Solar Pool Heater

[MACH7SS]

Just a couple of questions for those of you who already have solar units on their roofs. I'm just trying to see if the information I am receiving from the installers is correct. Do you need to run water thru the system all the time to prevent the unit from getting too hot in summer? And if so, does that make the pool too hot to be comfortable? Are electric auto-valves necessary or do you have manual valves? And finally just for curiosity, can anyone give me a "ballpark" price complete for a smallish pool about 10/28? Thank you in advance for any info.

[Snowbirdtobe]

The electric valves are a must. They will start the heating when the pool water is cooler than the desired temperature and turn off when the pool reaches that temperature. My system will turn the valve if the sun is obscured by a large cloud.
You can set the system up to cool the pool at night if desired. With my system the collectors often have no water running through them during the summer and have suffered no damage.
When you plan a system decide when you want to swim. If you want to swim in the colder months you may need to add additional heat.
The only problem we have with our system is that I like a warm pool and my wife likes a cooler pool.
I have no idea of the system cost since it came with the house.

[Steve Nagy]

I highly recommend Jack's Solar if you decide to do this. He is used by T&D when they install solar heat for a new pool.

My pool is 16 x 30 x 4 (no deep end), and the solar system has 8 panels. The cost for solar was $4500. We keep the pool at about 88, and it works fine. In the winter months, it doesn't get that warm, and you will need to use the solar cover if you intend on swimming in February.

The system works by circulating hot water from the collectors through the regular pool plumbing. There is a controller with which you set your desired temperature. When the pool water is cooler than your desired temperature and the collector water is warmer than the pool water, the electric valves open to allow hot water into the system.

I'm not sure how you would do this practically with manual valves.

Give Jack a call ... he's very personable and won't pressure you. Feel free to tell him that Steve Nagy sent you ... I'll take any help I can get to "soften him up" when I ask for a quote on solar electric!:D

[jojo]

I highly recommend Jack's Solar if you decide to do this. He is used by T&D when they install solar heat for a new pool.

My pool is 16 x 30 x 4 (no deep end), and the solar system has 8 panels. The cost for solar was $4500. We keep the pool at about 88, and it works fine. In the winter months, it doesn't get that warm, and you will need to use the solar cover if you intend on swimming in February.

The system works by circulating hot water from the collectors through the regular pool plumbing. There is a controller with which you set your desired temperature. When the pool water is cooler than your desired temperature and the collector water is warmer than the pool water, the electric valves open to allow hot water into the system.

I'm not sure how you would do this practically with manual valves.

Give Jack a call ... he's very personable and won't pressure you. Feel free to tell him that Steve Nagy sent you ... I'll take any help I can get to "soften him up" when I ask for a quote on solar electric!:D

We used Jack's Solar. He drove me around the neighborhood and showed me other installations before we hired him. We love our system.

[billethkid]

we had ours put in by Solar Lights & More out of Ocala.
100% automatic...set the temp you want and forget it.
If we did not have ours set at 88 it would heat to the same temp as a hot tub. When the FL sun is really cranking the rays day in and day out the solar system will build to some pretty high temps.

The prices quoted above for the number of panels stated is about what we paid.

We are completely satisfied with Solar Lights & More. Very responsive/timely customer service.

And don't forget during the winter when the temps are going to go below 39 degrees to be sure your solar system is in by pass and that all your pool, fountain, hot tub pumps are running continuously during the below 39 degree weather.

btk

[NECHFalcon68]

Jacks Solar installed ours. I do know there is a caution during freezing temps (may need to run the solar system during the nite the temps drop), but am not aware of using the solar because it gets too hot. We set our solar thermostat at about 83, and I dont think it has run since beginning of July, as the lanai faces west, so the sun heats the pool water to 87+ on a normal 90-degree day. And overnite it has been staying above 85 so there isnt much heat loss right now. I expect that to change in the next few weeks.

Like another poster said, call Jack, definitley no pressure, and knows the solar business.

[billethkid]

check with your solar provider...I believe once the solar system is bypassed, there is no water in the roof units and no need to run water through them during the freeze period....just the pool, hot tub and other pumps.......but please do check with your supplier to be sure that is their recommendation (or other) for their equipment.

btk

[wonderboy]

Just a couple of questions for those of you who already have solar units on their roofs. I'm just trying to see if the information I am receiving from the installers is correct. Do you need to run water thru the system all the time to prevent the unit from getting too hot in summer? And if so, does that make the pool too hot to be comfortable? Are electric auto-valves necessary or do you have manual valves? And finally just for curiosity, can anyone give me a "ballpark" price complete for a smallish pool about 10/28? Thank you in advance for any info.

Thanks for the post. I'm also interested

[MACH7SS]

Thank you all for your information and suggestions.

[ijusluvit]

Jack's Solar does a great job. One of the best things he suggested was to add additional panels beyond what would be needed for our pool size. We had the roof space so we agreed to the small additional cost. That was seven years ago. Everything still works very well and our pool warms faster in the winter than those of others we know with solar systems. The automatic valves keep the temp comfortable and easily controlled even in the hottest months. We also have a spa, so we have gas heat as well. The solar system has reduced our winter heating bills by over three quarters of what it was previously.

[Houselover]

Does anyone have Jack's Solar tele #??

[Bogie Shooter]

Does anyone have Jack's Solar tele #??

Jack Cahill
352-267-4903

[skyguy79]

Does anyone have Jack's Solar tele #??Jack's Solar: 267-4903

Whoops... missed Bogie's posting! Anyway, so this posting wasn't a total waste, here is a FAQ on the solar system that Jack uses:

http://www.sunstarsolar.com/why-solar.php

[Villages Kahuna]

Jack's Solar does a great job. One of the best things he suggested was to add additional panels beyond what would be needed for our pool size. We had the roof space so we agreed to the small additional cost. That was seven years ago. Everything still works very well and our pool warms faster in the winter than those of others we know with solar systems. The automatic valves keep the temp comfortable and easily controlled even in the hottest months. We also have a spa, so we have gas heat as well. The solar system has reduced our winter heating bills by over three quarters of what it was previously.Jack installed our system about 6 years ago. I don't remember what it cost. Even in the coldest months last year, with the solar cover kept on the pool, the rooftop system kept my pool in the low 70's, without ever turning the gas heater on. Of course, if you do wish warmer water--like when the gramndkids visit--having the gas heat the pool from mid-70's to mid-80's is a whole lot less expensive than letting the pool go uncovered and trying to maintain heat with the gas heater alone.

In six years never a problem with Jack's installation.