DIY Solar Pool Heating

This is a collection of some ideas, thoughts, and tests on homemade solar swimming pool heaters. 

 

Commercial unglazed plastic pool heating collectors are fairly inexpensive, efficient, and can have a good life.  For most people they are a good solution -- they are:  1) easy to install, 2) offer a very good return on investment, and 3) should have a good life.  Installing one of these commercial collector systems makes a good, manageable DIY project itself.

 

 

That said, I do get a lot of emails from people who want to build their own pool collectors, so these few pages provide some information making your own pool heating collectors:

  1. A simple DIY pool heating idea

  2. Other simple DIY pool heating ideas, and how they might compare

  3. What makes an efficient pool collector?

I am inclined to believe that a homemade pool heating collector can perform at a level equivalent to commercial collectors, and for about 1/4 to 1/2 of the price -- so there is some worthwhile reward for the person who wants to undertake building collectors, and they are relatively easy to build.

 

There are a lot of misconceptions out there about what makes a good solar pool heating collector design, so before you dive in (ho ho) and make one, have a look at the What makes an efficient pool collector? section.

 

I am very much interested in hearing any feedback or ideas you might have on this subject -- Gary

 

 

 

Gary 07/06/21