler mornings and evenings. When | | | | The reflectors can be made out of halved storm |
| others are shivering! | | | | water piping, sprayed with chrome paint to |
| There are four ways to heat your pool | | | | maximise their reflective powers. To circulate this |
| Electric heater | | | | warmed water through your pool or spa you will |
| Gas, usually a propane heater | | | | need a small pond pump or solar electric pump. |
| Using a pool cover | | | | The latter is more expensive, but obviously you |
| Solar pool heater | | | | will help the environment and your wallet by |
| The solar solution is best. It's cheap to run and | | | | spending a little more to start with. |
| you don't contribute to greenhouse gas emissions. | | | | One guide suggests that minimum pump |
| A guilt-free time in your comfortably warm pool | | | | specifications should be that it delivers 10 litres per |
| or outdoor spa! Why not. | | | | minute (120 gals/hour) and is capable of raising |
| A commercial pool heater can cost you up to | | | | water to 1.6m (5’2”). |
| $2000. But you can build your own at a small | | | | All components, containing tubing, reflectors and |
| fraction of that cost. | | | | cover, are assembled into a solar panel. Its ideal |
| Just look around on the web for guides that give | | | | size depends on optimum dimensions for ease of |
| you clear instructions of how to build your | | | | handling, structural integrity and heating efficiency. |
| system. There are several. | | | | Of course more than one panel can be used. A |
| Be sure to look for these essential elements at | | | | spa would not need a large panel. But then again... |
| least, in any guide you buy: | | | | some like it hot! |
| A clear list of materials with step-by-step | | | | In general, a panel measuring 3.4m (11’ |
| instructions | | | | 4”) by 1.4m (4’ 8”) is |
| Materials should be easy to source locally and be | | | | effective on pools up to 30,000 litres (6000 gal). |
| inexpensive | | | | Panels should be placed in such a way to |
| No requirements for complicated engineering, | | | | maximise receipt of the sun's rays. It's best to |
| electrical skills or welding | | | | have them face the sun's mid day position. Place |
| Clear diagrams | | | | them vertically on a fence or horizontally on your |
| Some troubleshooting suggestions | | | | roof. |
| How do solar pool heaters work? | | | | To make the best of your solar pool heater, it |
| They run on a passive solar principle. | | | | makes sense to use it with a solar blanket. But |
| Simply, pool water runs through long lengths of | | | | this is not normally required to benefit from your |
| flexible tubing. These are suspended in front of | | | | now upgraded asset - your pool or spa. |
| reflectors to receive and transmit the sun's | | | | Give it a go! Your family will thank you for it. |