SIZING YOUR SOLAR POOL SYSTEM
Sizing Factors
Solar panels are mostly effective if they have unobstructed sunlight during the sunniest time of the day. This is between 10am and 5pm. Even on cloudy days the solar panel collects the heat from the sun. This allows the system to effectively warm pool water when the pump is turned on during the peak hours of sunlight. Most quality solar heating systems will also diffuse solar energy as well, so a homeowner does not need to live in a constantly sunny region to effectively heat their pool with solar thermal. The general rule of thumb is to choose solar panels that are 50% less than the surface area of the pool. If the homeowner’s climate is typically cooler and overcast, the solar panels will likely need to cover more surface area in order to effectively warm the pool. Installing solar panels also have to abide by the homeowner’s local codes and regulations. Always check with local municipality about installing solar panels to ensure no violations take place.
There are a few factors to considered when sizing and choosing a solar pool heating system to fit your homes roof and work well with your swimming pool. Here are main things you should factor:
- The location of your home, as the climate in your area will effect the result of heating.
- Next is your overall pool size, solar pool heating systems are sized based on the surface area of your swimming pool, rather than its volume. This is because the primary source of heat loss occurs through evaporation at the surface. If you have a geometrically shaped pool, this calculation is quite easy. If however, your swimming pool is a "freeform" shape, or a "kidney" shape, this calculation can be a bit more difficult.
- Finally is your heating expectations (how long your looking to extend your swimming season) It's important to understand exactly what your goals are in heating as it will also determine how many panels you need.
- Solar pool collectors are available in a various different sizes, so its also important to understand the "ideal fit" on your roof. That is why we are here to assist with our satellite imagery design tool as well.
* Please understand, solar pool heating systems are dependent on weather and sunlight, these figures can only be used as an estimation, they cannot be guaranteed.
* Below is a Downloadable sizing guide below to assist you with this.
Once you have the size of your pool, take a look at the guide to help estimate the number of panels that would be needed for a warmer pool.
Site Survey
Performing A Site Survey
We put together some helpful Tools and Tips for performing your own Solar Pool Site Survey, to help you with understand and analyze if Solar Pool is right for your home, pool and roof. We hope you find these Tips and tools helpful whether you are looking to install the system yourself or just want to be educated about the system, parts, and installation process to assist the communication with your Professional Solar Installer.
Click the Tab below to got to the Sits Survey Assistance page on our distributors site, feel free to listen along with audio provided and fill out the Site Survey Form online while you upload pictures of your house, pool equipment and roof.
Pool Equipment Pad
It is important to consider where the system will be in respect to the location of your Pool Equipment also know as the PAD. There are a few areas of the Pool Equipment PAD that need to be looked at and helpful questions on the Site Survey Form to better understand your existing equipment and how to plumb and tie into it.
A typical equipment pad layout is pumps on one side, filter in the middle, heater on the other side and pipes from the pool coming up from gravel along the side of the equipment pad. There should be enough spacing between and around equipment for regular service and repairs including access at the rear of the pumps.
Also found in this area:
- Salt Chlorination Systems
- Shut Off Valves
- Electrical Timer Box
- Automation Systems
- Electrical Sub Panels
Looking At The Roof
Now that you know about how many panels you will need, let’s take a look at THE ROOF. An helpful and easy way to do this is to utilize Google Satellite images with your address. Your roof plays a significant role in determining whether your property is suitable for home solar panels. There are several factors to consider when it comes to your roof:
Roof Size
The first thing you should consider is whether your roof has enough space to e ectively support solar panels. The amount of space you need depends on the amount of panels you want to be installed. A good rule of thumb is to have roughly half of your pool’s surface area equal in panel square feet.
Example: A 20×40 pool has 800 sq. ft. of surface area, so 400 sq. ft. of solar panel would be a good target.
*The image displayed is a look from above with our Satellite Design Software, if you would like ASPS to provide you a system layout in this format, simply complete the Digital Site Survey Form and we will provide this for you.
Without Satellite Solar Design Software access that most Solar Companies have, the best thing you can do is to measure the length of the estimated area from the ground, again each panel is 4’, and the average size solar system is (7) Panels, so a SAFE Estimate on that would be a little of 32’ to allow for the PVC pipe connections. The same holds true for the RISE of the panels up the roof, most systems utilize the 12’ panels, but to allow of the FEED and RETURN PVC Piping and safe Installation area, it would be best to estimate 15’-16’. If you do not feel you have that much room UP on the roof, then drop to the 10’ Panel and allow for 13’-14’ for Installation and as a safe estimate for increased heat with shorter panels, extend to (8) 10’ Panels and 36’ foot length run for the system.
*If you have skylights, roof-mounted air conditioner units or vents, they can reduce the available surface area for solar pool panels, but they don't necessarily make your home unsuitable for solar energy.
Type of Roof
Solar Pool panel systems can generally be installed on almost any roof types, including: metal, composite, asphalt shingle roofs, and multiple types of tile.
*See KIT PARTS when competing your system purchase for the various types of roof attachment hardware that we have available!
Roof Condition
A house with a deteriorating or crumbling roof may not be suitable for solar panels. Even if your roof is currently in good shape but will need to be replaced in the next three to five years, it may be in your best interest to do any required roofing work before your solar installation.
Solar Pool Panels come with extensive warranty, but can last many years, with little to no maintenance required, so you don't want to remove them unnecessarily if you can prevent that ahead of time.
Roof Orientation
The direction your roof faces affects how much solar radiation your solar system will experience. In the northern hemisphere, it is best to face the solar panels south because that's where they will receive the most direct light throughout the day. In the southern hemisphere, the reverse is true: the panels should face north. That's why south-facing roofs are the most ideal for solar panel installation.
However, this doesn't mean that east or west-facing roofs can't be suitable for solar panels. An east-facing roof will be exposed to a good amount of sunlight in the morning, whereas a west-facing roof will take in more sunlight in the afternoon and evenings, so your solar panels will still receive enough sunlight to generate adequate heat for heating your pool and extending your swimming season!
Roof Pitch
Solar panels work best when installed on a pitched roof so that they are slanted towards the sun. The ideal angle of your roof would be between 20° and 40°, but the slope of the roof can fall outside this range and generate electricity effectively.
If you have a flat roof, it is possible to install solar pool panels, but we recommend consulting and trusting one of our Professional Solar Pool Installation Companies to handle this.
*See the helpful Roof Pitch Guide Below!
Shading
Any shading of the solar panels definitely cuts down on the amount of sunlight reaching the panel and warming the water. If you're surrounded by trees, buildings or other obstacles that shade the roof too much, your house may not be an ideal candidate for solar.