How Many Panels Do You Need to Heat Your Pool?
When going solar you want to take steps to ensure that your investment does what it’s meant to do. Solar pool heating is an excellent and affordable way to heat your pool, and something to note is that solar isn’t a one size fits all. Each pool is different and will require a variable number of panels to ensure that the pool is heated effectively. At Solar Pool Supply, we’ve created a list of factors to understand to fully assess how many panels are needed for your pool.
Pool Size
Pool size is one of the biggest determinants of how many panels you’ll need to effectively heat your pool. The bigger the pool the bigger the number of panels you’ll need to install. Solar pool heating systems are sized based on the surface area of your swimming pool, rather than its volume. Systems are sized this way because heat loss is primarily caused by evaporation to the surface. By determining this we can more accurately account for heat loss and calculate how many panels are needed to offset the loss.
Geographic Location
Another important consideration when determining the number of panels, you’ll need to heat your pool is geographic location. Pools located in warmer climates typically won’t require as many panels to heat the water as pools located in cooler climates might. Your geographic location will also determine how much solar can extend your swim season. For pools in warmer climates with less harsh winters, you can expect to extend your swim season for a few extra months throughout the year, however, pools located in colder climates may receive less heat accounting for less swim time.
Heating Goals
Lastly, in order to understand how many panels you’ll need to heat your pool, you’ll want to set some heating goals for yourself. For instance, someone who’d like to heat their pool year-round will need more panels than someone who only expects to swim a few days out of the year. Solar pool heating takes time, so the more panels you have the quicker you’ll be able to reach your pools target temperature. If you desire to be swimming frequently, you’ll want to have a system that is sized to meet your needs. Setting heating goals for yourself and understanding how you can achieve them is a big part of determining how many panels you need to heat your pool.
Speak With A Professional
The best way to accurately determine the number of panels that you need to heat your pool is by going to solarpoolsupply.com. On our site you will find all the necessary information to accurately size your solar pool heating system. If you still have questions, you can also speak with a professional at Solar Pool Supply. Using software and our years of experience, we can accurately assess your pool and determine how many panels you’ll need to effectively heat your pool.
If you’re interested adding solar pool heating, then visit solarpoolsupply.com or give us a call to speak with someone about adding solar pool heating to your pool, at (844) 982-1112 or send an email to contact@solarpoolsupply.com
I have a 25,000-gallon pool. How many panels do I need to heat it? I live in Michigan. The winter is very cold. What temperature can these panels withstand?
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Solar Pool Supply replied:
For a Michigan type weather climate, I would recommend a solar offset of 50%-75%. Based on volume, that would be a total system size of 300-400 sq ft depending on variables such as panel orientation, daily solar run time, etc. If you have space for the larger 4′×12′ panels that would be (6-8) 4′×12′ panels. The solar panels will survive the winter conditions . You just need to make sure the system is fully drained of all water and isolated to prevent any water from entering the system. This process is referred to as “winterization” and will prevent damage to the panels during the winter months.