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I’ve seen homeowners do some pretty crazy stuff with their pool plumbing, but one thing that is quite common is finding valves arranged to slow down the water flow through a solar pool heater. The rationale given by people is that they want the water in the solar pool heating panel to heat up more before it gets returned to the pool. It sounds like a reasonable idea, but unfortunately it’s not the right way to maximize the performance of a solar pool heater! Sure, it’s nice to stand by the return jets in your pool and feel that warm water coming off your roof,Read 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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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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I was at a home last week on a sales call for a solar photovoltaic (electric) system. Whenever I am at someone’s home, I look around at the appliances, lighting, and construction of the home. I ask myself, “is this home efficient?” If not, I’m obligated to point out that making a home more efficient can often be more cost effective than installing solar panels. Homeowners look at me quizzically, because after all, I am there to sell solar panels, right?! This particular homeowner had a 2 HP single speed swimming pool pump. The pool and pump were under one year old. I had toRead 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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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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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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If you have a solar pool heating system, your dealer may mention the manifold. This is just a set of valves that control the flow of water in your solar pool heating system. The function of the solar pool heat manifold is to turn you solar on or off by bypassing the solar panels when necessary. Your manifold may or may not include isolation valves to isolate the solar panels in the event that the system must be serviced. Let’s take a look at an example manifold. The one pictured below includes two high quality Jandy brand isolation valves, a Jandy brand bypass valve, andRead More →

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One great feature of the Pentair Intelliflo Variable Speed Pump is the self-priming option. The pump is sent from the factory with this option on. However, because the pump runs at maximum power at start up, it is very loud and some people are bothered by it. If your pump is located outside a bedroom or office, you may be annoyed by the sound when the pump starts. My pump never loses prime, so I am not concerned with the priming feature. When I clean my filter basket I may need to prime the pump again, but that is easy to accomplish by selecting oneRead More →