SWIMMING POOL HEATER COMPARISON
PERFORMANCE
Designed for both residential and commercial swimming pool use.
If you and your family are more comfortable with swimming in your pool when your pools water temperatures are ranging from the low to mid 80's then using a solar pool heater to heat your swimming pool is definitely an option you should consider. With a solar pool heater you could increase your average pool water temperatures up to 15-20º!
A solar pool heater works throughout the seasons in southern climates, and extends the swimming pool season in northern climates. There may be times when the weather is too cool to use; however, when the sun returns a solar pool heater will bring the pool water temperature back to a comfortable level. A properly sized solar pool heating system is critical for optimal performance.
PERFORMANCE
Designed for both residential and commercial swimming pool use.
If you enjoy swimming regardless of the weather, a Heat Pump is the recommended method. It is also the preferred method for therapy or athletic trainers, and also when a home is not "solar feasible" i.e. solar will not fit on roof
A Heat Pump, when properly sized, can maintain any desired pool temperature between 80 and 90 degrees, regardless of outside weather conditions.
A Heat Pump will work when the outside air temperature is above 45 degrees.
HOW DOES IT WORK?
Solar Pool Panels collect the sun's FREE natural solar heat on a daily basis and efficiently transfer the captured heat to your pools water. Using your existing pool pump the pool water is circulated through the solar heater, typically located on a roof, and gently raises the pools water temperature. The pump timer is set to operate during the optimal "Solar Window" period - 9am to 5pm.
HOW DOES IT WORK?
A Swimming pool Heat Pump uses electricity to operate. Heat Pumps a considered to be a form of a solar heater, as the sun-warmed air is a contributing factor to the efficiency of these units. The heat is extracted from the air using a compressor, and then transferred to the pool water.
HOW MUCH DOES A SOLAR POOL HEATER COST?
Vortex Solar Pool Heater Kits:
Range from $1000 - $4800
Vortex Solar Pool Heater Installations [Labor]:
Range from $500 - $2500
Example:15' x 30', Kidney Shaped Swimming Pool
7 Vortex 4' x12' Deluxe Kit = Around $1900
Standard Installation = Around $2800
HOW MUCH DOES A HEAT PUMP POOL HEATER COST?
System Unit Cost:
Range from $2400 - $4600
Installation Cost [Labor]:
Range from $350 - $950
Example:15' x 30', Kidney Shaped Swimming Pool
Heat Pump Unit = Around $3200
Installation = Around $4200
The size and cost of a pool heater all depends on the size of your swimming pool and the conditions where your pool is located. Average costs are outlined above and the cost for a typical 15' x 30' Kidney Pool with a screen enclosure in central Florida.
ENERGY RATINGS & EFFICIENCY
Florida Solar Energy Center is the governing body that rates solar thermal pool collectors using Btu/ft². The greater the BTU rating, the higher heat output. On average, a solar pool collector can output around 900 to 1000 Btu's. Between different solar pool panel brands there is about a 3 to 7 percent difference. To determine the best value of any given collector, simply divide the total cost by the total ft² of a panel. The lower the cost per square feet, the better the value.
ENERGY RATINGS & EFFICIENCY
Heat Pumps are not rated by any governing body. Typically the manufacturer determines the Btu output at a specific water temperature, air temperature and relative humidity value. To accurately compare one unit to another, these test values must be the same, or the comparison ends up being distorted. Heat pumps are also given a Coefficient of Performance (COP) rating, generally from 3 to 6 COP, which converts to an efficiency rating of 300 to 600 percent.
COST OF OPERATION
Since no one owns the sun, it is free to anyone who has the technology to harness its resources. There is virtually no cost to the operation of a solar pool heating system. A pools water pump must run during the 9am to 5pm solar window period for the solar heater to function correctly, this may increase your electric bill by around $30 to $75 per year depending on your normal filtering daily schedule.
COST OF OPERATION
Heat Pumps are highly efficient, and also have a low cost of operation. On average, for every 20 cents of electric input, you receive $1.00 worth of heat.
A typical pool averages around $250 to $500 per year to heat.
SOLAR HEATER SIZING
In general a system needs to be equal to 50 to 100% of the swimming pools surface.
Standard Solar Pool Panel Sizes
4'x8'
4'x10'
4'x12'
Solar Pool Panels tend to be placed in a panel array row on one or several roofs.
HEAT PUMP HEATER SIZING
Swimming pool Heat Pump sizes are rated by horsepower (hp) and Btu output.
Standard Sizes
3.5 hp @ 75,000 BTU
5 hp @ 100,000 BTU
6 hp @ 125,000 BTU.
Heat pumps are normally located next to the pool pump and filter on a concrete slab.
LONGEVITY & MAINTENANCE
Solar pool heaters typically last longer than gas and electric pool heaters. Traditional heaters can usually last seven to ten years. They require service by a technician every year and most only come with a two-year factory warranty. A solar pool heater on the other hand has a 10-year factory warranty, requires little to no maintenance, and typically lasts 15 to 20 years!
LONGEVITY & MAINTENANCE
Heat Pumps tend to last between 5 and 10 years, sometime longer, depending on the quality of the unit. Since heat pumps are a mechanical and have moving and electrical parts, they periodically require service by a Air Conditioning technician.
Heat Pump warranties can range from 1 to 10 years on parts and or labor.