Anyone use solar heat for their pool ?

Question

I live in CT and currently heat my pool with an electric heat pump. I've recently priced out a solar heating system, but am curious as to how effective it is.

Answer 1

I lived in sunny southern California where it was not uncommon to find us frolicking in our pool on Christmas Day. We rented the house that we lived in which had a beautiful, large pool (approx 15' long x 8' wide ranging from approx 3' to 8' deep). The pool was unheated and even for California the water was rather chilly. Downright cold!! Since we did not own the home we didn't want to invest much money into any kind of heating system so we created our own "solar" heating system. We simply coiled black hose on the roof of the house which sufficiently heated the water run through it and into the pool. In addition we purchased a thick black vinyl pool cover which we kept over the pool whenever we were not using it. This attracted the heat from the sun and held it in the water. I, myself, was quite pleasantly surprised at and sufficiently satisfied with the considerable difference in the temperature of the water.

Answer 2

I did on my pool in KY and it allowed us to use the pool much longer than our neighbors who usually closed their pools at the end of September because heating costs were so high.  I found it to be a money saving addition as well and it paid for itself in less time than I expected.

Answer 3

My friends have solar heating for their pool, they had it installed last year. It is extremely effective, they also run a spa with it and is plenty hot enough. I'm not sure where CT is.

We are in Adelaide South Australia.

Answer 4

They work.  I've seen homemade ones made out of black poly pipe, and I've seen the kind that lay on top of the water.  'Round here you wouldn't think of using electric heat.  Some use gas and even that is expensive.

Answer 5

I use it for my lake.   Sun shines on the lake, warms it up and I go swimming.