How to Compare Solar Pool Heaters

Having a swimming pool right in your own backyard can bring you and your friends and family members hours of summer entertainment. However, there is a lot of maintenance and cost that goes along with owning and operating a swimming pool. For example, you may need to heat the water to make it comfortable to swim in. With a solar pool heater, you can heat the water and save money at the same time.

• 1

  Figure out if you would like your solar pool heater to also cool down your pool water when the temperature rises. This feature is mostly used in very hot, sunny climates. Some solar pool heaters will filter the pool water through the solar heating system at night, which will actually cool down the water.

• 2

  Look for pool heaters that include a temperature sensor on the collector of the solar pool heating system. This sensor will regulate the temperature for you. For example, if the pool water is the same temperature as the collector, then the water will filter through the system but bypass the collector without being heated up.

• 3

  Find out what materials the solar pool heaters you're comparing are made out of. Glazed collectors are made of copper, aluminum and tempered glass and can be used to efficiently heat your pool water even in the wintertime. Unglazed collectors are for use during the hot months of the year and are made of rubber or plastic.

• 4

  Pay attention to the size of the collector of the solar pool heater. The collector should be 50 percent to 100 percent of the total surface area of your swimming pool. If you live in a colder climate or if you plan to use the pool year-round, opt for a collector that is closer to 100 percent of the size of your pool.

• 5

  Check out the thermal performance rating for each of the solar pool heaters you're comparing. The higher the rating, the more efficient the solar pool heating system will be. More efficient systems will help you save even more money. The rating is measured in BTUs per square foot per day.

• 6

  Keep your budget in mind as you shop for a solar pool heater. You should expect to pay between $3,000 and $4,000 as of November 2010 for the heater itself and installation, but some models can cost more.