DIY Pool Solar Heat

Spiritof76

Well-known member
Joined
May 20, 2020
Messages
60
Reaction score
173
We’re currently completing an in-ground pool, and we live in an area with tons of sunlight. I’d like to install pool heat, but the quotes I’m getting for an installed system are ridiculous. Pool plumbing at the filter/pump is standard 2” PVC. I don’t want to do something that looks trashy, but I’m looking to install rooftop solar for the pool heat. Anyone have experience with a DIY system that you recommend? Pool is roughly 15x28 and 3.5-5.5’ deep.
 
I used black sprinkler pipe to hear and filter my used engine and transmission oils for fuel blends.

Coiled on boards painted black.

It was a pool heater design I stole for my fuel mixing shenanigans. Worked very well.
 
We had a special floaty blanket that kept the heat in and let the sun continue the heating process when it was on

Seemed to work ok
 
What part of the country are you in?

I have some ideas using a heat exchanger and your AC condenser, but I run the AC at least 11 months a year.

I also have a watercooled condenser AC/ Heat pump, that would heat a pool, that I will cut you a hell of a deal on.
 
I've got a couple totaled but running cars out back that I've been threatening to turn into a hot tub heater.

I don’t want to do something that looks trashy,

One mans trash something, something. :flipoff2:
 
What part of the country are you in?

I have some ideas using a heat exchanger and your AC condenser, but I run the AC at least 11 months a year.

I also have a watercooled condenser AC/ Heat pump, that would heat a pool, that I will cut you a hell of a deal on.

NorCal (outside Sacramento).
 
I'll come back and post when I'm not currently in someone's back yard fixing their pool solar actuator:laughing:
 
Hear in East Central Indiana several people I know including myself use big coils of that black greenhouse sprinkler tubing (it's ABS if memory serves) or polyethylene water.

You build a box in the neighborhood of 4' W X 4' L X 10" deep, leave box with 1 side still open, and paint the entire interior of the box black. Then coil in your black plastic retaining as necessary, place in an area of max sun exposure and plumb into outlet side of the filter loop.

I've seen boxes made out of all sorts of material, but pressure treated plywood seems to be most common, I've seen the plastic tubing sized from 5/16" to 1" used, the bigger polyethylene is easier to plumb in to loop in my opinion, some people will put the clear greenhouse panels on the open side to block debris, all sorts of variations of the same design that are pretty cheap, work pretty well and is super easy to add on too.

The best ones I saw were rolled sheet metal hoops and back plate about 4' in diameter with a metric shit ton of 3/16" holes. It was carefully layered with as much 1/2 tubing as would physically fit, with the outer layer was lashed to the metal hoop through the holes, then each successive layer was staggered and lashed to the previous layer, until the bending radius of the pipe got too small to hand form, then a center hoop was added to hold all the tubing snug in place, and the plumbing went out the center opening, the entire thing inside and out was painted black and had an acrylic cover. With 3 of those and he could keep an average size in-ground( plastic liner style) pool more than warm enough and would have to slow down the heating flow,(it was on a second pump and manifold for max temp control and he usually got 2 - 4 weeks more open pool time compared to everyone else that I knew had pools with no assist.
 
I'm looking more towards a commercial or commercial DIY system than a plywood and tubing assembly. Apologies if I was unclear--looking for DIY, not necessarily homebrewed. I'm concerned about appearance based on where it would be in our yard.
 
solar panels feeding an electric water heater

there you go now your HOA neighbors will think you're oh so very green and responsible
 
Use caution if you go with panels and draw and dump directly into the pool, the water can be scalding hot!
 
Neighbor did a DIY solar heating system for his new pool. I know his panels were specifically designed for pools I will check with him tomorrow and report back. (Southern Utah):smokin:
 
Neighbor did a DIY solar heating system for his new pool. I know his panels were specifically designed for pools I will check with him tomorrow and report back. (Southern Utah):smokin:

Thank you! Sounds exactly on point. I have a Pentair Easytouch automation control, so I'll probably try to figure out how to have it control the blend valve.
 
First off....

You really dont want to cheap out on solar after you just spent 50K+ on a nice pool. (probably 90k+ if you went with premier pools). In the sacramento area there are really only 2 companies you want to get quotes from. Sierra Pacific and Aztec solar. all others will be crap...IMO

You can absolutely do it yourself but its A LOT of work. You need to figure out the sq footage of your pool, and youre going to want to cover 80% of that with solar panels. the panels are 4'x10'. Typically most pools need 8-10 panels to really make it worth it. I sell the panels for about 400 bucks a piece. Im sure you can find some on amazon for cheaper, but be prepared to wait a long time if anyone has any right now.

You want the panels facing as much south as possible and at a 45 degree angle for optimum performance. This may or may not be possible depending on your roof configuration. You can always build a rack on the ground to place them if you have the real estate.

did your pool builder stub out the plumbing for solar when they installed the equipment? if not, factor in concrete work to cut the slab to put the pipes underground over to where they will run up and down the side of your house.

also, do you have automation for your pool controls (pentair, jandy, hayward) or are you running a stand alone variable speed pump with intermatic timers for the cleaner (assuming you are running a booster pump). Cost will increase if you want to set a certain temp to keep your pool constantly at vs turning 2 handles to turn the solar on and turning them back when it gets to the temp you like.


Edit...just read that you have an easy touch, so it's already set up for solar control.
 
Last edited:
Click image for larger version Name:	PXL_20210121_002844477.MP.jpg Views:	0 Size:	563.0 KB ID:	280292


This is a system I installed about 5 years ago. It's on a rack, as the pool is nowhere near their house. They did 8 panels on a pool slightly smaller than yours
 
Back
Top Back Refresh