[sharoni]

As new residents of the village of Charlotte's Lauren Villas, we are installing a pool, which should be completed sometime in June. We will be back and forth from Michigan, but will spend most of the winter in our CYV. Does the birdcage lower the temp in the pool and by how many degrees. What is everyones experience as far as solar panels for heating, especially in the winter months. And if you don't mind sharing, what is the cost per panel?

[Happinow]

Hello. Not sure what you mean about bird cages lowering the pool temp but all pools must have a cage over them. We have solar heat and love it. We have 10 or 12 panels ( it's dark and raining out or I would go count them) and it cost 4,000. In the winter, you need a solar cover along with the solar to keep the pool warm enough to swim, at least that was our experience. We couldn't use our pool from November 1 to April 1 because we did not want to use the solar cover.....too much of a pain for us. But, we still very much enjoyed sitting by the pool and looking at it. Best of luck with your choice!!

[sharoni]

Someone told us that the sunlight is somewhat blocked by the bird cage, hence the pool temp wouldn't be as warm as it could be...We heard by several degrees, but have read on blogs that this wasn't true.

[Trish Crocker]

We have 7 solar panels and paid around 3K...recently the temp has been around 90 (Steve loves it warm). We haven't been here through the winter but I agree with Happinow..it's great to just sit out around the pool when it's too cool to use it.

[NECHFalcon68]

We have 6 panels. In the winter I set the temp at 95+ so it is always running (when the pump is running), and using the solar cover we were able to keep the pool temp in upper 70s most of the time in Jan-Feb. And we did use the pool in those months, although not everyday. The problem is not the water temp...it's the cooler air when you get out....
Did not use our heater at all.

Right now we have it set at 85 and it is very refreshing on a day like today (before the rain).

The total cost of installation was short of 3500. Extra individual panels run about 275 each but we don't feel we need them at this point.

[Bogie Shooter]

Jack's Solar will anwser your questions without obligation. They come highly recommended here on TOTV.

[tainsley]

I have been using our pool off an on all winter. As long as it is above 76 I will swim. If the outside temps are lower than 76 the water feels warm (also use solar blanket in winter months. Shut off the solar as the pool was 89 yesterday...too warm for us!

[Ooper]

Solar heated systems are usually thermostatically controlled as you can set the temperature from cool to almost as warm as you want. Once the water is warmed to the preset temp, the system will stop circulating warm water until it cools off. You may not maintain your desired high temp in the winter but it will lengthen your swimming season substantially.

[Golfingnut]

We also have have he solar. It is helpful to raise the temp a few degrees when you want it up a little warmer. I think the bird cage does drop the temp a little bit. I believe the solar adds 40 to 50 days to our swimming time. When its cool out, I will not go in the pool just due to how cold it feels when you come out into the cold air. We use the hot tub when its cool out and the pool when its hot. Simple as that.

[jimbo2012]

The screen does block natural heat in fact when you figure how many panels U need U take the sq ft of the pool surface area and have about the same sq ft in panels without screen.

So if your pool was 10x20 U would get 200 sq ft of panels.
Most panels R 4x12 so that would be 4 panels they cost about $225 ea, plus controls so in materiel about $1350 the rest is the low cost labor and high margin of profit the inSTEELERS charge.

But the above figures R without any screen, with a screen add 25% to the sq ft.

So 200 sq ft pool X 1.25 in panels is about 5 on that size pool.

But one more would be nice.

I'm just now installing my panels at 1.5 x sq ft pool surface area, we hope to swim in the winter if the outdoor temp is comfortable (if not we'll jump in the spa )

[sharoni]

JIMBO, even though my husband and I are new to TV, having only closed in April and stayed down for a couple weeks after, I am finding you to be the "go to" person there. Thanks for the help!

[keithwand]

Originally Posted by Bogie Shooter

Jack's Solar will anwser your questions without obligation. They come highly recommended here on TOTV.

3 of us on the same street would highly disagree and not sure T&D are still promoting their service.
After spending $4,500 and not working properly and a worthless verbal guarantee we spent an additional $2,500 for more panels and corrections to the whole system made by a solar company in Ocala.
Shop around and buyer beware.