Guide To Pool Heating

Page 25 of 51

Option 5--Swimming Pool Heat Pumps (Continued)

Disadvantages:Swimming pool heat pumps contain CFC chemicals, which have been identified as

major contributors to ozone layer depletion. Many nations have already signed up for the

elimination of CFC chemicals in heating and refrigeration equipment by the year 2000. Once this

happens, it’s expected that replacement chemicals will be very expensive and obsolete equipment

will be costly to rebuild or discard. This is already present in the market place with CFC 12

(freon). Expect high maintenance costs if the components housing CFC chemicals fail. This will

be true on all CFC 22 and even on HCFC 134 chemicals. Heat pumps are less costly to operate

than an electric resistance heater, but substantially more expensive to operate than solar systems.

Heat pumps are a slower heating process than gas, oil or electric resistance.

Option 6-- Solar energy from Solar Panels

Advantages:Solar energy is the most inexpensive source of pool heat. Solar pool heating systems

are relatively inexpensive to purchase and operate. Solar energy is a totally non-polluting and

completely renewable energy resource. Heating swimming pools is an ideal application for

renewable solar energy. Over 90% of the solar panels sold today are used in pool heating

applications.

Disadvantages:Solar panels disrupt the architectural presentation of homes, gardens and yards by

requiring large panel arrays. A rule of thumb is 1:1. For every square foot of pool surface area,

you will need a square foot of solar panel somewhere. This can literally take up an entire roof

section on your house. Some communities restrict the use of solar panels because of their “ugly

and obtrusive” visual appearance. When the sun doesn’t shine, there is no available energy to heat

the pool, so in critical situations, a back-up fossil fuel heater is recommended. Roof and yard

mounted solar panels are exposed to the elements and can be damaged by storms, winds, or -- over

time -- deterioration by the sun itself. Installation of solar panels may be difficult and/or costly

depending upon the roofing materials used as well as the slope and design of the roof. Solar

energy provides a slower heating process than gas, oil or electric resistance.