More products: Residential Domestic Hot Water | Commercial Systems

Solar Pool Heating

You can't beat free heat!
A solar heating system can dramatically decrease - and in some cases eliminate - pool heating costs. Using the free, unlimited power of the sun, heat is collected and transferred to your swimming pool water. Tried and true solar technology has been in place for over thirty years and is constantly being improved. Today's systems are reliable, durable, easy to install and maintain, and the benefits are many:

• An immediate dramatic reduction - or elimination - of pool heating costs
• A two- to five-year payback, after which your heat is free
• An extended swimming season: more time to swim, play, and socialize outdoors
• Increased value to your pool and your home
• Decreased environmental impact

The graph below shows the cost of installing a natural gas heater plus the cumulative annual fuel costs, compared to the cost of installing a solar pool heater for a 5.2 by 10.5 metre (16 by 32 foot) pool. Remember there is no annual fuel cost for solar. In less than two years the cost of the gas heater exceeds the cost the solar heater and, what's more, the fuel cost keeps growing year after year.

If you are already using a conventional heater, a solar heater will pay for itself in just a few years, as shown on the second graph. Many people who install a solar heater find it provides ample heat and so they turn off the conventional heater altogether.

How it works
Solar collectors are flat, black plastic panels in which run a series of small tubes. (Some year-round and combination systems use glazed collectors made from metal and glass. See the SunCoil in the Domestic Hot Water section for more information on these.) Typically mounted on a south-facing slope, the collectors capture the sun's energy and heat the water from your swimming pool, which is sent through the network of small tubes by your pool pump. The heated water flows back to your pool, continuously circulating through the collectors until the pool reaches the desired temperature. A sensor detects changes in temperature and tells an automatic controller when there is enough energy available to work efficiently.

The solar pool heating system includes solar collectors, a solar sensor, an automatic controller, and piping as shown in the diagram below.

Next steps
If you are seriously considering investing in a solar pool heating system, here are some steps you can take while you plan:

• Go through your old bills to find out how much you are currently paying for energy. B.C. residents can use AccountOnline to view consumption, billing, and payment histories.
• Learn about grants, tax breaks, and other incentive programs that may be applicable to you in our Financial Incentives section.
• Fill out and send us a Solar Pool Heating System Design Form so that we can provide you with detailed information about the kind of system that will work best for you. Taylor Munro can design and install your solar pool heater, as well as provide technical support, maintenance, and repair services.

People who have seized solar say:
"Our solar heating system works very well for us. As a matter of fact when we get into a hot spell here, we often have to turn the system off! We have found it to be very easy to maintain. We had an oil heater, but have found this solar system much easier on our pocketbook!" -- B.M., Lillooet, B.C.

"We got 18 years out of our panels, no heating costs and simplicity." -- P.R., West Vancouver, B.C.

"Solar is warmer than gas heating, and it paid for itself in less than five years. We swim from at least May to September with solar heating and only use our gas heater as a back-up." -- P.P., West Vancouver, B.C.

"The solar collectors on the roof heat our pool, and they help keep the house cool on hot, sunny days." -- E.D., North Vancouver, B.C.

"I'm very happy. I'm saving more than a thousand dollars a year." -- R.S., South Surrey, B.C.

Frequently Asked Questions
Be sure to check out our Solar Pool Heating FAQs for more information.

Custom Systems
Do you have a unique water heating need? We can design a custom solar water heating system to fit your specific application. For large projects, we might recommend starting with a feasibility study. See the Services section for more information.