When summer comes to an end, it may be difficult to say goodbye to your swimming pool’s warm swims. However, installing a solar pool heater is a great way of prolonging your swimming spell into the not so hot months, not forgetting it is both energy-efficient and economical.
A solar pool heater produces heat from sunlight, which is transferred to your pool water. It is free to run and will extend your swimming season all through the year. However, you must know how a solar pool heater works and how to install it properly.
How Solar Pool Heating Functions
A solar pool heater has two parts; the heating part and the plumbing part. The heating part has collectors that are usually fixed on the roof and have several pipes linked to your current water filter and pump to drive the pool water along with the heating component and back into the swimming pool, thus producing the warming result.
Mount the solar collectors
Roof penetrations have to be made to mount collectors to the roof. Sometimes when installing collectors, they can be fixed on the roof, and the piping placed across an upright wall as an alternative of running through the roof. All roof penetrations have to be sealed with a sealant.
Start by locating the rafters you will be fixing the collectors using a stud finder or move to the attic and make a small hole close to a rafter to find it. After drilling the hole, a small wire should run out of it to help trace it on the outside.
Rafters are about 20 inches midpoint to midpoint. If you are unable to fix the collector mounting gear on the raft, you should install a spanner wedge in the middle of the rafters and attach the collector gear to the sleeper.
Mount the heat exchanger and storage tank close to the traditional water heater
The solar storage tank is placed close to the traditional water heater. When the heat exchange is inside the storage tank, ensure its glycol loop connections are easily reachable. If the heat exchange is outside the storage tank, it will be supported by the plumbing. Place unions in areas where the heat exchanger and storage tank connect so that there will be no need to cut the pipes when the heat exchange or storage tank needs replacing.
Install the glycol loop piping and pump
The pump is fixed at the base of the glycol loop and its opening is attached to the pipes that lead to the collectors. The pumping channel should have a check valve so that when it’s off, glycol will not stream in reverse inside the loop.
Install the water piping
The cold water in the house will be plumbed to the passage into the storage tank while the outlet of the storage tank is plumbed to the passage into your water heater. Valves and unions are installed on the channels of the storage tank.
Install the solar pool heating controls
A solar pool heater should have a differential controller to detect the temperature difference between the glycol at the solar collector and water in the storage tank. Additional solar pool heater controls include:
- Bypass valve – This is a manual valve that is closed to enable water flow the normal way from the storage tank to the water heater and opened for water to flow from the storage tank past the water heater.
- High-temperature radiator loop – This control is installed to a solar heater to protect it from overheating in the event the glycol becomes too hot.
- Tempering Valve – this control is installed on a solar pool heater to add cold water to hot water to prevent scalding temperatures.
Fill the Solar Pool Heating System
The glycol loop is inspected for leakages by topping up the loop with water. Because there will be no enough pressure in the system, a drill pump is used to fill heating units. To ensure the system has no leaks, the glycol loop is over pressured twice it’s running pressure, and the system is left to settle for a few hours. If the loop pressure drops, you have a seepage that should be identified and fixed.
Insulate the piping and glycol lines
After ensuring the solar heating system does not have leaks, its glycol and water lines should be carefully insulated. Water lines are insulated with regular foam pipe insulation while glycol lines with fiberglass insulation. Joint tape is used at the joints of fiberglass insulation, while duct tape is used on standard pipe insulation joints.
Solar pool heating is a great way of making your pool season run throughout the year as it is both economical and energy-efficient. Visit us today for your Solar Pool Heating Ipswich needs.
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