Affordable DIY Solar Pool Heating

Affordable DIY Solar Pool Heating

Solar pool heating is the perfect DIY home project, something that nearly anyone can accomplish with simple tools. And you can feel good about solar pool heating, as it appeals both to your altruistic side and also to your economical side. Solar pool heaters can add 15°F (or more) to the pool, depending mainly on sun exposure and solar panel size, or square footage.

How Do Solar Pool Heaters Work?

Installation involves unrolling the solar panels and securing them to a flat surface, facing southerly with 4–8 hours of uninterrupted daily sun. Then you run the pool return pipe (or hose) in and out of the solar panels, and use a 3-way valve to control the flow.

Solar panels are modular, connecting to each other easily. Water moves from panel to panel, soaking up the heat. At the last panel, a pipe carries the heated water back to the return line, after the 3-way valve. A check valve is used to prevent cycling or looping of water.

DIY Solar Pool Heating Panel Projects

Here are 4 DIY solar pool heater projects, along with estimated costs for solar panels, lumber and plumbing supplies.

Lean-To Solar Panel Rack

In this simple solar rack, you use an existing fence or structure to support the rack, which saves space and cost. This solar pool heater uses two 4’x20′ solar panels, or 160 sq. ft. of solar surface area; a good size for pools up to 12,000 gallons.

lean-to solar pool heating rack

Materials:

  • 2 – 4’x20′ Solar Panels with Connector Kit     $681
  • 85′ board feet of 2’x4′ lumber, and Screws     $ 45
  • 50′ 1.5″ PVC pipe, 3-way Valve, and Fittings  $ 95

Total: $821


Rooftop Solar Rack

A fortunate garage roof next to the pool equipment, this solar pool heater is using five 4’x10′ solar panels, or 200 sq. ft. of solar surface area; a good size for pools up to 15,000 gallons. Panels can be installed 2 or even 3 stories high.

rooftop solar pool heating

Materials:

  • 5 – 4’x10′ Solar Panels with Connector Kit     $1161
  • 50′ 1.5″ PVC pipe, 3-way Valve, and Fittings  $  95

Total: $1256


Freestanding Solar Rack

This platform rack is made entirely of 2×4’s, plywood and lattice, and also makes a nice storage area for lawn care equipment and supply. This solar pool heater is using four 4’x20′ solar panels, or 320 sq. ft. of solar surface area; a good size for pools up to 25,000 gallons. 

Materials:

  • 4 – 4’x20′ Solar Panels with Connector Kit: $1301
  • 155′ board feet of 2’x4′ lumber, and screws: $95
  • 10 – 4×8 Pine Plywood & 2 – 4×8 lattice: $181
  • 50′ 1.5″ PVC pipe, 3-way valve, and fittings: $95

Total: $1676


Pergola Solar Rack

Doubling as a shade relief area, this simple pergola design is using six 4’x10′ solar panels, or 240 sq. ft. of solar surface area; a good size for pools up to 18,000 gallons. If this pergola was 12′ x 20′ (instead of 10′ x 25′), it could use three 4’x20′ panels, for a $400 savings, with the same solar area (240 sf).

Materials:

  • 6 – 4’x10′ Solar Panels with Connector Kit: $1376
  • 170′ board feet of 6’x6′ lumber, and Bolts: $622
  • 39 – 2×3 Pressure Treated Pine, and Screws: $133
  • 50′ 1.5″ PVC pipe, 3-way Valve, and Fittings: $95

Total: $2226


DIY solar pool heating methods that actually heat the pool! Free heat from the sun with no carbon footprint. With a 5-year warranty, our Smartpool Solar Heaters are the smart way to heat the pool!

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9 thoughts on “Affordable DIY Solar Pool Heating

  1. Christopher Dalton

    Your diagram plumbs the solar collectors after the heater. Is there a strong argument for doing it in that order? I would have thought to go through the collectors BEFORE the heater, that way the heater knows how hot the water is getting from solar heating, and only supplements more heat if needed.

    • Hi Christopher, The water coming out of the solar heater will be very warm, 90-95 degrees or so, which would make the heater thermostat think that the pool water also had that temperature. The solar controller however, has a water temp sensor that can be placed before the heater, so that it will be sensing ‘pool water temp’, and not the temp of the water as it exits the gas heater. However, if you are using a pool controller, it would not matter, for the same reason.

      • If it goes to the gas heater first, the temperature difference will be greatest which is the most efficient for the heater. OTOH, the heated water may lose heat on its way to the panels. So any pipe distance is a factor. Mine are 60 feet away from the roof.

  2. How to Implement Solar Heating () - Pinnacle Pools & Spas

    […] for over 20 years. If you have chosen to DIY your own solar heating system, according to this blog it can cost you as little as $$821! The $821 example is a solar pool heater is using two 4’ x […]

  3. David W Coleman

    The most convenient location for a pool heater is the hillside astride the pool.Are there any special plumbing required when the panels are mostly below the top of the pool and pool equipment. I can’t seem to find information about that on the web. Many thanks.

    • Davy Merino

      Hi, it’s true that solar panels are normally placed above the water level, on a platform or on a roof, but you can also place them below water level of the pool. No special plumbing required, with the exception of a way for the panels to drain down for winterizaton or for long periods of disuse, when algae or biofilm could form inside of the panels, which is also needed for panels installed above water level. This is easily accomplished by using an air valve in the upper left corner of the panel array, and a 3-way valve on the lower right corner (or vice-vesa), or a check valve. When the panels are not under pressure, the air valve will draw air in, and allow the panels to drain down. Panels are also usually slightly tilted, toward the lower drain down point, to help the panels drain completely and automatically.

  4. Jack Noah

    does the instructions include the plans to build the wooden frame? is the instruction manual available for download? i would need a system with 2 – 4 foot solar panels. a manual would tell me if i would be able to actually put this system together myself.

    • Hi Jack, the instructions do not cover a wooden solar rack, but I do see some websites online with instructions (search how to build a solar pool heater rack). Not too complicated, especially for 2 – 4 ft panels (maybe you mean 2 – 10 ft panels?), which would be small and manageable, even movable. Connecting the solar panels together and connecting it to your pool return line is easy-peezy, and instructions are included for that – https://www.intheswim.com/images/PDFs/Solar_Panel_Heater_Owners_Manual.pdf

  5. […] smoothly for 10–20 years! If you have chosen to DIY your own solar heating system, according to this blog it can cost you as little as $$821! The $821 example is a solar pool heater is using two 4’ x […]

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