Commercial Pool Heaters - Solar Pool Heating Systems

How does commercial pool heating work?
A solar pool heater is always plumbed as the primary heat source for a commercial swimming pool. Many commercial pools use solar as their only heater, but year-round or in-door commercial pools require a supplemental heater. The mechanics of a solar pool heater:

1. Using the existing pool pump (large commercial pools may also have a small booster pump), the pool water is circulated to the solar collectors. Though usually roof-mounted, the collectors can also be mounted on a rack or flat on the ground.

2. The pool water enters the solar collectors from the bottom and circulates through the individual tubes to the top. While the water passes through the tubes, it is warmed by the sun’s radiant energy.

3. An automatic temperature controller installed to prevent overheating. Typically the desired temperature is set once. When the pool water is below the desired temperature and there is heat on the panels, an automatic valve will open to allow the water to feed into the solar panels. When the pool water reaches the desired temperature, the automatic valve will close send the water directly into the pool. The valve will also close on unseasonably cool or cloudy days to prevent undesired cooling.

4. After circulating through the panels, the warm water is fed back to the pool. If a conventional heater (e.g. heat pump/gas/oil) is in place, the water will pass through the heater before returning to the pool.

How much of my commercial pool heating will be covered by a solar pool heaters?
The amount of total pool heating provided by a commercial solar pool heater depends on the type and use pattern of the pool being heated. Many customers with outdoor, seasonal pools and flexible heating requirements use solar as the only source of heat. Customers with outdoor pools that require a constant temperature throughout the season will use solar as their primary heat source, with a conventional heater supplying auxiliary heat on unseasonably cool days. For year-round, in-door pools, solar will serve as the primary source of heat from late spring to early fall, and will provide some additional heating support on sunny days during the cold season.

How much does it cost and what will it save?
Commercial solar pool heaters are typically priced based on the total square footage of solar collectors installed. Although the actual price may vary based on the complexity of the installation, $15 per square foot of panel coverage is a good rule of thumb. That price includes all materials, installation, and the 12-year manufacturer's full parts and labor warranty.

The savings from a commercial solar pool heater will depend on the type of heater replaced by solar, the number of months the pool is used, and the temperature maintained. In our experience, the payback period on a commercial pool heater is usually 2-4 years.

Why are Heliocol solar pool panels better than panels made by other manufacturers?
Sunshine is an exclusive distributor of Heliocol solar pool heating panels. Heliocol has been manufacturing its panels since 1977, and more Heliocol solar pool heaters have been installed than panels made by any other manufacturer. In fact, Heliocol solar pool collectors have been selected to heat the swimming pool at three Summer Olympic games – Atlanta (’96), Athens (’00) and coming to Beijing (’08)!

Some of the many benefits of Heliocol include:

• Industry leading 12-year FULL parts and labor warranty
• Patented individual tube design is the most roof friendly
• Patented “gator clamp” mounting system creates a clean, solid look
• Manufactured in an ISO-9002 certified robotics production facility

Schedule a free in-home estimate today and let one of our help technicians walk you through the many benefits of your new Heliocol solar pool heater!