How to Install Pool Solar Panels

Installing Pool Solar Panels is a fairly simple way to keep the water in your swimming pool warm and also a great way to reduce energy costs as compared with using traditional electrical heating sources. Capturing the sun's rays in these inexpensive panels and using them to heat the pool water is also a great way to extend the seasonal enjoyment of using a pool into cooler seasons of the year.

The first order of business when installing one of these devices is to find out how many sections of panels you will need to keep your water adequately heated. Most pools of any size will usually take at least two of the sections to obtain proper heating, and don't worry, most manufacturers have easy to use charts that will tell you the recommended amount of panels you will need to adequately heat your pool either on their website or on the packaging itself.

The next thing you will want to do is lay out an area beside or near your pool in which you will place the panels. This should be in the area that receives the most sunlight during the day and also where the panels can be tilted so that they face the sun. Some of these systems come with tubular metal racks that can be adjusted during different seasons, but I have seen many of these installed using simple wood frames that are angled at forty five degrees. Once the rack is in place, simply place the panels over the frame and attach it using strap ties to secure it to the frame.

When rolling out the solar heaters for your pool you will notice that there are two plugs located on the inlet and outlet ends where you attach the pump and the water hoses. Make sure you remove these plugs and put them somewhere where they will not get lost as you will need these if you decide to drain the solar heater for the winter or need to remove and store them later. I suggest placing them in a plastic container that is also secured to the frame somewhere as I tend to lose things that I put in the garage.

Now you will want to hook up the water lines to the panels using 1.5 inch hose clamps that may come with the heaters or may be bought at a pool supply store. It is also highly recommended that you install a manual bypass valve so that you can regulate the flow of warm water that is coming into the swimming pool at any given time. Once these are installed, you can turn on the pump and check for any leaks.

When heating your pool, the solar panels should remain cool to the touch as cool water is constantly being transferred in replacing the warm water going out to the pool. The pump should be turned on during the daylight hours to get the most warming from the sun and turned off at night to prevent cooling. This can also be done in reverse during hot weather to cool the pool down as the water in the solar units will become cooler than the larger volume of water in the pool at night. They provide a great way to regulate the water temperature in your pool in most types of weather.

The only other item that I suggest that you would need to use with this type of setup is a solar pool blanket. These are rather inexpensive and keep the heat from escaping by preventing surface cooling and they also prevent evaporation. Together, they work to use solar energy to keep your swimming pool warm and enjoyable.