solar pool heat

[Denno]

Does this type of pool heat warm the pool up as much as gas/electric.
Some of the replies we have had from our villa enquiry only mention solar heating for the pool.
Would the water be warm in April as we do like a nice toasty swimming pool and also like to swim in the evenings.

[Nostromo]

I recall reading somewhere that solar heat is not as efficient as electric or gas heating to warm the pool. Having said that, you may not need more than that in April.

[Ray&Sarah]

We rented a villa with solar heating on one of our trips to Florida, it was fine in October. Having said that not quite as warm as a pool heated with a heater. It really depends on what the weather is like.[msnsmile2]

[caroline]

In April you will need either gas or electric pool heat to swim comfortably in the evening + a pool blanket!
The only exception to this might be a Gulf coast villa as the temperatures there are hotter than inland, solar MIGHT be enough, maybe a gulf coast owner can offer more advice.

[DaveL]

Solar heat is a boost to pool temperatures and you need an additional source of heat in the cooler months. Solar will add about 10 degs of heat above what the pool would have been without it. I have solar and electric so that when I heat the pool it starts at a higher temperature so it reaches the the set level faster.

[andrewmckay5]

No problems with Solar heating on the Gulf in April. In fact we were using the pool quite happily over Xmas. We do use an electric heater in the jacuzzi in the evening just to give it an extra boost.
Hope this helps,
andrew<blockquote id="quote" class="ffs">quote:Originally posted by caroline
In April you will need either gas or electric pool heat to swim comfortably in the evening + a pool blanket!
The only exception to this might be a Gulf coast villa as the temperatures there are hotter than inland, solar MIGHT be enough, maybe a gulf coast owner can offer more advice.
[/quote]

[bellaepovera]

If the temps in April hit 80-90s the solar heat would be plenty. I suppose you can always decide when you get there how the water temp. is and if it is not warm enough you can call the owner or their Mc and pay for the additional gas/electric heating after you are there.

[flyrr100]

Since the last hurricanes we in Florida have come across a big problem with solar panels. They rip roofs off houses! My neighbor had them and his roof was demolished when the hurricanes took the solar panels into the next county! And the roofing contractors wont honor any guarantees when you've 'tampered with the roof'. And installing solar panels on the roof is tampering in their eyes. Also my inmsurance company sent me a letter asking if we had solar panels on our roof. I guess if we did our rates would go up.
I was looking at getting solar panels for my pool. Now I think I'll get an electric heater.
Just letting you know in case any of you house/villa owners out there are thinking about installing solar heat for your pools.

[andrewmckay5]

Thanks for that Jeff. I knew the builder would say the guarantee was void because of tampering but I must check the insurance angle.
I have enough problems at home with Chelsea winning all their matches without haveing to worry about the solar panels.
[msnwink]
Having said that we came through all the Hurricanes last year without a scratch and Charley I think it was only landed down the road at Punta Gorda.
andrew

[flyrr100]

Andrew,

Charley passed right over our house here in Winter Springs. We had next door's fence in my pool! But no house damage! Heck, we didn't even lose power! Somthing to be said about being on the same grid as the Fire Station!

What about Chelsea huh? And in their Centenary Year!