This article is part of a series: The 12 Days of Solar Pool Heating. When installing an iSwim Solar Pool Heating Systems, Florida Solar Design Group installs Premium Valves & Components. It doesn’t make sense to install a premium solar pool panel and then install cheap ball valves and other plumbing components that are likely to fail during the life of the system. …
Day 5: Roof Protection
This article is part of a series: The 12 Days of Solar Pool Heating. Florida Solar Design Group installs the iSwim Solar Pool Heating panels using proper roof flashings to protect your roof. Roof flashings are pieces of metal that sheet water away from a roof penetration, protecting the attachment point from water intrusion. The type of flashing and the requirement …
Day 4: Two-Piece Header Clamps
This article is part of a series: The 12 Days of Solar Pool Heating. iSwim Solar Pool Heating Systems feature Two-Piece Header Clamps, which are designed specifically to work with the iSwim 2 inch headers. The two-piece header clamp idea is not revolutionary, and the iSwim clamp is not an industry first, but it is the best. The idea of a …
Day 3: Two Inch Headers & Plumbing
This article is part of a series: The 12 Days of Solar Pool Heating. iSwim Solar Pool Heating Systems feature Two Inch Headers & Plumbing, meaning there is less restriction in the system. Less restriction results in better heating performance. What most people don’t realize is that system performance is a function of flow rate, not panel rating. Most competitors …
Day 2: Full Body Tube & Web Design
This article is part of a series: The 12 Days of Solar Pool Heating. iSwim Solar Pool Heating Panels feature a full body tube & web design, meaning the panel bodies are made by extruding individual tubes connected together by fins or webbing as it is sometimes called. This panel body design results in the best balance between heating performance …
Day 1: Full Flow Tubes
This article is part of a series: The 12 Days of Solar Pool Heating. iSwim Solar Pool Heating Panels feature full flow tubes, meaning the tubes that make up the body of the panel are molded into the header during manufacturing, resulting in 100% of the tube cross-section extending into the header and no resistance to flow. The iSwim panel …
The 12 Days of Solar Pool Heating
The 12 Days of Christmas has been corrupted over and over into a retail stunt over the years, with businesses trying to sell something on the 12 days leading up to Christmas Day. We former Catholic school students know that the 12 Days of Christmas actually starts on Christmas Day, but I am not above the blasphemous usurping of the Twelvetide …
I Found Solar Panels Cheaper Online!
My wife sometimes makes fun of me for trying to be cheap when hiring contractors and service people. It’s a natural thing for a skilled, hands-on, DIY kind of guy. I hate to “overpay” for something I feel I can do myself. Plus, I love a great deal as much as the next guy. The story that always comes up …
Solar Homes in Florida Sell at a Premium
In a new study by the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory entitled “Appraising into the Sun: Six-State Solar Home Paired-Sales Analysis,” the Florida Gulf Coast was one of the areas analyzed for sales of homes with solar electric (photovoltaic/PV) systems. The results showed a 6.39% premium selling price for homes with solar panels. Previous data was lacking on the subject, and …
Solar Domestic Water Heating is Dead
I am certainly not the first to declare solar domestic water heating dead. Halloween is near, so I figured it is an appropriate time to put a nail in the coffin. This has been coming for a long time — the economic viability of solar water heating given the alternatives no longer results in an attractive investment for the vast …
The Most Efficient Solar Pool Heating Panels on the Market
Solar pool heaters come in all shapes, sizes, and types, but one basic design has proven to be the most efficient on the market. The basic black polymer panel that comes in 4’x8′, 4’x10′, or 4’x12′ nominal sizes converts a large percentage of the sun’s available energy that hits it into heat for your pool. When most people ask about efficiency …
What is Solar Net Metering?
What Net Metering Is Net Metering, also known as Netmetering or Net Energy Metering, is a billing process by which solar energy producers are credited for the energy they produce. On each monthly electric bill a net metered customer is billed only for the net amount of energy consumed from the grid. This energy flow is measured by a …
Heating a Florida Pool in Winter
Fall is here and winter is fast approaching. Florida pools are starting to drop in temperature as nighttime temperatures dip into the 60’s and 70’s. Pools lose most of their heat at the surface to the ambient air, and this time of year the daytime sun is not enough to recover the heat lost to the night sky… unless you …
Will Golf Balls Damage Solar Panels?
Note: this article covers golf balls and solar electric panels, not solar pool heating panels which are not susceptible to costly damage from golf ball strikes. In Florida we have lots of homes located along golf courses, and naturally homeowners are concerned about golf balls damaging solar panels. While this is a legitimate concern, damage is rare and the risk …
How Do We Determine Layout For A Solar Panel System?
One of the most common tasks we have as solar energy consultants is determining the number of solar panels that will fit on a roof and the best layout for panels. Before ever visiting the site we start with some tools to do a basic layout using whatever resources are available. These can include aerial imagery from online mapping providers, …
Do I Need to Use a Pool Cover on My Solar Heated Pool?
Pool covers, also known as pool blankets or solar covers, are used to keep heat in a swimming pool. At night or during cool weather, pool heat is lost to the ambient air through evaporation and radiation. Keeping this heat in the pool is the job of a pool cover, regardless of the heat source. By drastically reducing evaporation, pool …
Solar Panel Payback Period
I hear it all the time. It’s the first thing people ask at the cocktail party when you say you’re in the solar energy business: “What’s the payback on solar panels?” Me: “Oh, about 7-15 years depending on many factors.” Them: “Holy $#|^, that sucks!” To be clear, we are talking about solar electricity here, not the solar pool heating …
Are Permits Required for Solar Panels in Florida?
The answer is yes — in most jurisdictions in Florida, permits are required for all solar panel types. And when there is a permit, there is naturally an inspection. However, there are some exceptions and the requirements differ by building department and panel type. Your solar contractor should secure all necessary permits and schedules required inspections. You will not have to …
How Many Solar Panels Are Needed to Heat a Swimming Pool
When buying a solar pool heater, you may be surprised to find a range of suggestions for how many panels are needed to heat a swimming pool, but there are some guidelines that you can rely upon. The correct answer depends on your location, the orientation of the panels, shading impacts, the panel type, the panel performance rating, your desired …
SunTouch Solar Controller – How to Put in Service Mode
We have a lot of Pentair SunTouch Solar Pool Heating Controllers in the field, and one of the most common questions is how to put the SunTouch into Service Mode. Service mode shuts off the filter pump and solar pool heater so that service can be performed. Turning the pump off is the first step in cleaning a filter, adding chlorine tablets, …