Homemade Solar Pool Heater

Save even more money!

A homemade solar pool heater is a simple system that can be built in two or three days. It will turn sunlight into heat for a pool for years. A DYI solar pool heater can be built for between one and two hundred dollars which is a considerable savings over the thousands of dollars sometimes charged for commercial versions.

A swimming pool is a large investment for a home, and the more it can be used, the more return on investment. The homemade solar pool heater will extend the time a pool can be used. The swimming season can start earlier in the spring and last until late fall in places where there is not much sunlight during the winter months. If the temperatures drop but the sunlight remains, the heater will work even during the winter. Solar pool heaters are not complicated and do not contain expensive material.

The Panel

The panel is a shallow wooden box which has a plywood bottom and 2X4 edges. Holes should be drilled in opposite diagonal corners that are big enough for a copper pipe to pass through. It does not need to fit airtight. Paint the inside of the box flat black and let it dry.

The Pipe

The copper pipe is laid out inside the box in radiator pattern. This means that one length of pipe is put near the edge of the box by one hole and turned back to the other end of the box with a 90-degree pipe adapter. This is repeated until the pipe reaches the other hole. The box will be filled with copper pipe. The last section of pipe should line up with the last hole so the pipe can pass through the hole. The pipes and adapters should also be painted flat black.

Clear Covering

The top of the box should be covered with clear acrylic Plexiglas or a sheet of glass. Glass is less expensive, but can be broken, so it may not be safe if there are children and pets playing in the area. This clear covering will allow the sunlight to reach the copper pipes and not allow the heat to escape. The plastic can be glued to the edges of the box. This is better than drilling and screwing as that can crack the plastic. Duct tape can also be used to hold the glass to the box, but this is not the most attractive solution. It is the least expensive solution and allows for easy maintenance.

Hook Up

The homemade solar pool heater can be attached to the pool’s water filter system by connecting one of the copper pipes to the pump output. An adapter may be needed for this as the pipe and pump hose may not fit exactly. The lower pipe can be fitted with a hose to run the water to the deep end of the pool. The cool water is pumped out of the pool and passed through the copper pipes then returned to the pool warmed. Set the panel at about 30 degrees towards the sun using 2X4 legs or by leaning it on a chair or table. The glass should be kept clean for optimum heating.