Wouldn’t it be fun if you could use your pool all year round? Having an outdoor pool is a wonderful new experience for most foreigners that move to Spain, and many utilize it all through the hot summer. Sometimes even complaining that the water becomes too hot! Honestly, there’s no pleasing some people... There is cause for complaint, however, when the pool becomes redundant in the winter due to the drop in water temperature. Traditionally it has proved too expensive to install a heating system for outdoor (or even indoor) pools, and so the pool remains either empty, or turning a pea soup shade of green during the winter. Very attractive. This highlights the need for some kind of economical pool heating device. There have been many new developments in the field of solar heating resulting in many companies now offering solar panels that are specifically designed to heat your pool throughout the cooler months.
Benefits of solar panels Many companies claim that solar swimming pool heating to be the most cost-effective solar energy application. A solar pool heating system will save enough money to pay for itself quickly and provide pool heating energy free for your enjoyment and use for many years. The installation of solar panels can raise the temperature of your pool by as much as ten degrees. The system works by directing water from the swimming pool through a series of collectors or panels. Energy from the sun is absorbed by the panels, and transferred via water tubes to the circulated pool water.
Requirements It is however, a requirement that you have ample space to install panels where they will get the sun. A flat or gradually sloping roof is ideal, or if not a space in the garden where they won’t get in the way. If you do not have a space where a lot of sunlight falls, the amount of panels used will need to be greater, so bear this in mind. As a rule of thumb the area covered by the panels needs to be between 50% and 80% of the total pool area in order for the panels to function well. A pump is required in order to circulate the warmed water. In almost all cases where the filter pump is currently keeping the pool clean, it is not necessary to change it or to add a pump for the solar heater. The existing pump is usually capable of circulating pool water through the solar panels.
Usage and maintenance Advances in solar heating design ensure that an ambient temperature is kept at all times. Solar heating is completely automatic in a properly designed solar heating system. When your pool requires heat, the automatic control diverts the water coming from the filter to the solar collectors, if they are receiving solar energy. This continues until the pre-set desired temperature is reached or until no more solar energy is available. It is very simple to keep your solar panels in good condition. The only routine maintenance you will need to do is the same as you should always do for your pool, keep the pool clean and in proper chemical balance. It is advisable to shut off the water supply to your pool sweep and solar collectors if you will be adding pool shock treatment or excessive amounts of chemicals.
Enjoy your pool Even if you don’t have solar panels, the extra hot summer of this year will have heated your pool those few extra degrees, meaning that you can use it for a few weeks longer than usual – providing it doesn’t keep raining! Remember to keep your pool clean and check that you are using the correct chemicals in the right quantities. It is also important to check for cracked or missing tiles, as they can be sharp on the feet and are the cause of many injuries to children every year. Keep filters clear of all debris – particularly the dates that fall by the million from the palm trees at this time of year; they can mean trouble for swimming pools. A pool is a luxury facility and
