DIY Solar Pool Heater

How a DIY Solar Pool Heater helps us to keep and run one of the most valuable assets our homes have: Our Swimming Pool -oh, how I miss mine :( Not many of them in Germany!

With the coming explosion of energy prices and the suggested - and believed by me - coming global cooling ... and the economic crisis... many are or will not able to heat their pool any longer.

But the pool is there for fun, and the kids love it. So giving up is no option!

So I searched for a very, very cheap and real Do it Yourself manual for a solar energy solution.

Here it is: I found a Australian family who developed a DIY Solar Heatermanual for any homeowner. This family calls themselves GA Projects and offers this manual for a small fee (aff.) to the world.

They describe themselves as:

... GA Projects specialise in designing low cost projects that any practical individual with basic handyman tools and ability can build. We avoid the need for special machinery or skills (e.g. welding) and ensure all our projects are made from readily available parts and materials. All projects are easy to build and are carefully scrutinised for quality and safety. We supply comprehensive, illustrated plans and construction manuals to guide you every step of the way. ...

All parts you'll need are easily available at your local DIY store for a few bucks. The assembly is very easy and the sun is free. By using this method you will extend your yearly "pool life" by some months (depending on your area ...)

Panel construction does not require machining, welding or precision work of any kind. No special tools or skills are required to complete this project. We supply plans and a 14 page comprehensive set of clearly illustrated instructions to guide you every step of the way. All materials are available from hardware stores and garden shops. Solar pool heater panels can be mounted vertically on a fence or horizontally on a roof It’s as easy as ABC so give it a go. See below for more information.

They promise you that even one of the solar heaters will be able to heat pools with up to 30,000l (approx 6,500 gallons) of water capacity. So in my case my pool would have have built two of these constructions for my pool in Duesseldorf (Germany). But no problem, you can easily install them on the roof or fatsen it to your fence...all you need is sun exposure.

Our solar pool heater will raise pool or spa water temperatures during the shoulder periods of spring and autumn adding months of use to your investment. Proportions can easily be varied to suite particular locations or applications. As a rough rule of thumb a single standard sized solar pool heater panel is effective on pools up to 30,000 L (approx 6,500 gallons) capacity. Each standard solar pool heater panel has 12 heating elements but extra elements or multiple solar pool heater panels can be used for increased efficiency or to service larger pools. The solar pool heater panels can be mounted vertically on fences or horizontally on a roof (this is especially useful if the pool area is well shaded). Should space around your pool or spa be at a premium then each panel can be made in segments to fit. A standard sized panel is 3.4m (11’ 4") long by 1.4m (4’ 8") wide and weighs approximately 35 Kg (77 lbs) once full of water. These have been found to be the optimum dimensions for ease of handling, structural integrity and heating efficiency.

With this manual you add months of pool life to your swimming pool or outdoor spa. If an 11 year old boy can build one then anyone can build this DIY Solar Energy Heater.

If an 11 year old boy can build one then anyone can...

How much will it cost?

Construction costs approximately $100 to $150 for the panel and between $30 and $60 for a circulation pump. Prices tend to vary from one country to the next but most fall within this range. Please note that although we are an Australian company the above prices are quoted in American dollars (US dollars are more familiar to the majority of our international clientele).

If you followed my website, you know that solar heating is much more effective even than generating electricity from the sun. This so called "passive" use of solar energy is a very good way to "catch" the solar power - in this case to heat the water in your pool.

If you want to build a very affordable and reliable Solar Pool Heater yourself than this is my suggestion to you: Check it out!

But what if you are no fan of putting things together with your own hands, but are looking for a solution which is more DIY than anything?

I did some research and found ... Tom.

DIY Prebuild Solar Pool Heaters

Tom Sullivan from U.P. Solar Solutions is an experienced DIY enthusiast and on his websites describes his project to build solar collector's for a friend's pool.

What he builds are also passive solar collectors. These collectors contain pipes, through with water is pumped. The sun heats up the water in these collectors.

It is the same principle the Australian family shows you, only predone for you. And more costly.

Tom estimates that the installation of his panels in the image above - which look very professionally, don't you agree? - produces about 182.000 BTU of heat on a sunny day in Northern Michigan.

This amount of power will reduce your pool heating (or home) costs. The more collectors, the more heting you can substite.

Check out Tom's instructive webpage or contact him if you want your DIY Solar Pool Heating done for you.

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