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We sprung forward last night for Daylight Saving Time, and naturally many people want to change the clocks on their Pentair SunTouch Solar Pool Heating Controllers. It’s actually quite simple, and I’ll show you how here. Here are the steps to change the time on your Pentair SunTouch for spring Daylight Saving Time: Press Menu 5 times Press the right arrow Press the up arrow Press the right arrow 2 times Press the left arrow to return to the main screen In the fall, do the same thing, except in step 3 you will press the down arrow. If you need to adjust the minutesRead More →

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The 2014 solar pool heating season is in full swing, and our team is working hard to meet an aggressive installation schedule. This is our busiest time of the year – the combination of a high seasonal population in Southwest Florida and cool pools with great outdoor weather makes for a lot of phone calls. If you want solar pool heating for the best part of the swimming season, NOW is the time to get on our schedule. One of the big innovations we have embraced in recent years is the availability of affordable variable speed pumps. These pumps are huge money savers, and workRead More →

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The Pentair QuickTouch II Remote allows remote control of a Pentair SunTouch, EasyTouch, or IntelliTouch Pool Automation system. We have installed lots of these convenient remotes with SunTouch Solar Pool Heating controllers. Pairing the Pentair QuickTouch II Remote With The Receiver is easy! Once in a while, the remote may lose connection with the receiver, which is located outside near your pool equipment. Opening the receiver requires a #2 Philips screwdriver. The screws are located on the bottom of the antenna housing. When sliding the cover off the receiver, be VERY CAREFUL that you do not break off the antenna, which is integrated with theRead More →

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With so many people in Southwest Florida preparing to head north for the summer, We are getting lots of calls from people with solar panels. How do you get your solar pool heater ready for summer? If you are not planning to use your solar pool heater in the summer, the most important thing you can do to protect your system is to drain and isolate it completely. Most of the systems installed by professionals have isolation valves that allow you to stop the flow of water into and out of the solar panels and roof plumbing. Just closing the 3-way solar bypass valve isRead More →

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Variable speed pool pumps are all the rage. Fantastic energy savings an whisper quiet operation are the two most cited reasons for interest in the product. Comparing variable speed pumps is important because there are a wide range of prices and installation service levels available. All will save you money, but the features and capabilities vary widely. Selecting the right pump for your pool is critical. While not a solar product, per se, variable speed pool pumps compliment solar pool heaters and become an integral part of a solar pool heating system. It’s critical to understand the comparisons to ensure a variable speed pump willRead More →

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With new building codes in effect in Florida, I’ve been asked quite a lot about variable speed vs. variable flow pumps, especially with solar pool heating systems. The answer turns out to be a bit complex. The simple answer is that a variable speed pump will give you better trouble-free performance while still resulting in significant energy savings. The whole story is more complex. At first glance, the features of a Variable Flow pump like the Pentair Intelliflo VF seem perfectly suited for a solar pool heating system. The pump would operate at a constant flow rate that is optimal for solar pool heating, adjustingRead More →

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The variable speed pump is a perfect match for solar pool heating systems, especially when an automatic controller is used. Without a controller the pump can be scheduled to run at optimum solar circulation speed when solar energy is most likely to be available. Adding a controller adds the capability of changing the pump speed based on the availability and demand for solar heating. With or without solar energy, the variable speed pump will pay for itself with energy savings. You can cut pumping costs up to 90% with this great technology while getting a far quieter and longer lasting pool pump.

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Pentair has released a new solar pool heating controller called the SolarTouch. This great controller fills a gap between a simple analog solar controller and the Pentair SunTouch pool automation system. A simple analog solar controller uses a dial and an on-off-auto switch to control the operation of a solar pool heating system. The SunTouch is a digital controller that has advance pool heating control for a pool/spa combination and with multiple heating sources (solar and auxiliary heater). It can also control additional relays for features and lighting and has an optional remote control. The SolarTouch does everything that the analog controller does except itRead More →

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Solar pool heaters work better with variable speed pumps because the optimum flow rate can be achieved to maximize solar performance. A single speed pump is typically fine to use with solar pool heating, but if you want maximum pool heating, a variable speed pump can both save you a tremendous amount of money and provide the proper flow rate. Most solar pool heating panel manufacturers recommend a flow rate of 4 gallons per minute per panel. If you have seven panels, you need a flow rate of 28 gallons per minute. Anything less and the efficiency drops off quite rapidly. Anything more and youRead More →

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As inefficient electric pool heat pumps and gas pool heaters are, they have their place in heating Southwest Florida pools. It’s no problem to have both solar pool heat and a heat pump or auxiliary gas heater. In fact, the whole system can be automated with fairly simple controls and automatic valves. Many thousands of heat pumps are installed in Florida, the result of aggressive advertising campaigns and irresponsible claims by manufacturers about how efficient heat pumps are. The fact of the matter is that heat pumps cost an arm-and-a-leg to operate. Heat pumps are important when the desired temperature is critical to attain andRead More →

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The best way to control a solar pool heat system is with an automatic controller. If you do not have one, you are missing out on great convenience, and not maximizing your solar pool heating investment. Most people who do not have a controller just leave their solar pool heating system all the time. That means any time the pump is running, water is flowing through the solar panels. Unfortunately, solar panels can also act like a radiator, giving pool heat back to the atmosphere. On very cloudy days or during rain, you may actually be cooling your pool if you solar pool heater isRead More →

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I finally got around to installing my Pentair SunTouch Solar Controller at my Fort Myers home. I don’t have solar pool heat (yet), so I have been procrastinating. Why install a SunTouch without a solar pool heating system? Because it does so much more than just control a solar valve! The SunTouch is made to work with an actuator to automatically turn solar pool heating on and off based on the desired temperature and the available heat on the roof. Here are several great reasons to install a SunTouch Controller: It’s a great compliment to my Pentair Variable Speed Pump (VS-3050). The SunTouch takes overRead More →