Pool Solar Panels
 

Anyone have experience with them? I need them. Florida area.

Been there, Done that
 

We bought our house in Jan 07 and the house had solar panels on it for the pool the first two years it worked great. Then they started to leak and a repair man came out (because they had a 10 year warranty on them and they were only 8 years old. The repair man told me the warranty was for the original owner only and the repair was $2000. needless to say, we let the sun heat our pool the old way now.

When they worked, the pump had to be running, normally we run the pump at night (which would no no good) and had to run it in the early morning for 4 hours. this jacked up our electric bill. When they did work, we could swim year round, but the air temp would not allow it. (by the way, with the panels turned up to high it could heat the pool to 95).

I say get them if you you get an iron clad warranty in writing for a guarantee. It really does to a great job of heating it up.

I don't know anything about Solar panals, but who would want their pool at 95 degrees?:eek: I thought the idea was, to cool off?:rolleyes:

Thanks for advice on warranty. I'm sure 95 isn't during October-November. I know July-Aug it's almost 90 without panels and I love it! I'll be looking at solar covers asap & probably make my own reel cause $250 for a plastic one is just crazy for a do it yourselfer like me. My flat 12x28 patio roof is screaming for panels of some type. Was told I'd get minimum 6 degree rise.

Earl the guy that resurfaced my pool told me I was making a mistake running it early morning and evening. He said run it hottest/sunny time of day (I do 1p-4:30p) to prevent alge..and he was right.

I wish a pool on everyone with MS.

One more thing
 

I forgot to say something important.

Check your roof for repair.

One thing that I have heard over and over again, when thinking of getting solar panels check your entire roof for repair, if you are within 5 years of getting a new roof, do that first as it would be very expensive to do it after. So, suddenly the new solar system could go up by 5K with a new roof also.

And by the way, I never turned the pool up to 95, I was saying that is how hot the panels COULD get the H2O temp. I swim at about 80-83.

6 panels 12 x 4 $3000 installed. 200k btu's if I run for 8 hrs. Pool heaters do that per hr. I said thanks and I'll let you know. Bought a solar cover today. I need a 2nd home in Australia.

Bought/Installed Solar Cover
 

All I can say is wow! Why didn't I ever experience one I mean why didn't a family member know! They're awesome. My pool's 85F! Yes I did 8 laps today and am estatic I can still go in!

BTW - I installed the solar cover AND Reel from my wheelchair. Woot!

Cover $100 local, Reel $160 online ($270 local!)