Al Re... had solar hot water heater for 18 years when I lived in Florida...a system called SolarHart (I think). It was a passive system with 2 full panels and an 80 gallon tank on the roof sitting higher than the panels.
Good for you. However swimming pools have far different needs than a home. For one, you don't need a storage unit, to store energy, as the pool itself is the storage. Secondly, you don't need the high temps, approx. 72 degrees, as compared to 115, or better for a water heater, and even greater for home heat, depending upon your storage. Thirdly, if you don't have sun for several days, the pool just gets colder, but you can live comfortable otherwise. In homes, you need a backup system. Fourthly, dirt doesn't affect pool heater types as much as they affect solar. Dirt and grime are essentially dark colors, and if you have a collector without a glass panel; the type used for pools, dirt isn't as big of a deal. Fifthly, costs/ therm are far better for the low efficiency, high output systems. Pool heaters work well in Fl.; however here there still are far more gas heated systems. That could change however. |
