Solar FAQ's | Solar Water Heating | Heat Pumps | Swimming Pool Heating
Why solar?
How efficiently will solar heat my pool?
What about maintenance?
What about a 'solar' pool cover?
What are the advantages?
How well does solar energy heat a pool?
In simple terms, how does a solar pool heater work?
Do the solar panels have to face north?
Why would I want my pool heated?
Will it damage my roof?
How much will my solar pool heater cost to operate?
How does solar pool heating compare with heat pumps for pool
heating?
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Why solar?
Millions of people worldwide have been enjoying solar heated swimming pools
for over two decades. Heating swimming pools is today the largest use of
solar energy in the world and there are good reasons for this.
Savings: The initial cost of a Solar system for an in-ground pool is about
50% of conventional heating methods. So you always save money with a solar
heated pool.
Reliability and safety: Solar heating systems have no heat exchangers that
fail from corrosion, no fan motors or compressors to break down. Your investment
in a solar heating system is protected by a 10-year all round warranty.
Solnet Solar systems have been in use for many years. Solar systems
have no flames or fans, they just keep heating your pool quietly, safely
and reliably, year after year.
Protect the environment: You can enjoy the comfort of your solar heated
pool, knowing that you are using an environmentally friendly energy source,
while you conserve our natural resources.
Remember: Solar heat is FREE HEAT!
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How efficiently will solar
heat my pool?
When you follow our recommended solar heater sizes and the panels have proper
exposure to the sun, your pool should be conservatively 6 to 12 degrees
warmer than it was before you heated it, under the same weather conditions.
Evaporation of water from the surface of the pool causes most of the cooling
of the water. The larger the solar collector area, the more of the sun’s
energy it will collect and send to the pool. Therefore, the larger the solar
collector area is in relation to the surface area of the pool, the warmer
the pool water will be.
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What about maintenance?
No special maintenance is needed.
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What about
a 'solar' pool cover?
A solar cover is made from thin plastic formed with air pockets so it can
float on the surface. A solar cover cannot heat a pool. It is not totally
transparent to sunlight so it blocks out much of the sun’s energy
that would otherwise heat the pool. However, it effectively prevents evaporation
from the water surface, slowing down cooling of the water at night and in
bad weather. We recommend use of a cover at night near the beginning and
end of the season when the nights are long and cool.
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What are
the advantages?
Unlike conventional space heating systems, solar systems do not burn fuel.
Therefore, they avoid the creation of carbon dioxide, nitrogen oxides, sulphur
dioxide, and other air pollutants.
- Reduce your vulnerability to fuel price spikes.
- Minimize nation’s dependency on foreign oil.
- Enjoy free pool heating after the system has paid for itself in reduced
utility bills.
- Increase the resale value of your property.
- Quick payback on investment.
- Extends swimming season, maximizing the benefits of a swimming pool investment.
- Provides more comfortable swimming temperatures.
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How well
does solar energy heat a pool?
Solar energy is just another fuel with which to heat your pool. A properly
designed solar pool system can achieve the same results as other fuels.
On days when you can relax comfortably in a bathing suit at poolside, but
the water is too cold for swimming, solar energy can heat your pool to a
temperature comfortable for swimming.
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In simple
terms, how does a solar pool heater work?
Using the pump that circulates pool water through the filter, the water
is automatically diverted so that it flows through the many small passages
of the solar collector. While passing through the collector, it is warmed
by the sun. This warm water then flows directly back into the pool. When
the pool has reached your desired comfort level, the water then bypasses
the solar collector and returns directly to the pool.
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Do the solar
collectors have to face North?
Not necessarily. The solar panels should just be installed where they can
be in the sun a good portion of the day. Depending on the angle of the mounting
surface, east and west facing systems can function equally as well. Our
solar panels can be fitted on just about any roof, including a flat roof.
However, if possible, it should be north-facing.
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Why would
I want my pool heated?
You probably bought your pool for many reasons like family fun, entertaining
friends, exercise, those quiet relaxing moments or perhaps even for therapeutic
reasons. You spent a lot of time making the decision to invest in a quality
pool, furniture, fencing and accompanying items that go along with a pool.
You are therefore expecting to get the most use out of your pool. But if
your pool is frequently too cold to swim in comfortably, you are not realizing
the full benefit of your significant investment of the swimming pool cost
of between R25,000 and R85,000. Solar pool heating can effectively double
the length of your pool season, by extending it to between 8 to 10 months
of the year.
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Will it
damage my roof?
Your roof is not damaged as NO roof penetrations or messy drilling are required,
thereby eliminating water leaks as well.
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How much
will my solar pool heater cost to operate?
Since the sun's energy is free, there are no operating costs.
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How does solar pool heating
compare with heat pumps for pool heating?
The initial capital outlay for an electric heat pump is generally double
the cost of a solar heating system. Over and above that, it requires electricity
to operate. The unit also needs to be serviced on a regular basis which
could be quite costly.
For the solar heating system : the sun's energy is FREE
Contact Solnet for solar pool heating, solar geysers + heat pumps.
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