SOLAR POOL HEATING
Solar heating your pool is the easiest and most cost effective use of solar energy today. The cost of a solar pool heating system is usually less than 2-3 years of heating your pool with gas or electricity. The biggest benefit, though, for most families is that solar heating will typically double the comfortable swimming season here in Southern Arizona. A typical pool heating system will keep your pool from 80F to 90F, on average, from March/April through October/November depending on weather conditions. Thousands of local pools are currently heated with clean, reliable solar energy. SUNPOWER of ARIZONA installs and services numerous different pool heating systems, including Techno-Solis, Aquatherm, Gull, Helicol, Fafco, and SunTech. We use both "rectangular" 4' x 8'/10'/12' black and terra cotta panels from Techno-Solis and Aquatherm and 6.5' diameter "coil" panels from Gull Industries depending on a customer's needs. The simple rule-of-thumb is we typically recommend rectangular panels for pitched roof and rack installations where the panels can be plumbed to drain and Gull SunCoil panels for "flat" territorial style roofs and ground mount applications. Regardless of the panel we use, the typical cost of a solar pool heating system (panels, controller, labor) is between $3,000 to $6,000 before tax incentives and credits.
In situations where solar pool heating is just not feasible, electric heat pumps are the most energy efficient way to heat your pool. During our consultation with you we can outline the viable options you have and the benefits of each. With the cost of solar electricity coming down it has become a viable way to power an electric pool heat pump. Check with us for a white paper outlining all the options for solar pool heating in more detail.