Residential solar panels are becoming increasingly common, especially among pool owners who are using passive solar heating systems to heat pool water, spa water and even to provide hot water inside the home for use in the shower and sinks.
How Solar Panels Work: Passive Solar Heating for Water
A pool that's not heated by solar power utilizes pumps and pool heaters that are powered by electricity; the need for electricity to heat the home's pool is eliminated or dramatically reduced (depending upon the specific solar panel system that's used) when a passive solar heating system is installed.
Residential solar paneling is typically installed on the roof of the home. The home solar panels will be positioned on the side of the home's roof that receives the most afternoon sun, allowing for maximum efficiency.
Piping is installed underneath the solar panels, and solar thermal collectors are run between the solar panels and the pipes; this transfers the heat collected by the solar panels to the pipes which will contain water.
The passive solar pool heating system is typically attached to the existing pool pump, which circulates water through the rooftop solar panel system.
Depending on the exact solar heating system that's installed, some solar panels will also supply the electricity to run the pool pump. And many home solar panel systems can be configured to heat the home spa, and provide warm water indoors for showers and the home's sinks.
Solar Heating Systems: Cost and Maintenance
Solar heating systems are not cheap. The average passive solar heating system will cost in excess of $10,000-$15,000; this includes the cost of solar panels and the home solar panel installation.
For the average home without a pool, the cost of a passive solar water heating system makes it an impractical option, even in the long term.
But residents with a pool and/or spa will find themselves in a different boat, as electric pool heating systems can cost hundreds — even thousands — of dollars each year to operate. This means that the investment in home solar panels will be recouped within a matter of a few years.
Solar panel maintenance is minimal, though repairs, when necessary, can be expensive. In many cases, a home's solar panel system will be covered by homeowner's insurance policies, which can pay to repair the solar panels if they sustain damage during a storm, hurricane or other weather event.
In sum, a passive solar water heating system can be a wise home investment for homeowners with a swimming pool and/or spa. Solar water heater panels will dramatically reduce or even eliminate pool heating costs year-round.
Related Reading on Home Money Saving Tips
Residents may also enjoy How to Save Money on Utility Bills for advice on how to save money on electric bills, water bills, and home heating costs.
Looking for more ways to save money? Check out How to Save Money on Groceries for some easy grocery shopping tips that will help reduce food bills.
Eco-friendly readers may also enjoy Going Green by Eliminating Paper Products.
Mia Carter - Mia Carter - Journalist, Producer/Editor & Web Writer. Carter's work has appeared on CBS and CNN.com.
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