[samhass]

Originally Posted by billethkid

Based on my experience with the solar panels I have for our swimming pool, I would say most homes do not have sufficient surface area facing in the optimum direction (usuall
Billie,
How long do you think it will take for the solar panels to pay for themselves? Heating my pool runs about $400 per winter month with just gas. I want to look into the solar panels and do have a decent amount of roof area.







West and some South). We have a large roof area and I had them max what they could put up. With it we have no problem keeping the pool at 93 during the months April through late November (probably could go higher but have no need to try). During the so called winter months Jan-Feb-Mar-Apr the best we get is high 80 degrees. Some installations do better some not as well...all a function of how many panels are optimized toward the sun.
The above is a long way from water tank temps, but is better than nothing. One could certainly consider solar with a gas assist (just like I have the pool set up).
I also suspect as technology improves the opportunities will also.
So I think what most would be up against is just simply having enough roof surface to accommodate the number of panels required to meet the objective.

BTK