Solar Pool Heater Q & A for Residents of Sarasota, FL

If you own a pool in Sarasota, Florida, then having a solar pool heater installed is well worth your time looking into. The Florida Solar Energy Center, a research institute affiliated with the University of Central Florida, provides a wealth of information regarding solar pool heating technology and its many benefits. The FSEC has compiled a list of frequently asked questions that it has received over the years from swimming pool owners interested in “going solar.” Some of those questions and the FSEC’s answers to them are summarized and reproduced below: Q: How does a solar pool heater work? A: When enough sunlight is available, the pool water is pumped through a series of roof-mounted solar energy collectors, where it is heated to a more comfortable swimming temperature and then returned to the pool. Q: How expensive is it to heat a pool using a standard gas or electric heater? A: Heating an average-sized residential pool in Sarasota, FL, will likely cost about $1,500 a year when an electric heater is used. Heaters utilizing natural gas cost maybe one-third that much to run per year. Q: How much money can you save by having a solar pool heating system installed instead of a gas or electric system? A: Fully installed, a typical solar pool heating system will cost between $2,000 and $4,000. Following a payback period of one-and-a-half to seven years, you will enjoy naturally heated pool water for free. Factors affecting the length of your payback period include the cost of the system, the amount of sunlight your collectors receive, and building code requirements. For additional information, contact Florida Energy Water & Air, a solar pool heater installer serving Sarasota, FL,