solar bankets for swimming pools... or heater?

[Homerboy]

We have one of those $200ish temporary kids pools. About 13' in diameter, 40" deep or so.
Problem is keeping it warm enough in the sporadic Wisconsin summer for the kids to swim in (well they have have no real problem, but if I want to float around in it, forget it).

I was thinking of getting either A) a solar blanket for it or B) a small heater for it.

Do the solar blankets work very well? Do they even make a heater for such a pool? I've been unsuccessful as of yet finding one online.

 

[roguerower]

If you've got the room then set up some solar panels capable of heating water. Just put a bypass valve on it for the warm days. Initial investment is costly but won't be any monthly bills and I doubt you'll be using the pool on cloudy days.

EDIT: Just look up solar pool heaters.

 

[funkymatt]

bleh, get the bubble wrap solar blanket thing with a roller, we had on for our pool in VA- helped keep leaves and crap out too.

 

[SonnyDaze]

Just go to the automotive store and buy some trouble lights, plug them in, drop them in the pool and voila!! Warm water!

Disclaimer: I do not own a pool.

 

[Homerboy]

Originally posted by: roguerower
If you've got the room then set up some solar panels capable of heating water. Just put a bypass valve on it for the warm days. Initial investment is costly but won't be any monthly bills and I doubt you'll be using the pool on cloudy days.

EDIT: Just look up solar pool heaters.

Uhhh thats a little overboard for a temp pool like this isnt it?

 

[Homerboy]

Originally posted by: funkymatt
bleh, get the bubble wrap solar blanket thing with a roller, we had on for our pool in VA- helped keep leaves and crap out too.

Yeah I have a cover already with drawstring etc.

I think you guys are thinking this pool is something more than it really is:
http://www.walmart.com/catalog...do?product_id=10715078

The question stands, do the solar blankets do a good job of actually heating the pool 10 degrees or so?

 

[roguerower]

Originally posted by: Homerboy

Originally posted by: roguerower
If you've got the room then set up some solar panels capable of heating water. Just put a bypass valve on it for the warm days. Initial investment is costly but won't be any monthly bills and I doubt you'll be using the pool on cloudy days.

EDIT: Just look up solar pool heaters.

Uhhh thats a little overboard for a temp pool like this isnt it?

Maybe, but it'll be a tricked out temp pool. You could just mount them on your roof and use them for domestic hot water heating when the pool isn't being used. Only problem I see with that is getting residual crap from the pool water when you switch it over to domestic water...maybe an extra filter system?

 

[EagleKeeper]

the pool is not very well insulated - the heater would be a waste.

The solar blanket would be better - not extra costs

Or get some magnisium strips and drop them in.

 

[Barrak]

The solar cover will not really heat it up much faster (if at all ) than just straight sunlight. However it prevents alot of heat loss during cooler hours of the day. A pool that size can drop 10 degrees easy on a cool night, with the cover it will only drop 2 or 3. The only negative about it, you have to use it EVERY day, if you skip just one night you will be set back a week or two.

 

[Homerboy]

Originally posted by: Barrak
The solar cover will not really heat it up much faster (if at all ) than just straight sunlight. However it prevents alot of heat loss during cooler hours of the day. A pool that size can drop 10 degrees easy on a cool night, with the cover it will only drop 2 or 3. The only negative about it, you have to use it EVERY day, if you skip just one night you will be set back a week or two.

Yeah I know about the "use every day" side of it. I have to cover it every night anyways as we're surrounded by trees.

Common Courtesy had a good point on the uninsulated part of it.


Bah... maybe I'll just let the kids suffer >

 

[DrPizza]

We had a solar cover when I was growing up. It worked great in western NY summers. If you want, you could get one of those outdoor wood burners (for heating houses) and run the plumbing from that to the swimming pool. I know a guy who had his pool up for a couple of winters - kept the water at 50, but could crank the water up to 80's in just a little bit of time & go swimming on New Years when it's 10 degrees outside.

 

[bctbct]

That small of a pool will heat very quickly without the solar heater, save your money.

 

[Homerboy]

Originally posted by: bctbct
That small of a pool will heat very quickly without the solar heater, save your money.

no. no it doesn't

 

[Rebasxer]

I have a similar pool, except its the metal frame one not the inflatible one. It gets warm if you put like 13-14 people in it pretty quickly

 

[Minerva]

Save money, get thicker skin and jump in! The water's fine! I started surfing the outer banks in early May.

Mid Westerner's don't know what cold water is!

 

[Sea Moose]

Solar blankets suck.. Get yourself a heat pump and you can use the pool all year round and set the temperature you want

 

[DAGTA]

Solar cover is much cheaper than a heater and will work decently. I've used them in Indiana and Arizona. Saw a definite increase in temperatures at both sites.

 

[amdskip]

What about creating a maze of pvc pipes that are painted black and run all the water through this and use the sun to warm it up. Put a bypass on it if is too warm and you are good to go.

 

[Sea Moose]

Heat pump

 

[AnMig]

Also have a similar pool little bit smaller, it gets cold here in the noirthwoods and would also want a good cheap suggestion.

Dangerous things I have tried: floating heater coil element plugged in 220volts, man that looked dangerous and did not even work.


There are heating elements that you can buy to boil water in a bucket not sure if that would work with such a big pool, also does not seem safe.

 

[Sea Moose]

Originally posted by: AnMig
Also have a similar pool little bit smaller, it gets cold here in the noirthwoods and would also want a good cheap suggestion.

Dangerous things I have tried: floating heater coil element plugged in 220volts, man that looked dangerous and did not even work.


There are heating elements that you can buy to boil water in a bucket not sure if that would work with such a big pool, also does not seem safe.

This is not going to end well.

I award you the Darwinism Prize, while you are alive to read it.

 

[Homerboy]

Originally posted by: Minerva
Save money, get thicker skin and jump in! The water's fine! I started surfing the outer banks in early May.

Mid Westerner's don't know what cold water is!

yeah you're right... Lake Michigan is a balmy 78 degrees year around.

 

[SoulAssassin]

Drink a ton of water before you get in and heat it up yourself.

 

[John P]

Wasn't there a thread a few years back where somebody set one of these up on the bottom floor of their home? That would solve your problem.