Solar panels for pool

[sharoni]

We recently put in a pool and have been considering putting up solar panels. What companies would you recommend. We are back in Michigan so we definitely want someone dependable as we won't be down to supervise.

[Kelsie52]

Solar Jack is great --If you search on this site (top panel ) for solar pool heating ---or solar jack --you will get all the info you need

good luck

[Golfingnut]

Jacks without question. We are in the pool from Jan to dec

[Tracy1581]

wow we have solar panels also and love the pool however don't find they warm it up enough during Jan through March. But then again I'm chicken to go in if cold outside. How high can you get your temp during those months with the panels. I like my pool around 87 degrees !! lol

[Golfingnut]

wow we have solar panels also and love the pool however don't find they warm it up enough during Jan through March. But then again I'm chicken to go in if cold outside. How high can you get your temp during those months with the panels. I like my pool around 87 degrees !! lol

82 to 83, but after a cold fist few weeks of jan, that is good enough for us.

[billethkid]

most solar panel installations will not maintain an 87 degree temp during January to March cold spells.....depending on the weather one MIGHT get lucky to hit 80.....

Onec the night time temps go below 65 degrees it is very difficult to overcome that much of a temp differential consistently.

We have solar with a gas heater back up....Jan- March are a challenge to stand alone solar systems.

We had our solar put in by Solar Lights and More out of Ocala. Not one single complaint in almost 10 years. They are very responsive customer service focused.

Nothing unique about solar components regardless who the instakllation is purchased from. Do your home work and make your choice. You can't go wrong with any of the reputable installers here in TV.

btk

[Bogie Shooter]

Jack's Solar (http://jacksolar.com/)

[jimbo2012]

We are back in Michigan so we definitely want someone dependable as we won't be down to supervise.

Boy there's a mistake waiting to happen, if your not here schedule it when you are.

Are you going to pay without seeing it work too?

Get one more panel than they recommend, average price here is $3000.

Jack is ok, but there are others

[keithwand]

3 of us on the same street had to have Solar Trek correct mistakes and add panels to get temperatures above 80 degrees due to mistakes made by the original installer thus costing almost 2X the price.
The original installer did not stand by the install.

[jimbo2012]

Keith,

So I guess you lack confidence in Jacks Solar based on your other (https://www.talkofthevillages.com/forums/678385-post12.html) post back in May.

He installed (himself) a pool heater for a neighbor, mounted it on lose blocks just laid on the ground, it was not level and the wiring was not professional.

[Villages Kahuna]

Have him out and look at the quality of his product. Then compare to the panels being sold on the town squares. There won't be a question in your mind.

[Bogie Shooter]

Jack's Solar put in our solar heating.
We are happy, has performed as he said it would.

[cmfjr]

No matter who you use make sure you get a written warranty as to the temp promised. Another point is to add a few "extra" panels at the time of installation as the cost per panel added now is drastically less that adding them later! This way you can increase the water temp during the colder months.

[Houselover]

Boy there's a mistake waiting to happen, if your not here schedule it when you are.

Are you going to pay without seeing it work too?

Get one more panel than they recommend, average price here is $3000.

Jack is ok, but there are others

OK Jimbo, who else would you recommend?

[jimbo2012]

PM sent

[BettyCrocked]

Jimbo, could you also send me your recommendation?
TIA

[Maschutt]

We moved to TV in August and our new home has a pool. I read the reviews posted in 2012 about Jack's but saw nothing about Solar Lights. Does anyone have current experience with Solar Lights or Jack's? We have gotten quotes from both and very confused on whether the separated tube model is better or worse than the FAFCO product. Price is comparable and both offer 12 years parts and labor.
Any additional insights would be helpful.

[keithwand]

Solar Trek in Ocala.

[jimbo2012]

Fafco's are perhaps used more than any other, may even be the std.

A 5-6 panel system s/b about $3,000 installed

Each add'l panel is $235

check this sight for details, remember the contractors pay less than these prices, so they have a nice profit on these installs.

I'm installing Fafco's (5) on mine myself.

[Aruca]

PM sent

JIMBO ...Please PM me your recommendation for solar install as well TY

[sharoni]

Jimbo, Jimbo, Jimbo, no faith. Compared to putting in a pool while we were in Michigan, the solar was "a piece of cake". Jack did our solar, per everyone's recommendations. Said we didn't have to pay till we came down the end of the month. Put in extra panels and said should stay at 85, except maybe in Janiary.

[jimbo2012]

Let me just say I saw some of the workmanship :22yikes:

[keithwand]

Key word "should stay". Not gonna happen in January but it sounds good.
I'm not sure i got 85 in January with 16 panels!

[Snowbirdtobe]

The key to swimming in January is to cover the pool when not in use. I had a solar cover installed and it really helped to keep the pool warm for January swimming but it was such a pain to put on and take off I got rid of it. The kidney shaped pools make it impossible to get an automatic cover. I plan to try covering part of the pool with a cover on a roller mounted at one end of the pool.

[jimbo2012]

I have a solar roller, it also keeps dirt out.

[keithwand]

My neighbor suggested cutting the cover in half so it's more manageable to put on and take off. May try it.

[jimbo2012]

I helped someone on his pool put it on like that, we tried for a while and had a beer.

A real PITA

[daranco]

Hi all... my first time on TOTV

We have a pool, and want to get solar panels installed.
I've narrowed it down to either SolarTrek or Jack's. Does
anybody have info, comments, opinions, or good/bad
experiences with either.
Appreciate whatever info you can send my way.
My email is donandweezy@gmail.com if you would prefer to email

Thanks - in advance

[keithwand]

Solar Trek. They fixed what another botched.
Same for another neighbor that tried another installer first.
We both got to pay twice to correct.