the We have heard just about every question about solar pool heating panels. But we never gave much thought to what happens to them in a fire. We just assumed that in a serious house fire or if exposed to flame that the panels would simply melt. We did some research and found that polyethylene, which is in the polyolefin …
Solar Panels for Swimming Pool in Naples, FL
These solar panels for a swimming pool in Naples, FL were installed by Florida Solar Design Group recently. This “banked” system was sized for a large pool with lots of water features, needing maximum heating performance. Naples has one of the highest densities of swimming pools in Florida. Despite the southern Florida location, most homeowners find that they need to …
Don’t Buy a Two-Speed Pool Pump
I keep asking myself, “am I missing something?” Why are pool builders still building new pools with two-speed pumps? If you are buying a new pool, I can’t say it any other way: Don’t Buy a Two-Speed Pump! The basic idea behind two-speed pumps is good. You can run the pump at a lower speed, saving electricity. Unfortunately, there are …
Solar Heated Water From Pool Jets Is Not Hot
Occasionally we get a call from a client that says the solar heated water coming out of their pool jets does not feel very hot. Our response is pretty simple: “Good!” It’s not that we are being dismissive. If you feel a large temperature difference in the heated water coming from the solar panels, that usually means the flow rate …
Real Stories of Solar Panel Service Calls: Episode 1
We service all brands of solar pool heating panel. The stories range from sad to funny and everything in between. While most service calls are routine issues resolved, some are not so simple. And others are incredibly simple. We’ve decided to share some of our stories as we come across them, and this is Episode 1. We’re calling this one …
How Hot Can Solar Pool Heating Get?
The number one question we get (by far) is, “how hot can solar pool heating get?” It’s obviously a good question. Mistruths from competing technology dealers can skew perceptions about solar heating performance. How much heat depends on a lot of factors. It is a weather dependent technology (but so are other heaters in different ways). Before we get into how …
Solar Panel Rubber Couplers Leak (myth)
One of our friendly competitors has been using yet another scare tactic regarding the iSwim solar pool heating system. This time they are saying that between solar panels rubber couplers leak. These are the couplers that join together individual solar panels. Note: the technically correct term is rubber couplings, but many people use couplers and couplings interchangeably. Alternative to Rubber …
Windy Weather Cools Swimming Pools
This is the time of year that we start getting lots of calls about cold pools. That’s no surprise since windy weather cools swimming pools! Wind blowing across the surface of a pool is like blowing on a hot bowl of soup. Even though we are experiencing daytime high temperatures in the mid-80’s in Southwest Florida, wind sucks heat out …
iSwim Header Clamps
Here we go again. One of our competitors ran out of tactics. They came up with a new ridiculous idea that they have been telling our prospective clients. They are now telling people that the iSwim Header Clamps don’t last and they break easily. It’s a classic scare tactic, and it is totally false. Let’s make something clear. We have never – …
My Pool Builder Does Not Recommend Solar Panels
Every once in a while it seems like we get a spate of clients telling us that their pool builder or pool service company does not recommend solar panels for heating their pool. They are often told that they should install an electric heat pump. We want to tell you why this happens and dispel the myths about solar pool heating panels. …
Why are Solar Pool Heaters Sized Based on Surface Area
We have written before on how to size a solar pool heating system. We even have a solar pool heating sizing calculator. However, we still get lots of questions asking why are solar pool heaters sized based on surface area rather than the volume of water. Size is Related to Surface Area Most people think that the pool volume is the …
Charge Tesla With Portable Solar Panel?
Can I Charge a Tesla With a Portable Solar Panel? No. The a Tesla automobile’s battery has a huge capacity relative to the output of a single solar panel, and the voltage and current type do not match. Charging an EV with Solar Power We recently had a client ask if they could charge a Tesla with a portable solar panel. …
Energy Saving Devices: Renewed Warning
About 18 months ago I warned about power factor correction devices that are being heavily marketed in Southwest Florida. These “energy saving devices” do nothing to reduce your electricity bill, which is exactly what they are advertised to do. Despite the well known fact that this technology has no place in household energy savings, the myth persists. I recently received an …
iSwim vs FAFCO
When comparing iSwim vs FAFCO solar pool heating panels, it all comes down to longevity and flow rate. Both solar panels are made from similar materials and are made in the USA (iSwim is made in Florida, FAFCO in California). They each come from established manufacturers. So, what factors should you consider to compare the two brands? iSwim vs FAFCO: Comparing Solar Pool …
Solar Pool Panel Cost
Note: This article focuses on the cost of solar pool heating panels specifically. If you are at the beginning of your research about solar pool heaters, your first question is probably about the solar pool panel cost. Most systems come as a fully installed package. Dealers will give you turnkey pricing including all engineering, permits, and installation. This is especially true …
DOE Approves National Efficiency Standards for Pool Pumps
One of the biggest energy hogs in a home is a swimming pool pump. The DOE has been working on a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NOPR) for Energy Conservation Standards for about a year by way of the Appliance Standards and Rulemaking Federal Advisory Committee (ASRAC). What this means for the solar pool heating industry is that it will probably become …
Replace Solar Pool Heating Panel With Different Brand?
Solar pool heating panel repair service is something that most local solar panel dealers will do for any brand. We service all of our competitors’ brands, and they do the same. When a panel needs to get replaced rather than repaired, we see some people doing something really unfortunate – they replace a leaking solar panel with a different brand. …
Perfect Time to Upgrade Your Pool Equipment
When installing a solar pool heater, it’s the perfect time to consider upgrading your pool equipment. While it’s not required, and your existing pump and plumbing can be used, changing our all or some of your equipment can make your pool pad look and function great! Because we usually need to send two pipes up to your roof to install …
Solar Pool Heaters on Flat Roofs
Like many homes, yours may have a flat roof adjacent to your pool deck over a lanai or sitting area. This is a common architectural feature for Florida homes. It is often close to the pool equipment, you can’t see it, and it seems like it would be a suitable place to install a solar pool heater. However, we do …
5 Reasons to Consider Solar Electricity
In Florida we have relatively low electricity prices per unit, financing limitations compared to other states, and few incentives to encourage people to consider solar electricity for their homes and businesses. However, there are some very compelling reasons to look into solar electricity. Watch our quick video on the 5 Reasons to Consider Solar Electricity Utility rates will keep going …