Solar pool heater. Should I cover?

Users who are viewing this thread

hj

Master Plumber
Messages
33,600
Reaction score
1,037
Points
113
Location
Cave Creek, Arizona
Website
www.terrylove.com
You get the same BTUs regardless of the speed of the water through it. It will just not seem as hot to the touch. A black hose lying on the ground is a poor heat collector, for one thing its surface area to volume ratio is ineffecient. Small tubes with small volume but relatively large areas heat better, which is why commercial heaters use numdreds of short 3/8" tubes between large manifolds. A radiator works because it has "fins" attached to the water channels, but ONE radiator will be ineffective because the pool will radiate more heat away than it can deliver to the pool.
 

hj

Master Plumber
Messages
33,600
Reaction score
1,037
Points
113
Location
Cave Creek, Arizona
Website
www.terrylove.com
The way to get the maximum temperature out of a solar heater is to have MANY small lines having a large surface area compared to the volume of water inside the tube. That is why solar heaters typically use hundreds of short 3/8" o.d tubes connected between larger manifolds.
 

hj

Master Plumber
Messages
33,600
Reaction score
1,037
Points
113
Location
Cave Creek, Arizona
Website
www.terrylove.com
The way to get the maximum temperature out of a solar heater is to have MANY small lines having a large surface area compared to the volume of water inside the tube. That is why solar heaters typically use hundreds of short 3/8" o.d tubes connected between larger manifolds.
 
Top
Hey, wait a minute.

This is awkward, but...

It looks like you're using an ad blocker. We get it, but (1) terrylove.com can't live without ads, and (2) ad blockers can cause issues with videos and comments. If you'd like to support the site, please allow ads.

If any particular ad is your REASON for blocking ads, please let us know. We might be able to do something about it. Thanks.
I've Disabled AdBlock    No Thanks