Rooftop Solar Pool Heater

I made a solar water heater that heats the pool during the day. It pumps the water up to the roof, runs it through some black plastic tubing and back down into the pool. An automatic timer turns it on and off every day, so it only pumps the water when the sun is out.

It's also worth mounting the panels in such a way so that they won't blow off of your roof. Take the time to properly secure your panels!

For more information you can read my blog: http://www.danielbusby.com/sustainabi...
http://www.danielbusby.com/sustainabi...

Here's a link to the Lily Pad Pool Warmer video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HGdxvD...

Also, here's how a friend made his own pool heater with black tube from Home Depot: http://whereisholden.blogspot.com/201...

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  Howto & Style

[SCJMO]

Couldn't you have just used the pressure from the pools pump instead of running those little pumps.

[Daniel Busby]

You sure could, but that means that the main pool pump would have to be on when it's sunny. Pool pumps can be power hogs and our day rate for electricity was pretty high. It was more economical to only use the little pumps during the day, and let the filtration happen at night when the price/kWh plummeted.

[gtownb]

You should consider better separation between the intake and outtake. You're just sucking back in the heated water.

[Daniel Busby]

In general you're correct. I was also afraid of that being an issue. But, it seems the heated water dissipates over a very short distance in the pool. The water temp near the inlet of the water pump is less than a degree warmer than the rest of the pool, so it doesn't seem to be a big issue, as far as efficiency.

[cubbiotti1980]

I did same thing but I used 1500 feet of black plastic garden pipe from home depot cost about 90$ total. I have an above ground pool 10x20 and in 2 days got pool to 90. Also I live in Oregon with little Sun.

[Daniel Busby]

Awesome! My friend made a similar black tube pipe heater, and it worked great as well. I should've linked to his posts. I'll change the description to add it!