When there is air in the filter basket of a swimming pool pump, it often gets blamed on the solar pool heater, but that’s impossible because the solar pool heater comes after the pool pump and any air in the pump housing would have to come from the suction side of the pump. Usually a suction leak occurs at the …
How Warm Will Solar Panels Make My Pool?
This is a great question with no easy answer. Solar pool heating is a weather dependent technology that will make your pool warmer every day of the year. When conditions are better, especially over multiple days, solar pool heating will provide the best results. Of course, this is when you are most likely to want to swim, so that’s great …
How to Read a Solar Net Metering Bi-Directional Utility Meter
When you get a grid-interactive solar electric system installed in Southwest Florida, FPL or LCEC will replace your standard meter with a bi-directional meter. This meter records electricity flow in both direction — to an from the electric grid — and the net amount of energy consumed since it was installed. This process is known as Net Metering, and it …
What’s the Difference Between a Solar Cell, Module, Panel, and Array?
I should probably start a solar energy glossary that covers this. The subject is totally confusing to newcomers to solar energy, especially when people first learn that there are different kinds of solar panels. I am going to attempt to break this down into the simplest components to tell you the difference between solar cells, modules, panels, and arrays for …
Should I Buy A Solar Pool Pump
Your pool pump runs for several hours each day of the year. It is often the second biggest energy hog in a Southwest Florida pool home (after air conditioning). Your pool pump is important because circulating water in your pool both filters it and disburses sanitation chemicals evenly throughout it. You might wonder about the possibility of using a solar …
Can You Run Water Through Solar Pool Heating Panels Too Fast Causing it Not to Heat Long Enough
This is always a good question. How fast should I run water through my solar pool heating system? Most think that running water fast through solar panels will not let them heat the water adequately. In fact, the opposite is generally true. Solar pool heating panels work most efficiently when the difference between the panel surface temperature and the pool …
Getting Comfortable With The Looks of White Plumbing for Solar Pool Heaters
One common barrier to people installing a solar pool heater can be getting over the plumbing that must necessarily run along the roof, sometimes for long distances. Some people think it will be ugly. As they say, beauty is in the eye of the beholder, but that’s usually not an acceptable answer to prospective clients or new system owners. Most …
Solar Pool Heating Myth: Solar Panels Make My Pump Work Harder
When we hire a new employee, they often come with a lot of the same misconceptions about solar energy that our clients initially have. Our relatively new sales assistant, Christie, asked me this week about a topic that comes up quite frequently: Solar pool heating panels make the pool pump work harder. It might seem logical, but it’s a myth! …
Why Our Solar Pool Heating Systems are the Best
Okay, I have to brag a little. I truly believe we offer the best system available, and there are several reasons why. Check out the graphic below to learn more about what sets us apart. While solar panels are critical components in any solar pool heating system, it is, in fact, a system. In addition to quality workmanship and a …
Solar Pool Heating Valve Manifold Explained
If you are wondering how a solar pool heating valve manifold works, you have come to the right place. Below is an explanation of each component in the plumbing of a well designed solar pool heating manifold. Note: This valve manifold may be reversed left to right, and the solar bypass valve can also be installed on the return line …
Do Solar Panels Meet Miami-Dade Hurricane Wind Requirements?
Hurricanes and wind are frequent concerns among those seeking to install solar panels in Southwest Florida, and many people have heard about Miami-Dade hurricane wind code requirements. It stands to reason that people want solar panels installed that meet the most stringent hurricane wind building codes in the country. The concerns usually involve roof leaks and integrity of the roof …
Should I Put Solar Panels on the Front of My House?
Aesthetic concerns are understandable when deciding to install solar panels on your home, and especially on the front of your home. Good planning and layout, properly selected materials, and excellent workmanship can result in great looking systems anywhere on a home. Since solar panels are ubiquitous in Florida, especially solar pool heating panels, it is an accepted norm to place …
Should I Clean My Roof Before Installing Solar Panels?
While it’s not required, it is always a good idea to consider cleaning your roof before installing solar panels. It is an opportune time to get a thorough cleaning, and cleaning where the panels will be installed ensures that the area will remain clean because solar panels actually help keep the are under them in great condition. Some solar dealers …
Solar Panels for Heating My House
I finally broke down and turned on the heat in my home as temperatures approached freezing last night in Southwest Florida. About a month from now, when electric bills start coming in unexpectedly high, Florida Solar Design Group will start getting phone calls about solar panels for space heating in homes. I’ll get out ahead of things and answer some questions …
Spas, Fountains, Waterfalls, and Features Cool Swimming Pools!
I always liked to sit in the back row of Mr. Johnson’s high school physics class with my classmate Tomas where we would goof off and get into random mischief, sometimes involving a Bunsen burner. When it came to test time, we would usually turn in our tests first and score 110% with the bonus questions. We were met with …
Using Solar Electric (Photovoltaic) Panels to Heat a Pool
We are asked frequently, why can’t one type of solar panel do everything? Specifically, people want to know if you can heat a pool with solar electric (photovoltaic) panels. With the price of solar electricity now much lower than it was just a few years ago, it stands to reason that heating a pool with electricity might now be cost …
Solar Panels for Condo Pool Heating
You are a new condo board member, your condo association has a pool, that pool is required to be heated either by condo rules or resident demands, and upon reviewing your heating costs you realize there must be a better way. Sound familiar? Solar pool heating can work very well as a standalone heat source or as a primary heater …
How Much Does a Solar Pool Heater Cost?
If you are just starting to research how much a solar pool heater costs, and you are not ready to contact a dealer, we totally understand. After all, solar panel pricing is all over the map for various technologies, with some systems costing in the tens of thousands of dollars. Solar pool heaters do not fall into that category. You …
Comparing Solar Pool Heating Panels Types
Solar pool heating panels sold by professionals in Florida are not all the same. Panels fall into three basic categories: Welded Tube Tube-On-Fin Separated Tube Each type of solar panel has advantages and disadvantage. Each type will heat your pool, performing at varying levels depending on the conditions. Some of the differences are high-tech, and some are common sense. Adding …
Solar Pool Heating Panels on a Tile Roof – Design to Reality
We have a lot of tile roofs in Florida. Sometimes known as barrel tile, S-tile, Roman tile, Spanish tile, or Mediterranean tile (among other names), these roofs are popular, especially in gated communities. Installing solar pool heating panels presents challenges on tile roofs, and we like the aluminum rack method. This method uses structural aluminum channels to act as a …