Frequently Asked Questions

Your pool represents a significant financial investment. Heating your pool enables you and your family to enjoy your investment more than just a few months a year.

Heating your pool enables you to comfortably enjoy your pool – earlier in the spring, evenings after work, and later into the fall. A warmer pool means more time for family fun, more opportunities for healthy exercise, and a better gathering place for family and friends.

Cold water is pumped from your pool through our patented solar tube design where it is warmed by heat collected from the sun. This is very much like the water that sits in a garden hose and is warmed by the sun. The warm water is then pumped back into your pool giving you luxuriously warm water and plenty of extended swim time.

Studies show that there is enough solar energy in all parts of the United States and into Canada for you to enjoy a longer swim season with a solar pool heater.

Of course! Depending on your weather and climatic conditions, you can expect your FAFCO^® solar pool heater to raise your pool temperature up to 10 degrees Fahrenheit over a period of several days of good weather. A solar blanket will help hold in this heat at night or when it’s windy, and can help the pool heating system be even more effective.

We think so. A solar pool heater can be less expensive up front than a gas heater, depending on the size of your pool. Once a solar pool heater is installed, your heat is FREE from the sun. With a gas heater you need to pay the gas company depending on how much you use the heater. In the spring and fall when you really need heat, you use the pool heater more, so it costs you more – but solar energy is still free. Also, solar is non-polluting, and it can cool your pool during hot months, something no gas heater can do.

No. Solar pool panels and controls are designed specifically to heat a large volume of water in a swimming pool. Household space heating is a very different application of solar.

A pool cover prevents evaporation loss, particularly at night. The cover traps the solar heat that has been added during the day. This is very complementary to the solar system. The solar system can be viewed as actively adding heat. The cover retains that heat passively.

During the hottest part of the summer, running the solar system at night can cool a pool to a more refreshing swimming temperature down several degrees in one night if the conditions are right. Also, if your pool is too warm, leave the solar blanket off at night to allow more heat to escape.

Solar pool heating system prices for a residential pool can vary based on the location and size of the pool, location of the solar panels, desired temperature and season, and type of pool equipment. Because of all the variables, it is impossible to give an accurate estimate without careful inspection of the site. To set up an appointment for a free analysis and estimate, find the FAFCO^® dealer nearest you.

If a pool owner heats their pool with natural gas or propane through the normal swimming season, an investment in solar can pay for itself in 2 to 3 years. If the pool owner does not have a gas heater or wish to use one, solar will not really “save” money, but the pool will be much warmer and more inviting throughout a much longer portion of the year. A swimming pool, with decking and landscaping, represent a sizable investment for the homeowner. Maintenance costs exist whether the pool is used or not. The investment in solar pool heating will assure that the pool is used and enjoyed much more.

FAFCO^®’s solar pool heating systems use an automatically controlled valve to divert the existing filtration flow to the solar panels, so there is no additional cost to operate the solar pool heater. Some pools might require an additional solar boost pump that would cost a few dollars per month to operate during the swimming season.

FAFCO^®’s solar collectors, made of a proprietary copolymer blend for durability, can be expected to last between 15 and 20 years. Many FAFCO^® solar pool heating systems that were installed over 20 years ago are still going strong.

Usually no special maintenance is required during the season. Modern electronic controls allow you to “set and forget” the solar pool heater. It is recommended that the panels be shut off and drained in the winter. This process takes just a few minutes and will protect the panels against freeze damage.

We can put you in touch with a FAFCO^® dealer today — Find a Dealer.

Yes, CoolPV^® can be used to pre-heat water flowing to central boilers in warm climates. Commercial applications with high energy costs using large amounts of heated water are ideal. Typical applications include bottle washing, food processing/preparation, laundries, destination resorts, pharmaceutical manufacturing, textile and paper processing among other applications.  Click here for more information.

Because household water heating is a higher temperature application, CoolPV^® is not recommended.

Yes, your CoolPV^® system can be financed through a number of mechanisms, including the Property Assessed Clean Energy (PACE) program.  Your CoolPV^® dealer can discuss the financing options available to you.

Yes, CoolPV^® generates more electricity than a standard solar electric system because it cools the modules, which makes the system more efficient.  CoolPV^® can offset the cost of running your pool pumps and can even run your meter backwards.

Your CoolPV^® system has the same streamlined, low-profile appearance of a standard solar electric system.  It also has a uniform black appearance that is coveted by many solar electric system owners.

Installing both an electric and thermal system on your rooftop compromises performance, appearance and increases complexity.  CoolPV^® is the perfect blend of electrical and thermal performance that minimizes your roofspace footprint.

CoolPV^® optimizes your valuable roof space by generating electricity and heating your pool at the same time. CoolPV^® extends the use of your pool throughout the year and runs your electric meter backwards during sunny days.  See more info here.

CoolPV® combines solar thermal and electric into one panel to both enhance electricity output and heat your swimming pool. CoolPV® delivers up to four times the energy of standard solar modules in the form of both thermal energy and electricity. It is often referred to as hybrid or photovoltaic/thermal (PVT) technology. Click here to see the full specification.