Anybody heat a pool with a heat exchanger?

[rcamp]

Thinking about getting one that uses the ac unit for the heat. Looks to be just under 2k for what I would need. Anyone got an experience with one?


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[east or bust]

My uncle uses a solar heat exchanger on his roof. Kind of mounts up like a solar panel. It works very well.

Would not recommend if you live in the PNW.

eta it’s not a cheap one you’d find on amazon..

[Core Shot]

I has no pool heater.

When the ac is running, I don’t want pool heat.

It’s my first pool. But did a lot of googles.
Heaters are only good for shoulder seasons.
Gas is quick heat. But you can burn a few hundo for a weekend.
Heat pumps are better for all week long useage.

[XXX-er]

i've seen a roll of black pvc pipe lying uncoiled on top of the pump house but I duno how well it worked

[Name Redacted]

My uncle uses a solar heat exchanger on his roof. Kind of mounts up like a solar panel. It works very well.

Would not recommend if you live in the PNW.

eta it’s not a cheap one you’d find on amazon..

I met the inventor of this or something like this. He is my parents neighbor. Nice fella. It works, is pool is warm.

[teletech]

My fil had one of the rooftop one. He was terrified of heights. Worked okay the first year. Was kind of a pain in the ass to set up. He thought he blew the water out before winter, didn’t. I spent at least a day fixing leaks next spring. He probably bought the cheap one, not a fan. But I was just the free labor

[rcamp]

Good stuff, thanks for the info!

I’ve done the garden hose/irrigation tube in sun thing but no way it moves enough water to make much of a difference.


This is the one I’ve been looking at. We live in the northeast so the pool gets warm enough….but shit if we can keep it at 85 all summer I wouldn’t complain.

https://www.hotspotenergy.com/pool-h...-brochure3.pdf


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[::: :::]

85?

[m2711c]

outdoor bathtub...

[rcamp]

Yeah yeah I know…i know.


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[rcamp]

I like 78 -83. But the wife and kids run the ship!


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[m2711c]

don't fergit yer duck...

[m2711c]

you need it hot all the time, or just some of the time?

[zion zig zag]

85 isn’t that hot. Pools that are used for lap swimming are usually around 80. I’ve found that for our pool, 86-88 is the sweet spot. 90% of our pool use is for nighttime drinks and floating and it’s refreshing without feeling like you’re cold.


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[Core Shot]

Good stuff, thanks for the info!

I’ve done the garden hose/irrigation tube in sun thing but no way it moves enough water to make much of a difference.


This is the one I’ve been looking at. We live in the northeast so the pool gets warm enough….but shit if we can keep it at 85 all summer I wouldn’t complain.

https://www.hotspotenergy.com/pool-h...-brochure3.pdf


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Fair point. Why not capture the AC heat

But usually when I’m running AC I like a cooler pool.

We had a sauna when we moved in. If you sweat hot you enjoy a cool pool.
Sauna got deleted. But now we have a hot tub.
Same deal. Soak in the hot tub. Then the pool is refreshing

85 isn’t that hot. Pools that are used for lap swimming are usually around 80. I’ve found that for our pool, 86-88 is the sweet spot. 90% of our pool use is for nighttime drinks and floating and it’s refreshing without feeling like you’re cold.


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I hadn’t thought about after dark pool time.
That is a good reason.

But for op. If you want a warm pool, the money you spend on the ac heat exchanger could go towards a heat pump. Which Will actually be useful when your not running AC

[rcamp]

Fair point. Why not capture the AC heat

But usually when I’m running AC I like a cooler pool.

We had a sauna when we moved in. If you sweat hot you enjoy a cool pool.
Sauna got deleted. But now we have a hot tub.
Same deal. Soak in the hot tub. Then the pool is refreshing




I hadn’t thought about after dark pool time.
That is a good reason.

But for op. If you want a warm pool, the money you spend on the ac heat exchanger could go towards a heat pump. Which Will actually be useful when your not running AC

Yeah I agree about the heat pump. But think it’s substantially more in terms of cost. I like the heat exchanger as there are no moving parts or cost once you purchase it and would think it will last for many years. Just thinking out loud at this point. Probably wait until next season anyway.


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[Skistack]

We went with a gas heater, it was the best for infrequent use. If it was pool day, turn it on in morning and it could raise the temp 5 degrees by lunch. Heat pumps aren't as powerful, more of get the pool warm and keep it warm all summer approach. IDK, but I think a heat exhanger would add a couple degrees, but only when the AC is cranking hard.

[puhisurfer]

My last place had one fitted out. It was great - when the AC was on the pool could get as high as 90-95 degrees. Just what you want when it's 104 out.

[TWINS]

8 mill solar cover will give you a 12 degrees rise.
Stops evaporation too if you live in a drought area.
We have to take our cover off when it gets over 96 degrees. Too hot.

[zion zig zag]

8 mill solar cover will give you a 12 degrees rise.
Stops evaporation too if you live in a drought area.
We have to take our cover off when it gets over 96 degrees. Too hot.

Yeah the cover is key. We only use the heater to get up to temp at start up and then the cover holds it pretty well, unless it rains and the water sits on top, that sucks the heat out quickly. When it gets too hot, I’ll leave the cover off with the pump running overnight and it’ll dump a few degrees.

[TWINS]

Yeah the cover is key. We only use the heater to get up to temp at start up and then the cover holds it pretty well, unless it rains and the water sits on top, that sucks the heat out quickly. When it gets too hot, I’ll leave the cover off with the pump running overnight and it’ll dump a few degrees.

Yep.
Amazing how evaporation cools a pool down.
Pool was 99 degrees this morning with the cover on😂
Pulling the cover now to lower it.
After 10 years of owning our pool we like it at 91 degrees.

[nickwm21]

91… wtf…. How many days a week are the seniors coming over for water aerobics?


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[Not DJSapp]

Solar heating all relies on the sun you have. That said, I have 3 4'x12' panels on a 3 way valve with a temp controller that pulls up the temp 5* per day on my 15,000 gallon pool. DIY install if you're handy, not afraid to get on your roof, and know how to seal a roof penetration. I bought via internet from solardirect. These guys are legit, but their website is a bit clunky. Bought the panels in spring 2015 and they've held up well. I do have a minor leak I need to chase down, but I'm not sure if it is a panel or a connection.

https://shop.solardirect.com/index.php?cPath=21_34_38

We keep it around 80*, which mostly means extending shoulder seasons. Pool chemicals get weird around 85-88* and before I put in the automatic valve control it got up to 93 and it went all cloudy. And fuck you people like hot water. I know you're a bunch of old dentists, but those are some geriatric temps. I want to get into a pool and cool off, not simply be hot AND wet.

[TWINS]

91… wtf…. How many days a week are the seniors coming over for water aerobics?


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Well we are pretty old 🤔
Our backyard is all pavers and pool.
Paver temp yesterday was 139 degrees 😳
Fucking brick oven hot 🔥
And it's not even the hottest month yet 😂

[Not DJSapp]

Yep.
Amazing how evaporation cools a pool down.
Pool was 99 degrees this morning with the cover on
Pulling the cover now to lower it.
After 10 years of owning our pool we like it at 91 degrees.

FWIW pool solar panels can also be run at night for cooling purposes without evaporation. But then you have to listen to the pool pump run all night if that's an issue for you