Solar panels for pool (new house, contractors, move)

[Oobie119]

How many would I need for a 13,000 gallon, in ground pool, 25ft. And what is standard size..4x20?? Looking for opinions and input before we who around. Looking to maintain a good temp of around 85.

[leetchy2]

Don't know, there were about 12 of them (10' x 4') on the house I bought two years ago & my pool is 24l x 12w x 5d.

Just don't attach them to the roof. The squirrels would chew mine, so was always repairing leaks ... and then had to repair a major $8000 roof leak right below the panels.

The panels raised the pool temp about 8-10*, but it was still too chilly in winter to swim. I'd get a gas or electric pool heater if I had the choice.

[Luby162]

I was told by our pool builders for the new house to get a gas heater, solar will only raise the temp of the pool approx 10 degrees, if neighbors pool is 60 then yours will be 70 at best. we went with gas heater since wife likes it at least 85 .

[bbronston]

^^^I have no particular expertise as our pool was unheated but I have heard this stated many times before. Why not just call a number of contractors and see what they have to say?

[Restrain]

Here is a suggestion. Rather than pay big bucks, get PVC pipe, make a grid, cover it in black plastic (You can get it in rolls at any home improvement store) and put it in line on the downstream side of the pump. Just be sure the flow is not impeded (use same size pipe with smaller pipes on the cross pipes, picking up with the same size as the outflow). You can add these until you get the amount of heated water you want, remove them easily in summer when you don't need them. I've seen them used up here and they work fine.