U.S. Department of Energy — Energy Saver — May 29, 2012
Source URL: https://www.energy.gov/energysaver/solar-swimming-pool-heaters
Four components: solar collector, filter, pump, flow control valve. Pool water circulates through the filter, then through the collector, then back to the pool.
Night cooling use case (explicitly stated by DOE):
In hot climates, the collector(s) can also be used to cool the pool during peak summer months by circulating the water through the collector(s) at night.
This is the same principle Baer's pool-heater cooling concept applies to buildings — using the same collectors at night to radiate heat to the sky. The DOE validates the reversal as standard practice for pool temperature management.
| Type | Description | Use case |
|---|---|---|
| Unglazed | Heavy-duty rubber or plastic with UV inhibitor; no glass covering | Above-freezing climates; least expensive |
| Glazed | Copper tubing on aluminum plate, iron-tempered glass cover | Year-round / cold climates; more efficient in cold weather |
Unglazed systems can drain back to pool when not in use — freeze protection without antifreeze. Even in cold climates, unglazed may be more cost-effective than glazed if the season is right.
Source: U.S. Department of Energy Energy Saver, "Solar Swimming Pool Heaters," May 29, 2012. Fetched from web.
URL: https://www.energy.gov/energysaver/solar-swimming-pool-heaters