BajaNomad - Solar pool heaters versus electric pool heaters. . .

Solar pool heaters versus electric pool heaters. . .

Mula - 10-23-2013 at 05:15 PM

Looking for pros and cons for pool heaters in the Loreto area specifically.

Solar versus Electric heating systems.

But any input at all would be greatly appreciated.

durrelllrobert - 10-23-2013 at 05:46 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Mula
Looking for pros and cons for pool heaters in the Loreto area specifically.

Solar versus Electric heating systems.

But any input at all would be greatly appreciated.

You forgot propane but solar is the way to go. The same pump used for filtering the pool water will also operate the roof top heater.

http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&a...

"You can significantly reduce swimming pool heating costs by installing a solar pool heater. They're cost competitive with both gas and heat pump pool heaters, and they have very low annual operating costs. Actually, solar pool heating is the most cost-effective use of solar energy in many climates. Check out our selection, a SOLAR SWIMMING POOL HEATER is the Way to go!!"

dtbushpilot - 10-23-2013 at 08:52 PM

We are having a solar system installed for our pool, it is being done professionally and I expect it to work well. I'll let you know how it turns out. Don't even consider an electric heater, you won't heat your pool again after getting your first electric bill.

We have solar hot water for the house, it works better than I could have imagined, we are very happy with it.

msteve1014 - 10-23-2013 at 09:40 PM

My parents had plastic cover, like bubble wrap, that floated on the water and really soaked up the heat in the sun. Cheap, no cost to install, lasted for years. Made a big difference in how long they used the pool each year.

absinvestor - 10-23-2013 at 10:07 PM

Steve has a good point. We've used the "plastic" pool cover on our pools in Simi Valley Ca, Bakersfield Ca, Murietta Ga and Englewood Co. Get the roller accessory- they roll on and off in less than a minute. The nice thing is if you roll it on at night you will only lose one or two degrees even on the colder nights. We also had natural gas (works like propane) but seldom used it in Ca or Ga. In Colorado we only used it for the first heating (April)since we drained the pool in the winter. Those pool covers are incredible and inexpensive.

chinolbz - 10-23-2013 at 10:30 PM

I use mine to give us a longer swim season. A bubble cover is a must. What ever the night-time low temp is the pool will get there eventuality. Chino

mtgoat666 - 10-23-2013 at 10:57 PM

Solar blanket will add 5 to 10 deg F to your pool temp. And cut way down on evaporation.

monoloco - 10-24-2013 at 06:20 AM

Plan on at least as much square footage of solar collectors as the surface area of your pool.

Mula - 10-24-2013 at 06:35 AM

Monoloco, Wow. That's a lot.

To the rest of the comments:

This was posted for a friend of mine in Loreto who has a pool.
She has the cover and uses it.
Now she wants to heat the pool.

Thanks for all the comments.

dtutko1 - 10-24-2013 at 07:22 AM

Heating a pool with electricity is a morally, and economic bankrupt concept. Especially in sun drenched Loreto.

El Jefe - 10-24-2013 at 09:47 AM

We use solar panels to heat our pool and they work great. You have to have a place to put them as they are big and black and not real pretty to look at. We have 8 4X8 plastic panels out of sight on a lower level of the yard. The pool right now cools off to 84 at night and up to 88 or 90 if I let it in the day. In mid winter it gets up to about 82.

I could use a cover at night and maintain warmer temps in the winter I guess. But then it would have to come off and be stored somewhere during the day. If I wanted to look out on a big blue tarp in the back yard I could have just bought the tarp and saved a lot of money on the pool. So If you do get a cover, think about what you are going to do with it in the day. Every day.

vandenberg - 10-24-2013 at 10:04 AM

The main problem with pool covers is, when you just get them, you use it religiously for a while and then, the chore of removal and putting it back on, gets old, and you start conveniently forgetting it and before you know it, it gets hardly used. Speaking from experience. If you have teenagers it's a good job to designate to them. Lots of luck. :biggrin:

Udo - 10-24-2013 at 11:17 AM

Hey, Bob!

Your URL does not work.

Quote:

Originally posted by durrelllrobert

Quote:

Originally posted by Mula
Looking for pros and cons for pool heaters in the Loreto area specifically.

Solar versus Electric heating systems.

But any input at all would be greatly appreciated.

Solar pool heater.

BigOly - 10-24-2013 at 01:55 PM

We have a house on the Souther Oregon Coast and one in Los Barriles. Both have good sized swimming pools. I installed solar panel heaters for both. Also have propane kickers to help with the solar when we need it. My wife has cancer and needs to have the pool kept at 87 degrees. In Oregon, we swim in the summer months when it is not too windy. I see the solar system as an assist there and it is very helpful on my wallet.
In L.B. we are the only people that swim anytime (winter) except when the wind is really blowing, hardly use the propane except to "kick start" the water temp for an hour or so in the A.M. Also, in L.B. when the weather is hot, we run the solar at night to cool the water down. Works great! Except when it is cloudy, of course.

Bob and Susan - 10-24-2013 at 02:28 PM

don't waste your money on ANY heater...

when it's cold you just won't swim...
you think you will
but you won't

if you want to swim in the winter...enclose the pool

the blue plastic covers do work a little but look really bad all the time

part of owning a pool is sitting by the water NOT an ugly, dirty plastic cover