Solar Pool Heating Frequently
Asked Questions
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ECS?
1.)
WHERE CAN I MOUNT THE COLLECTOR?
As long as you
have an east, west, south, or flat roof, that
is not shaded in mid-day, you have a location
for YEAR ROUND SOLAR POOL HEATING. If not, they
can be ground mounted on a rack or flat on the
ground. Even a north roof will work from March
21 to October 21. During the winter, a south
facing roof is the best location with a west
or flat roof being the next best location. We
offer a free site survey to help you pick the
best location.
2.)
HOW MUCH SUNLIGHT (SOLAR WINDOW) IN HOURS
PER DAY DO I NEED?
You only need the middle six hours of the day
for solar pool heating. In fact, 90% of your
solar radiation will fall in a four hour period.
For example, if your collectors are facing South
on a flat surface or north roof, 90% of your
solar radiation will fall from 10:00 AM to 2:00
PM; East, 90% from 9:00 am to 1:00 pm; and West,
90% between 11:00 am and 3:00 pm.
3.)
WHO IS LICENSED TO INSTALL SOLAR POOL HEATING?
Florida
law forbids all
but licensed roofing contractors or CVC
solar contractors from installing solar
on your roof. Other licensed contractors
such as the old solar CW license, all pool contractor
and pool service licenses and all county RX
licenses can pull a permit for solar work on
your roof, but they may NOT perform
the actual work - they will have to
subcontract either a professional roofer or
a CVC licesned solar contractor.
In
addition, it is only the professional roofer
or CVC license that can guarantee
damage on your roof or in your home
as a result of a solar installation as they
carry specialized insurance for this purpose.
To have a copy of proof of our insurance faxed
or mailed to you, please call Scarborough Insurance
at 352-377-2002 in Gainesville, FL.
YOU
COULD LOSE YOUR HOME - if the contractor
you hire does not carry Worker's Compensation.
No one doing solar installations on a roof can
excempt themselves from Worker's Comp. You will
be responsible for any and all damages arising
from an incident involving an improperly licensed
contractor installing solar on your roof.
In
Summary, many State Licensed Contractors can
pull a permit for solar pool heating.
However, only a CV State Licensed Solar Contractor
or a State Licensed Roofing Contractor is allowed
to perform roofing work related to solar pool
heating AND to carry independent completed operations
insurance - against damage to the home AND contents
of the home AFTER installation (Florida State
Law Statutes 489.114 and 489.105).
4.)
HOW DOES IT WORK?
You set your timer
so that it will filter your pool at the same
time of day your solar collectors are receiving
solar radiation. This is typically from 9:00
AM to 3:00 PM. Your pool pump can easily circulate
the water through solar panels. Your automatic
controller diverts the pool water to the solar
collector to be heated after if goes through
your filter, instead of returning directly to
the pool. During mid summer, some open unscreened
pools run the pool pump at night instead of
the day to use the solar collectors, in reverse
to cool the pool down, if the pool gets too
hot during the day. The automatic solar control
allows you to set the high limit to your own
comfort level.
5.)
DO I NEED AN AUTOMATIC COMFORT CONTROLLER?
Yes,
if it is important to swim from mid September
through mid May. From May to September, the
air temperature during the day will be higher
than the pool water temperature. Even if there
is little solar radiation, the solar pool system
will still pick up heat from the air. However,
from the middle of September to the middle of
May, the outside air temperature often will
be lower than the pool water temperature. If
there is little solar radiation (a cloudy day),
and the solar system is operating, you would
actually be dropping your pool temperature.
An automatic controller assures you that your
solar system will only gain heat and will not
cool your pool when you don't want it to. An
automatic control also has a high limit for
summer time heating. It's most important function
is daily comfort control of the pool temperature.
6.)
HOW LARGE A SOLAR SYSTEM DO I NEED?
Generally
speaking, you will get a 3oF rise
from each 20% of the pool surface area that
you put up on equal area of solar pool collectors.
For example, if you put 512 sq. ft of solar
collectors for 512 sq. ft of pool (16 x 32 ft),
you will get 16oF rise in the pool
temperature. If you install 256 sq. ft (50%
of your surface area) of solar pool collectors
you will get a 8OF rise in your pool
temperature. The 3o F rise per 20%
of pool area is based on the state of Florida's
collector rating at 1,000 BTU's per sq. ft of
collector area. A collector rated at 900 BTU
sq ft would need 11% more collector area. Do
not accept any rating except those by the Florida
Solar Energy Center. You can easily add
more collectors over time.
7.)
WHY
IS POOL SURFACE AREA USED INSTEAD OF THE NUMBER
OF GALLONS IN THE POOL?
Because 90% of all heat lost from a pool is
from surface evaporation.
8.)
ARE THERE OTHER BENEFITS TO SOLAR POOL HEATING?
Yes. Your attic
insulation gets saturated with radiant heat
from your roof deck that increases your air
conditioning bill. Collectors mounted on the
roof will considerably lower your air conditioning
cost and increase comfort by putting the sun's
radiant heat into your pool instead of you attic.
Your property value and resale value increases
according to Better Homes and Gardens, much
more than an unheated pool.
9.)
WHAT WOULD IT COST TO HEAT MY POOL WITH A
FOSSIL FUEL POOL HEATER?
According
to the STATE OF FLORIDA ENERGY CENTER, the following
cost can be expected to maintain either a screened
or open 16' x 32' pool, (512 sq. ft of surface
area) at 80oF for 9 months, 10 months,
or all year. Call (407) 638-1015 and ask for
State Publication FSEC-IN-81-4.
SCREENED
UNSHADED POOL IN NORTH FLORIDA
FUEL
PRICE
MAR-NOV
FEB-NOV
ALL YEAR
Natural
Gas $0.75/therm $1848 $2381
$3571
LP
Gas 1.70/gal.
$4554 $5875
$8813
Electricity
0.08/kWh $4043
$5125
$7889
Heat
Pump 5.5/COP $735
$932 $1398
OPENED
UNSHADED POOL IN NORTH FLORIDA
FUEL
USED PRICE
Natural
Gas $0.75/therm $1628
$2131
$3260
LP
Gas 1.70/gal. $4013
$5253
$8003
Electricity
0.08/KWH $3562
$4664
$7136
Heat
Pump 5.5/COP $648
$848
$1297
Cost
comparing a solar heater with a regular pool
heater makes solar look even better when you
consider the fact that a gas heater will cost
$1600 to $2000. A heat pump that is sized
right (minimum 96,000 BTU's per hour by ASHRE
standards for 14 x 28 to 18 x 36 pools) will
cost as much or more than a solar system.
However, it is definitely cheaper
to operate than LP gas - by more than 80%! A
Heat Pump's simple pay back versus LP gas is
2 years and 5 years for natural gas. Solar
has the advantage of allowing you to start with
a smaller system and being able to add more
panels later. You must start with the
right size heat pump because it can not be expanded.
Solar systems can cool pools in the hot summer.
All systems require a pool cover in the winter
months to heat the pool to the 80's.
10.)
WHAT ABOUT MAINTENANCE? A
solar system requires very little or no maintenance
since there are no burners and no moving parts.
A gas heater or heat pump requires far more
maintenance and typically lasts only one-third
the life span of a solar system. Solar systems'
warranties are typically more inclusive and
much longer (12 years plus) than warranties
for gas heaters (5 years) and heat pumps (typically
10 years). Always check how long the manufacturer
has been in business (at least 10 years) and
what local warranty services are available.
11.)
CAN I ADD ADDITIONAL SOLAR POOL PANELS LATER
WITHOUT PAYING MORE THAN I ORIGINALLY WOULD
HAVE FOR A LARGER SYSTEM?
Yes, we have standard pro-rata pricing which
allows you to increase the number of solar pool
collectors after the initial installation with
no penalty for starting with a smaller system.
You pay the same total price for 400 sq.ft.
even if you start with 200 sq. ft this year
and add 200 sq. ft next year.
12.)
WHAT ELSE WILL HELP EXTEND MY SWIMMING SEASON?
A
solar pool cover used with solar system can
give you an extra 5oF rise when used
overnight and an extra 10oF rise
when used 20 hours a day. Solar heating and
covering a pool is like putting a lid on a pot
of water that is heating on a stove - the same
heat makes the water hotter and holds the heat
longer. Pool covers are a big help in extending
the season in the early spring and late fall
and for winter swimming. A cover will not benefit
a pool as much without heating the pool. We
also carry commercial quality reel systems which
make using a pool cover easy enough for one
person. Pool covers are important when nighttime
air temperatures fall below 50oF
in the winter.
13.)
WHAT SHOULD i LOOK FOR IN CHOOSING A SOLAR
COLLECTOR?
First remember that solar
pool panels are modular - they come in 4 x 8's,
4 x 10's, and 4 x 12's. They are required to
be tested outside at the Florida Solar Energy
Center and be given a low temperature rating
- typically 850 to 1060 BTU's per sq ft per
day. The total system energy output is the actual
square footage times the Florida Solar Energy
Center's rating. THE TOTAL BTU's, OR
ENERGY OUTPUT OF THE SYSTEM, IS THE BOTTOM LINE
IN PURCHASING A SOLAR HEATER FOR YOUR POOL.
(see below)
Sq.
Ft. of the Solar Collectors
X Florida Solar Energy Center Rating
X 16 =_____F rise in pool temperature
Sq.
ft. of the pool 1000 BTU/sq. ft.
EXAMPLE:
15x30 pool using 400 sq.ft. collectors rated
at 950 BTU/sq.ft.
400
Sq.ft. of collector area X
950 Rating X 16 = 13.5 EF rise
in pool temperature
450
sq. ft. pool 1000 BTU/sq. ft.
Make
sure the collector has a warranty against freeze
damage. Make sure you use an American
manufacturer that offers a 12-year full replacement
warranty with a 50% lifetime warranty after
the twelfth year. If you expect a meaningful
warranty, make sure the manufacturer is backing
the warranty and that the manufacturer
has been in business at least 10 years in the
United States. Make sure the entire collector
is made of heat extruded plastic that is all
thermally welded and that there are not parts
made of molded plastic - this is what distinguishes
value from price. Make sure the entire
mounting system, straps and fasteners are stainless
steel. Do not use nylon or plastic that
will only last a few years.
14.)
WHAT IS A COMFORT CONTROLLED POOL?
You would
not buy an air conditioner without a thermostat
to control the temperature. An automatic
comfort control allows you to set the perfect
pool temperature for the time of day or night
that you wish to swim. For example, during
intense humidity and direct UV solar during
the summer, most people prefer to swim in the
morning or late evening. The unregulated
pool will be too cool unless the automatic comfort
control regulates the temperature. Comfort control
is important during your swimming session because
it will double or even triple the amount of
time you are able to enjoy your pool.
15.)
HOW MUCH DOES A COMFORT CONTROLLED SOLAR
POOL HEATING SYSTEM COST?
As a general
rule solar pool heating can easily triple the
amount of comfortable swimming time. The cost
of a solar heating system will vary between
$1800 and $6000 dollars depending on the total
BTU energy rating of the system needed to answer
the following questions:
1.)
How big your pool is in square feet? _____
2.)
How much do you want to raise the temperature?
_____
3.)
How many months out of the year do you want
to be able to enjoy your pool? summertime only?
spring, fall, and summer? or all year?____
4.)
How complex would the installation of solar
pool heating be at your home?_____
***WE
OFFER A FREE SITE SURVEY, & PROPOSAL - click
here***
NOTE:
SOLAR SYSTEMS ARE EXEMPT FROM SALES TAX IN FLORIDA
The importance of installing
the right solar collectors for your climate
and the disadvantages of installing
Loose Tube and Subplenum Collectors in
North and Central Florida is explained below.
• WIND
COOLING -
ECS uses Solar Industries’ Solar Apex
collectors designed for heating during
the late fall through early spring when air
temperatures are colder than pool temperatures.
This exclusive design maximizes the
effects of solar radiation while minimizing
the effects of air temperature
and wind cooling.
Beware of foreign loose
tube collectors that take advantage of each
collector tube being surrounded by air. This
is a distinct disadvantage in North and Central
Florida from October through April when air
temperatures are often colder than pool temperatures.
If the wind is blowing more than 3 mph the end
result is cooling of your pool rather than heating.
• ROOF
ROT -
Another disadvantage to loose tube collectors
is that they trap fallen pine
needles and live oak leaves under the
collectors. This is detrimental to asphalt
and metal roofs.
• FREEZE
DAMAGE & POOL PUMP STRAIN -
If you live in North Central Florida, you should
also avoid subplenum collectors because of freezing.
Unlike Apex collectors which efficiently drain
back into the pool every time the pump cuts
off, subplenum collectors have a poor design
to handle freezes because they hold water in
the risers. The Ocala/Gainesville area averages
20 to 22 freezes a year. The only way to be
100% sure of freeze protection for subheader
collectors is to run the pump during a freeze
– and that’s no guarantee during
a hard freeze if the utility company rolls a
blackout.
Avoid subplenum collectors
with a small pool that only needs five or six
collectors as this may put too much backpressure
on your pump. Backpressure will shorten your
pumps’ life.
All ECS collectors
are 100% guaranteed to drain down or back into
the pool when the pump cuts off.
• WARRANTIES
–
Beware of any company that demands a current
utility bill to validate a warranty. This means
that only the original purchaser of the system
can use the warranty – in other words,
their warranty is non-transferable. Quite a
detriment if you plan on selling your house,
or increasing the equitable value of your home.
ECS offers a
fully transferable warranty.
• ACTUAL
SIZE -
Some companies sell collectors whose normal
sizes are smaller than stated. For example,
one company’s collector’s size is
actually 6% smaller than they advertise –
a 48-ft collector is actually only 45-ft.
ECS collectors
are always the full size advertised.
State
Certified Solar Contractor's license #CV CO56643
Quick Links: | FAQ | Free
Estimate | How Solar Pool Heating Works
| Docs
for Techies | Why
ECS?
|
