If you are an FPL customer, you may have received an email recently that answered the question, “what are the top 5 energy users in my home?” FPL’s energy expert accurately explained how five things are the major drivers of the average utility customer’s electric bill. Those five things are: Air Conditioning Pool Pump Water Heater Lighting Clothes Dryer Well …
The Best Time of Year For Solar Power in Florida
We were contacted recently by a client that wanted to get a system installed fast to take advantage of the best time of year for solar power — summer. Unfortunately, he just missed it, as April happens to be the best month in Southwest Florida for solar energy production! That’s not to say that summer isn’t great for solar energy …
Two-speed Pool Pumps vs. Variable Speed Pool Pumps
Right before I published this article I was contacted by a nice lady in Georgia who felt her pool service company was steering her wrong with a decision to replace her ailing single-speed pump. There is a lot of misinformation out there regarding two-speed pool pump and variable speed pumps, and many dealers are not up to speed (no pun …
Pool Plumbing with Solar Pool Heating
The image below shows a typical Florida swimming pool plumbing setup for a pool/spa combination with solar pool heat and a backup electric heat pump. To learn what all of the components are in a pool plumbing system, keep reading! The image below was taken from above on the roof of a Bonita Springs, FL home. It shows all of …
Bubbles in Pool – Solar Pool Heater Startup
There are several reasons you might experience bubbles in your pool with a solar pool heating system. This video focuses on the large bubbles you see when your pool pump and/or solar pool heater first start up. Large bubbles for a few minutes after starting your solar pool heater are completely normal and expected. In fact, if you do not …
A Closer Look at How Solar Pool Heating Plumbing Works
You may have already seen our explanation of how a solar pool heating system works. This is a closer look at the plumbing involved in a solar pool heating system. Solar pool heaters use your existing pump and pool plumbing with an added valve manifold to bypass the solar panels when not in use. Below is a graphic that explains …
Invest in Solar Power to Hedge Against Inflation
In addition to providing a solid return on investment relative to other investments of similar term and risk, solar electric power is a great hedge against inflation for homeowners and businesses. If you expect continued inflation (most people do), a solar electric system can lock in your price for electricity for a long time. Most people in Florida buy solar energy …
What is a Microinverter?
For many years, the workhorse of the solar energy industry was the “big box on the wall,” as new clients often call it. The big box is an inverter, or in a battery backup situation, an inverter/charger. These beastly eyesore in garages or on exterior walls were both the engines that converted DC electricity to AC and the brains of …
Solar Panels With Homeowners and Condo Associations (HOA) in Florida
Being good neighbors, most of us are concerned about what neighbors may think when we endeavor to install solar panel on a home. We are frequently asked the question, “Can my Homeowners Association (HOA) or Condo Association prevent me from installing solar panels or tell me where to put them.” Generally speaking, the answer is NO, a homeowners association is …
How Much Does It Really Cost To Run A Swimming Pool Electric Heat Pump
Because we are in the solar energy business, people often want us to compare a solar pool heater to an electric heat pump. There really is no comparison, because solar pool heaters work every day, and you wouldn’t leave an electric heat pump running unless you really wanted to swim every day — it’s too expensive! “But wait,” you say. …
Photovoltaic (Solar Electric) Systems With Battery Backup
Most solar energy systems installed today are “grid-interactive,” meaning that they work in tandem with the utility grid to supply energy to your home. If you want your solar energy system to work when there is no utility grid power available, you need batteries.* Batteries allow you to store energy and use it when grid connections fail, like after storms …
LED Pool Lights Cut Energy Use
LED swimming pool lights are a great innovation. The provide clean, white light (or colors) and the same or more brightness at a fraction of the energy use. I replaced my two incandescent pool lights a year ago, and I am extremely happy that I did. I previously had my pool lights on a timer running three hours a night. …
Southwest Florida Solar Electricity (Photovoltaic) Investment Calculator
This is a simplified calculator to estimate annual energy production and return on investment for a solar electric (photovoltaic) system installed in Southwest Florida. It is not a substitute for a professional analysis of your home or business. You can use this calculator to determine estimated system performance based on the assumptions in blue. This calculator is for use in …
Valuation of Homes with Solar Panels
Note that this article on valuation of homes applies to solar electric (photovoltaic or PV) systems, not solar pool heating or solar water heating systems. The solar energy industry’s marketing gurus have ample rule-of-thumb estimates for how much value solar panels add to homes, but that’s all just speculation unless someone is actually willing to pay more for your home …
Pentair SunTouch — Product Spotlight
The SunTouch is one step up from its little brother, the SolarTouch. It is a surprisingly capable complete pool automation controller for the money, featuring the ability to control a pool and spa combination, an auxiliary heater (gas or heat pump), and other pool functions. In fact, even if you don’t have a solar pool heater, the SunTouch is something …
Pentair SolarTouch — Product Spotlight
The SolarTouch is a basic solar pool heating controller with a few nice features. It is easy to use with a simple, customer-friendly interface. The end user generally needs only to select the desired pool water temperature. The controller uses a roof and water sensor to check when solar heating is both needed and available, and turns a motorized valve …
How Long Does a Solar Pool Heating Panel System Last?
With warranties exceeding a decade in most cases, manufacturers are obviously very confident in their solar pool heating panels. Once the warranty enters the discussion, usually that is the end of the conversation. But the question still remains: “How Long Does a Solar Pool Heating Panel System Last?” Solar pool heating systems are generally trouble-free, especially with proper care and …
Power Factor Correction to Save Energy
There have been a variety of products over the years pitched to correct power factor in homes to save energy. The pitch goes something like this: Your homes has all kinds of motors (inductive loads) like pool pumps, air conditioners, refrigerators, washers, dryers, and even vacuum cleaners. Those electricity using appliances all have a power factor that is less than …
Comprehensive List of Pool Automation With Solar Controller Capability
The following pool automation controllers include the ability to control solar pool heating systems, arranged by brand: Pentair Solar Pool Heating Controllers SunTouch SolarTouch EasyTouch IntelliTouch Hayward Solar Pool Heating Controllers GL-235 OnCommand AquaLogic ProLogic E-Command 4 AquaPlus OmniLogic Jandy Solar Pool Heating Controllers Aqualink HelioTrope Solar Pool Heating Controllers HelioMatic If you know about another solar pool heating controller …
How a Solar Pool Heating Automation System (Controller) Works
A solar pool heating controller automatically turns a valve using a motorized actuator. It is the best way to maximize solar pool heating performance and provide convenience. Most pool automation systems have solar pool heating control built in, so you don’t have to buy a separate controller. Solar controllers can be simple thermostat-style controllers or can have advanced features to …