Using solar pool rings is a cheaper alternative to heating your pool and reducing energy loss caused by evaporation. Solar pool rings are light and clear inflatable disks that are placed on the pool as a cover. Basically, they work like solar pool covers, but they can be disassembled for easier usage and storage. Solar pool rings, in fact, are known to be more effective than bubble pool blankets.

Solar rings are just as effective as solar pool covers. A single ring can save up to 21,000 BTU of heat on a daily basis. Some brands offers rings that have magnetized edges that allow them to connect to one another; this also means they are easy to disassemble and remove. Unlike solar pool covers, solar rings do not require the setup of complicated mechanisms such as a reel system.

If you have recently gotten yourself a set of solar pool rings, the first thing you have to do is to unpack them and lay them out under the sun for around half an hour. Solar rings are often packed tight in boxes, so when you first unpack them, they will be pressed tight and may have lines.

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Shop for Deals on Solar Sun Rings

How to Make Solar Pool Rings

Then take the outer ring and start inflating. You don’t have to fully inflate them; just put in enough air to hold the shape of the ring. Around four or five breaths would be enough. Once you’re done with the outer ring, move on to the inner rings, but lightly than the outer rings. Some users also inflate the outer ring fully, then keep the inner rings very lightly inflated. Two breaths will do.

To ensure the effectiveness of the solar rings, make sure that the air is evenly distributed inside them. Once you’re done inflating the rings, scrunch them together tightly to even out the air distribution within. Examine the rings after doing so. You can let out some air through the deflation tube if there is excess air inside the ring. After that, your rings are now ready for action.

Solar rings are easier to use because you can just place them onto the water. The blue sides should be placed facing down when heating the pool. If you want to cool up the water a bit, just turn the rings over. While floating around, the rings will attach together on their own due to the magnet in the edges. Leave the rings for a couple of days to allow them to settle; just make sure to check on them every once in a while. If you see any problems, such as when the rings are not lying flat, take the rings and scrunch them together. This usually happens when the air inside is not evenly distributed.

The number of solar sun rings you need will depend on the size of your pool. Most solar pool rings are around 59 inches in diameter. Buy enough rings to cover around 80% of your pool for best results.

Solar pool rings are also easier to store than solar pool covers. When you place them on top of one another, they take up less space, and some brands even have eyelets so you can hang them up. Hanging them is a more preferable way to store them but make sure not to put them in the range of direct sunlight because they will continue to generate heat and will be prone to overheating.

From time to time, wash the solar rings with mild soap to keep it clean. Just make sure to avoid grazing them against abrasive surfaces, and do not walk on the rings. If you take care of your solar pool rings properly, they can last for around 5 years.

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Shop for Deals on Solar Sun Rings

Like the SmartPool SunHeater in-ground solar pool heater, the SunHeater above-ground solar heater is a panel-based solar heater system designed to raise the water temperature of your outdoor pool by up to ten degrees. Just as with other solar pool heaters, the SunHeater above-ground solar heater is a relatively inexpensive way to increase the length of your swimming season, and to warm the water in unseasonably cool weather.

The SunHeater above-ground solar pool heater uses a series of tubes and solar panels, connected to your existing pool pump, to warm the pool water using the power of the sun. The water is pumped into a series of tubes warmed by “solar panels”, then pumped back into the pool. These are not true solar panels in that they are not solar photovoltaic panels; rather, as most solar pool heaters do, they use carbon black to absorb the sunlight. In this sense, the solar panels used both by SunHeater and other solar pool heaters could be considered more of a passive solar system.

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Installation and Specifications

Both the SunHeater in-ground and above-ground solar pool heaters are designed to by DIY installation, but user reviews state that the installation is trickier than it first appears. Once the system is installed, however, most customers are generally happy with the value the solar pool heater provides. To heat a pool of up to 40 square feet, most SunHeater above-ground solar heaters cost around $110, depending upon the retailer.

To heat pools from 40 to 80 square feet, expect to pay closer to $200 or even as high as $250. The solar heater quickly pays for itself; solar pool heaters cost an average of $30 – $75 per month, depending upon the size of the pool. Traditional pool heaters cost more than double that because of the cost of powering the heat pump or paying for natural gas or propane.

The solar panels themselves take up a fair bit of room. These can be installed on your roof, or on your pool house roof. Some users install the panels right on the ground near the pool, but other users complain that this method tends to burn their lawn. One clever user had a fence with southern exposure, and hung the solar panels from the fence.

The Bottom Line

Like the SunHeater for in-ground pools, many users complain of cheap tubing and panels that tend to degrade over time. The other problem of all solar panel-based solar heaters is the sheer amount of space that the panels take up, and the rather unaesthetic look this leaves the owner with. Besides these two complaints, though, the SunHeater is generally appreciated by most customers.

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Shop for Deals on SmartPool SunHeater for Above Ground Pools

In business continuously since 1969, FAFCO Solar Water Heating has been making solar heating systems for pools longer than anyone else in the United States. As such, it should come as no surprise that the FAFCO solar heaters for in-ground and above-ground pools are of excellent quality.

For above-ground pools, FAFCO’s product is called the Solar Bear system. There are three levels to the Solar Bear system: Solar Bear Plus System, Solar Bear Economy System, and the Solar Bear “Jr.” Disc. According to FAFCO, all the Solar Bear systems can be installed by the user in 30 minutes or less.

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Solar Bear Plus System

Designed to raise the temperature of an 18′ to 24′ round pool by about 10 degrees Fahrenheit, the Solar Bear Plus System comes with a 4′ x 20′ pre-plumbed panel, two 6′ flexible hoses, and an installation tool. If your pool is larger than 24′ in any direction, you will need more than one Solar Bear panel to heat the pool; contact the manufacturer or a pool equipment retailer to help you size your system.

Unlike some other solar heating systems, the Solar Bear systems include a bypass valve that allows you to turn off the system when the pool reaches its desired level of heat. With other products, such as the EZ Heat Basic solar pool heater, the system always runs as long as the pool pump runs – there is no way to turn off the system without turning off the pump.

The Solar Bear Plus also uses a FlexFlo Valve that automatically determines the water flow, allowing the maximum sunlight exposure.

Solar Bear Economy

The Solar Bear Economy system is exactly what it sounds like: a less expensive, less extensive version of their standard Solar Bear panels. It still has the manual bypass allowing the system to be turned on and off, but the hoses and clamps are sold separately by the retailer. The economy version also lacks the FlexFlo Valve, meaning that your pool will take longer to heat with this model.

Solar Bear “Jr.” Disc

The Solar Bear “Jr.” is a small system designed for smaller pools. It will not be able to heat a pool in the 18′ range and over, but is a great option for someone with a small above-ground pool who doesn’t have space for large solar panels.

All three of these systems are backed by a ten year warranty, but in the case of the economy version, this is a pro-rated warranty – be sure to read the fine print.

The Bottom Line

FAFCO makes good products. Even though the Solar Bear systems are a little more expensive than their competitors’ products (the Solar Bear Plus starts at around $250), the extra money provides you with extra peace of mind and the value you can expect from an industry leader.

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As one of the products manufactured by FAFCO, the nation’s oldest manufacturer of solar heat collectors, the SunGrabber system comes with a credible background. Unlike other solar pool heaters in its class, which promise to raise pool temperatures up to 10 degrees Fahrenheit, the SunGrabber system claims that it will raise water temperature by at least 10 degrees Fahrenheit.

A SunGrabber system can significantly reduce the costs associated with heating your pool, reducing fossil fuel usage by as much as 50%. This is a pretty good bargain, when you consider the total system costs only about $150. While this is more expensive than some products, it’s still less expensive than others.

However, at this low price, don’t expect the SunGrabber to be able to heat a pool more than 16′ round pool. For owners of small pools, this is a great product. For owners of larger pools, you should consult the SunGrabber sizing chart on their website before making a purchase, or consider a different solar pool heating system.

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Economy and Deluxe Versions

Not unlike the SunHeater and EZ Heat systems, the SunGrabber uses “solar panels” to collect heat from the sun, using your pool’s water pump to pump cold water into the system and warm water back into the pool.

The economy system has a 2′ x 20′ solar collector designed for above-ground pools looking for a little bit of extra heat and extended swimming season. The deluxe system includes two or more of these 2′ x 20′ collectors. In both cases, a diverter valve is not included – these must be purchased separately, meaning that the system runs whenever the pool pump operates.

The Bottom Line

There’s nothing unique or special about the SunGrabber solar heater system – it operates in virtually the exact same way as SunHeater, EZ Heat, and other systems of comparable price and results. It provides a good service for a good price, and comes with the FAFCO name attached, a respected industry leader in solar water heating and solar pool heating.

Like other solar pool heaters, SunGrabber will definitely be a less expensive way to extend your pool’s swimming season than an electric-powered or gas-powered pool heating system. Typically, the cost of a solar pool heating system is only the cost of the pool pump itself, which hovers between $30 and $75 per month to run. However, the SunGrabber is not particularly better than other products: generally it is no better and no worse than similar products in its class.

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Like SunHeater, EZ Heat, and AquaQuik, Peter Palm’s solar pool heater is a DIY solar pool heater designed to raise your pool’s temperature by around 10 to 15 degrees Fahrenheit in three days or less. With a promise of raising the temperature in three days, it is a little faster than other DIY products on the market, which tend to take closer to 7 – 10 days to heat the pool.

Peter Palm’s solar heater technology is not unique. It uses your existing pool pump to pump cold water into black, rubbery solar collector panels. The sun heats the water in the tubes, then the pump returns the water into the pool. During the fall and winter months, the solar collectors can be rolled up and stored until the swimming season begins again.

Technical Details

The Peter Palm’s solar heating system is sold by the kit. Each kit includes two 2′ x 20′ solar panel collectors. When two or more kits are purchased, Peter Palm’s includes a connector kit to link the units together. The entire kit weighs only fifteen pounds. The basic above-ground kit, complete with by-pass valve, mounting hardware, and two 6′ hoses and clamps, costs around $250.

The comparable in-ground kit is closer to $360. These price tags are a little bit more expensive than similar solar heater products that do essentially the same job, but they are still well within reason.

Heating even a relatively small, 15,000 gallon in-ground pool will require at least two collectors. Large pools will require as many as four collectors. For above-ground pools, you can use just one collector for a pool that’s up to 24′ round.

The Bottom Line

Peter Palm’s solar pool heater is not remarkable: it definitely does the job, but is not particularly superior to any other system. If anything, Peter Palm’s is a little more expensive than most other DIY solar pool heaters. Although Peter Palm’s works faster and raises the temperature a tiny bit higher than other systems, it’s up to you to determine if the higher price tag on Peter Palm’s is really worth it.

SunDance Energy Services, Inc., has been in business for over twenty-five years installing a variety of energy-efficient gas and solar products. A Washington state vendor, SunDance serves king, Snohomish, and Skagit Counties. The solar pool heater SunDance installs for its customers is the Heliocol, which operates in basically the same way as other solar pool heaters. In other words, the Helicol uses the existing pool pump to pump cold pool water through a series of sun collectors, then passes the warmed water back into the pool.

Reliability and Aesthetics of the Heliocol

Backed by a ten year warranty, the Heliocol uses an over-molded tube design to eliminate welds and allow the solar collectors to easily expand and contract. The panels are also resistant to pool chemicals, preventing corrosion of the tubes, as well as extreme hot or cold temperatures.

Many consumers also appreciate the way the Heliocol looks. Unlike unsightly competitors’ panels, the Heliocol has no visible mounting hardware, no gaps between the collectors, no hoses, and no hose clamps.

Reliability from Both Heliocol and SunDance

The Heliocol is backed by a 10 year manufacturer’s warranty, with around-the-clock labor and service provided by SunDance. As a certified dealer of Heliocol solar pool heaters, SunDance installers and technicians have the training and experience to handle almost anything that goes wrong with the Heliocol – that is, if anything ever happens to the Heliocol. Some Heliocol customers testify that the system has been running flawlessly for them for over ten years without any service required.

Heliocol doesn’t only work in residential applications. One of its more famous commercial customers is the Venetian Hotel in Las Vegas. A huge Heliocol system covers the roof of the Venetian, keeping everything from the pools to the domestic hot water and spas hot. Even in January, the Heliocol was able to provide the Venetian with most of its hot water needs. Imagine the savings when a hotel the size of the Venetian doesn’t need to pay for hot water!

The Bottom Line

For residents of the counties in Washington state mentioned above, SunDance is a reliable vendor that installs and maintains a reliable product. Both SunDance and Heliocol have years of experience in solar pool heaters, and this experience definitely benefits their customers.

Although hiring SunDance to install a more expensive system like the Heliocol will cost customers more than a cheap, DIY system like SunHeater, the investment will pay for itself within a few years. Customers shouldn’t expect to have to replace or repair their Heliocol system for many years, and neither will they be disappointed with the performance of the Heliocol. In sum, SunDance and Heliocol are recommended brands for Washington residents.

FAFCO is the oldest manufacturer of solar heating products in the United States. Established in 1969, FAFCO has been making solar pool heaters for longer than any other solar pool heater company, meaning that their products are some of the best on the market.

For in-ground pool heating, FAFCO offers three unique products: SunSaver, Revolution, and SunSaver ST.

SunSaver System

The SunSaver solar pool heater system is similar to other systems in that it uses carbon black technology to absorb the sunlight. Using your pool’s existing pump, cold water is pumped through tubes that are heated by the sun, then returned into your pool. Unlike its competitors, however, the SunSaver “solar panel” has almost twice as many of these tubes, allowing it to heat more water, faster. Also unlike its competitors (most notably SunHeater), the SunSaver panels are made from UV resistant polyolefin, making them far more durable than those of other companies.

As if the higher-quality materials weren’t enough, FAFCO also backs SunSaver with a 12-year warranty. Expect SunSaver to increase the heat in your in-ground pool by at least 10 degrees Fahrenheit.

Revolution System

The Florida Solar Energy Center has given FAFCO’s Revolution Solar Panel the highest thermal performance rating in the industry. Like the SunSaver, Revolution accomplishes more heat by using more tubes, made from their UV-resistant polyolefin.

Manufactured in Chico, CA, the Revolution uses a circular channel design with dimpled tubes. The dimples force the water to flow in a spiral fashion, thus exposing every water molecule to the warmth of the sun. Besides heating pools, FAFCO is experimenting with other applications for the Revolution, including agriculture and heat pumps.

SunSaver ST System

The new SunSaver ST is something of a blend between the Revolution and the original SunSaver. Using parallel, circular channels, the SunSaver ST is unique amongst solar pool heaters because its tubes are actually separated instead of all together. This design allows for a greater portion of the tube to absorb sunlight. Like the other FAFCO products, the SunSaver ST is made with UV-resistant polyolefin.

The Bottom Line

FAFCO is in the solar heat industry to stay. With years more experience than other manufacturers, their products have withstood the test of time. All three solar pool heater systems mentioned above provide good value for in-ground pools and produce the 10 degree or higher temperature raise that customers expect.

Enersol solar pool heaters are not remarkably different than other products on the market. Like other products, they use a “solar panel” of tubing that utilizes the existing pool pump to pump cold water into the device and warmer water back into the pool.

Enersol’s claim, however, is that they are different from their competitors because of their Solarprene synthetic rubber they use in the manufacturing of their product. To prove that they expect their product to last you at least twenty years, they back their product with an 18-year warranty. Without a doubt, this is the longest warranty offered by any company in the solar pool heater industry.

Slip and Clip Modular Design

Understanding that different pool sizes will require a different number of panels, Enersol has designed a “slip and clip” modular design that allows for easy custom sizing. They also claim that the slip and clip method reduces any damage that might be incurred from attaching the panels to the roof, and, compared to other systems, resists wind lift. The slip and clip design allows users to lay the panels out around roof features, such as vents and fans.

Sizing an Enersol System

One Enersol panel is either 4′ x 8′ or 4′ x 10′. As an example, a 12′ x 24′ in-ground pool, you can expect to need at least 5 – 7 of the 4′ x 8′ panels, or at least 4 – 6 of the 4′ x 10′ panels. Above-ground pools generally require fewer Enersol kits; a 15′ round pool requires 2 – 4 of the 4′ x 8′ panels or 2 – 3 of the 4′ x 10′ panels. From the sizing guide on their website, it appears that in most cases the 4′ x 8′ panels are more cost-effective for smaller pools.

The Bottom Line

A Canadian company that’s been around for more than thirty years, Enersol is a good company that designs solid solar pool heaters. There is nothing remarkably special about their design, so you can expect about the same performance from an Enersol system as from other solar pool heaters.

The slip and clip method, however, definitely does make it easier to install your solar panels on your roof, deck, or lawn. Additionally, the 18 year warranty is definitely a cause for confidence, given that most other companies will only offer a 5 – 10 year warranty.

Overall, Enersol solar pool heaters provide good value and will definitely save thousands of dollars in the long run compared to a heat pump or gas-powered pool heater.

Vortex solar pool heaters use flat solar collectors and your existing pool pump to send cold pool water into the collectors, warm the water, then pump this warmed water back into the pool. This solar pool heater technology is not unique to Vortex but is the way that most solar pool heaters operate.

Vortex panels, however, are 25 – 40% heavier than the industry average, making them more durable and giving them a longer life expectancy. Furthermore, Vortex panels use a unique elliptical tube design that allows for a high flow rate but maintains low pressure. The panels use carbon black to increase sun absorption, plus a UV-resistant coating to prevent them from cracking and leaking over time.

More Efficient than Competitors

The solar collectors designed by Vortex are approximately 5 – 10% more efficient than many of its competitors, such as EZ Heat. EZ Heat is definitely “EZ” and inexpensive, but Vortex increases pool temperature by up to 20%, whereas an EZ Heat mat collector increases pool temperature only by 10%, at maximum.

As a result, while most solar pool heaters can only raise pool temperatures by 10 degrees Fahrenheit, Vortex systems can raise the temperature up to 20 degrees.

Vortex Options

The Vortex systems come with three options: the Vortex Standard, the Vortex Deluxe, or the Vortex Premium.

The Vortex Standard is meant only to replace existing solar panels for in-ground or above-ground pools. The Standard does not include a complete kit for a new solar panel system. These kits will cost you about $400, come with an installation guide, and work with an in-ground or above-ground pool.

The Vortex Deluxe includes the Standard kit, along with a complete plumbing kit and a three-way manual control. The Vortex Deluxe is designed for new or existing pools that do not have an existing solar pool heater system. These kits start at around $575, and work with in-ground or above-ground pools.

The Vortex Premium includes everything in the Deluxe kit, but also includes a control unit that has two sensors and a three-way automatic control. The Premium control kit allows users maximum temperature control for their pool. These kits start at around $890, and work with in-ground or above-ground pools.

The Bottom Line

Compared to EZ Heat, SunHeater, AquaQuik, and other popular solar pool heater brands, the Vortex is definitely far more expensive. However, the Vortex also provides double the increase in temperature over these other brands, and is built to last.

If you want to seriously extend your pool’s swimming season, or if you live in a cold climate, and you’re willing to make a higher up-front investment, a Vortex solar pool heater might be the right solar pool heater for you.

There are three levels of EZ Heat Solar Pool Heaters: Basic, Standard, and Deluxe.

The EZ Heat Basic is one of the least expensive solar pool heaters on the market. Using a carbon black-based solar “panel”, the system unrolls right onto your lawn or roof beside your pool. During the winter months when you close your pool, you can roll the system back up and store it until summer. Unfortunately, the only way to stop the EZ Heat Basic is to shut the pool pump off; there is no way to turn the system off without also shutting off the pump.

The EZ Heat Standard is similar to the Basic model but includes a control valve that can shut off the solar system when the pool has reached the desired temperature.

The EZ Heat Deluxe doesn’t seem to add much more value than the Standard model; the only noticeably different feature is the optional automatic electric control. Other than this optional control, which doesn’t come standard with the Deluxe model but can be installed later, there doesn’t seem to be much difference between the EZ Heat Standard and the EZ Heat Deluxe.

Like the majority of solar pool heaters, EZ Heat claims that your pool temperature should increase 5 – 10 degrees, thus extending your swimming season without costing what an electric heat pump or gas heater would cost.

Pros and Cons

EZ Heat does not offer any particularly unique features not offered by other systems, such as SmartPool’s SunHeater. Therefore, like other systems of a similar ilk, EZ Heat has comparable drawbacks. For example, the solar panels take up a good deal of space, and when placed on the lawn next to the pool, the heater can burn the grass, an unsightly side-effect. Furthermore, the rubber tends to crack and leak with time, but this is true for all panel-based solar heaters.

One unique disadvantage of EZ Heat is that it is hard to find. A quick search on Walmart.com and Amazon.com failed to turn up any results for the EZ Heat system. Just because these websites do not carry EZ Heat does not mean it’s a bad product, but when a product is hard to find, that usually means replacement parts and good customer service are also hard to find.

The advantage to the EZ Heat system is that it does what its name says it does: it is “EZ” to install and maintain, and it does function to raise the overall pool temperature 5 – 10 degrees Fahrenheit.