Solar Pool Heaters Frequently Asked Questions Why Heat My Pool? Choosing The Right Heating System How Do Solar Heaters Work? How will Solar Perform? Do Solar Pool Heaters Work All Year Round? What Happens on Cloudy or Rainy Days? Types of Solar Pool Heaters What do Systems look like? Sizing Information What exactly do I get? Roof and Rack Installations Can I Install it myself? Pricing Information Cost of Operation Do I Need a Pool Cover? Energy Rating & Efficiency Longevity and Maintenance Brand Comparison Warranty Information Why heat my pool? You bought your pool for a number of reasons like family fun, exercise, entertaining and possibly even therapeutic reasons. However you've probably found that without heating your pool it's often too cold to enjoy. Heating your pool will allow you to enjoy it all season, perhaps all year round, thereby increasing the return on your sizable investment. Choosing the right heating system There are three basic types of pool heating systems: Solar, Electric Heat Pump, and Gas (Natural or Lp/Propane). Deciding which system is the best match for you and your pool is determined by considering the factors below: • Water temperature desired • Swimming season desired • Geographic location / climate • Spending plans / project budget • The size/shape of the pool, plus shading/wind factors • Cost of operation For detailed information please see: Side-by-Side Comparison Guide How do solar heaters work? Solar Heaters utilize the sun's free heat and do not have an operating cost. Your existing pool pump circulates the water through the heater, usually located on the roof, and warms the pool. The pump timer is set to operate during sunlight hours, usually 9am to 5pm. An Automatic Control and Valve are sometimes used to regulate temperature, usually in northern climates or where absolute temperature control is desired. Commercial pools and some larger residential pools may need a booster pump. How will solar perform? A properly sized solar system will effectively raise temperatures well into the 80°F range. In addition to raising the water temperature, your swimming season can be extended in cooler climates by as much as 100 percent, and performs year round in warmer climates. There may be short periods during inclement weather when the pool water becomes cooler; however, a little sunny weather will return the pool back to a comfortable temperature. Solar pool heating systems are best suited for recreational pools, but can be easily designed for commercial and industrial applications. To determine the potential swimming season in your area, see the Solar Insolation Map and chart below: Swimming Seasons Zone No Heater Solar Heater 1 6-7 months 12 months 2 4-5.5 months 10-11 months 3 4.5 months 9 months 4 3-4 months 8 months 5 3 months 6 months 6 2 months 4 months 7 1-1.5 months 3 months Do solar pool heaters work all year long? Solar heaters can add 10-20 degrees to the unheated pool. Most pool owners can effectively double the traditional unheated pool swim season or just make it a little more comfortable during the months to which you have become accustomed. What happens on cloudy or rainy days? The heating of a pool is not something which depends upon any one day's weather. If your pool is warm and it rains; the water will cool some, but return to a comfortable temperature after sunlight returns. Touch a dark automobile on a cloudy day and see the power of the sun. Solar works almost as well on a cloudy day as it does when sunny. Types of solar pool heaters There are two basic types of solar pool heaters: Panels and Mat. Both types have Carbon Black in them to absorb solar energy and Inhibitors which act like a sunscreen to prevent deterioration. _________________________________________________ VORTEX Panels ● Comercial grade polypropylene plastic ● Increase temperature up to 20% ● 10 year warranty PDF format ● For in-ground or above-ground pools ● Can be installed on roof or ground ● Sizes in feet: 4 x 8 - 4 x 10 - 4 x 12 and custom They are approximately 5 to 10% more efficient than Mat _________________________________________________ EZ Heat Mat ● Durable synthetic rubber ● Increase temperature up to 10% ● 4 year warranty ● For aboveground pools ● Ground installation recommended ● Sizes in feet: 4 x 12 - 4 x 20 - 4 x 25 The major advantage to Mat Systems is that they can be tailored to fit odd size roofs. We do not recommend EZ Heat in warmer climate States. _________________________________________________ What do systems look like? System design varies slightly from house to house. They can be installed on most roof types or on ground mounted racks. View photographs of systems installed by other homeowners. Below is a typical system diagram. Sizing information - how many panels do I need? Proper sizing of the solar system is critical for achieving optimum heating performance. Most pools require a solar panel surface area equal to 50-100% of the pool’s surface area. Every home and pool is unique. The size of the heater is based on several factors, including: the size & shape of the pool; pool shading (i.e. trees, screen enclosure); geographic location; swimming season and pool temperature desired; windy conditions; and direction of the roof (south, east, west or flat). The size of the system determines its ability to maintain the pools temperature at a desired level, and the length of your swimming season. Solar panels are generally placed in a row on the roof or a rack. To determine the VORTEX system size required for your pool, use our online calculator VORTEX specific Sizing Guide For EZ HEAT Systems use the EZ HEAT sizing chart What exactly do I get? VORTEX Standard, Deluxe, Premium EZ HEAT Basic, Standard, Deluxe Roof and Rack Installations Roof installations are often the best choice as the roof is pre-existing making the completion of the installation a simpler task. Many times racks are a more aesthetically pleasing or only possibility option. We offer free plans for aluminum or wood constructed racks or can provide a pre-constructed aluminum rack system for you to install. See a Rack diagram PDF format Can I install it myself? Solar Heaters can be installed easily by most anyone. It requires only simple hand tools and a drill. VORTEX Solar Pool Heater Installation Manual PDF format The typical installation takes from 1 to 2 days. EZ HEAT Standard Installation PDF format Installs in minutes. Pricing Information VORTEX System cost start from $552 and up depending on the size. Once you know the size, visit our shopping cart to determine the system cost. EZ HEAT Systems start from $199 and up depending on the size. Once you know the size, visit our shopping cart to determine the cost. Cost of operation Solar, an all natural alternative energy source, takes advantage of free heat from the sun. To capture this heat, your pool pump must circulate during the 6-8 hour solar window. If you are currently operating your pump and filter during the entire solar window, you will experience no increase in your power bill. Do I need a pool cover? A Thermal Pool Cover is recommended for all heating systems. Heating a pool without a cover is like heating a house without a roof...the heat just goes right out the top. Without a pool cover, the cost of operating a Heat Pump or Gas Heater is doubled, and a Solar Heater's effectiveness is dramatically decreased. For convenience a roller may be added to ease placement and removal of the cover. If a pool cover is not being used, the size of the heater must be increased by 75% - 100%. Pool covers range in cost from $50 to $200 for residential pools; Pool blanket rollers offered in many styles and quality start at $185. Energy rating and efficiency Solar panels are rated by FSEC (Florida Solar Energy Center) in BTU's per SqFt. The higher the BTU, the more heat output. The average output is 900 to 1000 BTU's. This equates to a 3 to 7% difference between different brands. To determine the best value, divide the total cost by the total SqFt of panel. The lower the cost per SqFt, the better the value. Longevity and Maintenance VORTEX Solar Heater will typically last 10 to 20 years. They are very low maintenance. Most systems have a 10 year warranty on the panels. EZ HEAT Systems usually last four years Brand Comparison Solar Pool Collectors are so similar in performance and function that the BTU rating should not be used to compare one product to another. If you have the same size and number of collector panels on any given pool, they will perform almost identically, relative to heating the pool. Collectors should only be compared to each other on the basis of: 1. Weight or material content / Our collector panels are 25-40% heavier than the industry average. This makes them more durable and gives them the greatest life expectancy. 2. Method of connection between headers or manifolds and the water flow section or absorber board. The two best methods are sonic welding and the unique patented process used in our panel. Other less effective methods include thermal welding and injection molding. Warranty information Replacement versus repair type warranty. Most warranties call for the repair or replacement of a defective collector panel at the option of the dealer or manufacturer. Solar Direct replaces all defective VORTEX panels and will make no attempt at repair for a full 10 years. VORTEX 10 year warranty (PDF format) Repair warranties can be for longer time periods such as 12-15 years, but replacement is always the best option. EZ HEAT warranty PDF format Special note to our prospective clients We have been providing solar pool heaters to pool owners worldwide for almost 20 years. It can be noted that customers have all experienced performance beyond their initial expectations. Ask your representative for customers of ours, in your area to speak with if you need to be more comfortable. These pool owners are swimming twice as long as you are and not worrying about the high costs of fuel fired heaters.