Recap: The Best Solar Pool Heaters
- Smartpool S601P SunHeater Solar Heating System:Best for Inground Pools
- Fafco Solar Bear Economy Heating System:Best for Above Ground Pools
- XtremepowerUS Inground/Above Ground Solar Panel Heating System:Best Roof Installed Solar Panel Heating System
- SunHeater Pool Heating System:Best Board Mounting Option
- GAME 4721-BB SolarPRO Curve Solar Pool Heater:Best Curved Option
- GAME 4714 SolarPRO Contour Solar Pool Heater for Intex:Best Compact Solar Pool Heater
- Sun2Solar Blue Solar Cover:Best Solar Cover
How They Compare
Heating Strength and Price Comparison
I created a scatterplot of my scores for the heating strength and price of each heater to create a visual that shows their relative value. The Smartpool SunHeater Solar Heating System is a clear value-for-dollar winner.
Climate Needs Comparison
- Smartpool S601P SunHeater Solar Heating System: 4
- Fafco Solar Bear Economy Heating System: 4
- XtremepowerUS Inground/Above Ground Solar Panel Heating System: 4
- SunHeater Pool Heating System: 4
- GAME 4721-BB SolarPRO Curve Solar Pool Heater: 4
- GAME 4714 SolarPRO Contour Solar Pool Heater for Intex: 3
Apart from the compact GAME option for Intex pools, all my top picks are pretty even on climate needs.
Durability Comparison
- Smartpool S601P SunHeater Solar Heating System: 5
- Fafco Solar Bear Economy Heating System: 5
- SunHeater Pool Heating System: 4
- GAME 4714 SolarPRO Contour Solar Pool Heater for Intex: 4
- XtremepowerUS Inground/Above Ground Solar Panel Heating System: 3
- GAME 4721-BB SolarPRO Curve Solar Pool Heater: 3
Smartpool and Fafco really shine on durability. GAME and XtremepowerUS struggled a bit due to some extreme weather and leakage concerns that I have.
Installation Comparison
- SunHeater Pool Heating System: 5
- GAME 4714 SolarPRO Contour Solar Pool Heater for Intex: 5
- XtremepowerUS Inground/Above Ground Solar Panel Heating System: 5
- GAME 4721-BB SolarPRO Curve Solar Pool Heater: 5
- Smartpool S601P SunHeater Solar Heating System: 4
- Fafco Solar Bear Economy Heating System: 4
All of my top picks are relatively easy to install. As expected, some more durable options take longer to set up.
Other Solar Pool Heaters Researched
- Goplus Solar Dome Swimming Pool Heater - I didn't love the performance of this budget option.
- vidaXL Pool Solar Heating Panel - This model is out of stock just about everywhere.
- Poolmaster 59026 Slim LINE AG Pool Solar Heater - GAME is a better option for this type of solar heater model.
- SunQuest Solar Swimming Pool Heater - The panels don't lay flat, and this model is super expensive.
- Doheny’s Solar Pool Heater - Heating performance was really poor when I tested this heater.
My Research Criteria
Below are the criteria I used to make my choices for my list of best solar pool heaters. It mainly consisted of five major factors:
- Heating strength
- Climate needs
- Durability
- Installation
- Price
Heating Strength & Performance
Heating strength is crucial to choosing the right solar heater. Solar pool heater performance is measured in British thermal units per square foot per day or Btu/ft² per day. But for the purposes of your research, just look for how quickly the system can heat up certain square footage of a pool and do the math for your own setup. For some people, an increase of five degrees is enough, and I have some heaters on my list that average that. However, I also catered to those who need more heat with heaters that can increase temperatures up to 20 degrees.
Everyone’s needs are a bit different when buying a solar pool heater. You should always look for a heater that you can install in the way you want, and that can handle the size of your pool. Don’t forget to also consider the overall heating strength, durability, and any special features the heater has. Also, you will need to learn how solar heaters work before you purchase one.
If you want a complete in-depth analysis of the cost of this kind of equipment, you can check out my article, which has the full cost breakdown of solar pool heaters.
Heating performance accounted for 30% of the overall score for each product.
Climate Needs
Climate needs refer to how much sun you get. Some of the heaters on my list do better with less sun than others. I have a few that require a full day of sun to increase your water temperature even minimally, so keep that in mind as you shop. Make sure the installation option you choose will allow you to take full advantage of the sun, whether that’s on the roof or mounted on a board next to your pool.
Climate needs made up 15% of the total score.
Durability
Durability is essential because you want to get the best possible heater for your money. Solar pool heaters will often have a short life span because of the intensity of heat and the sun rays they are subject to every day during the season. However, the best solar pool heaters will have U.V. protection and other design features to help make them stronger and handle extreme conditions.
Durability made up 20% of the overall product score.
Installation
Some solar pool heaters are easier to install than others. Ease of installation is a huge selling point for many pool owners as it cuts down on any labor costs of hiring a pool professional to install the solar pool heater. While installing solar pool heaters for above ground pools can generally be done by anyone with some DIY knowledge, installation of solar pool heaters for inground pools can be confusing.
I looked at how easy it is to install each solar pool heater and rated them accordingly. Of course, the instruction manual that comes with each product played a big part in my decision as well. Manuals with clear instructions and diagrams definitely help cut down on installation time.
Installation took up 15% of each product’s total score.
Price
You can’t avoid price when you make a big purchase like a solar pool heater. As a whole, solar pool heaters are very cost-effective, as they will help you save money in the long run as there are essentially no running costs. However, the upfront costs of solar pool heaters can range from cheaper solar blankets to expensive roof-mounted panels - more if you have a larger pool. The upfront cost is a big part to consider when purchasing a solar pool heater, as not everyone has the same budget. And just as importantly, I considered the price compared to the value you get in the quality of the product.
Price accounted for 20% of the overall score.
What Else To Consider
Besides the five categories above, there are other things to consider when choosing the best solar pool heater.
Size
When it comes to size, you need to match your pool heater to the size of your pool. You may need to buy multiple panels if you have a larger pool. However, keep in mind that this will increase the amount of space you need for installation. For most solar panel installations, I recommend getting a solar collector set roughly 60-70% of your pool’s surface area, which should keep everything fairly well heated. If you don’t know the size of your pool, use my pool volume calculator.
Also, keep in mind that inground pools and above ground pools typically use two separate types of solar collectors. For above ground pools, it is pretty easy to stash your solar panels right next to your pool wall. However, for inground pools, that’s not typically an option because of how much it obstructs your pool deck, so a better option is away from the pool or on your roof.
Pump Compatibility
Many solar pool heaters nowadays can work with any pump size, but some heaters still have a limit to what horsepower is needed for the water to be properly pumped into the panels to be heated. I’ve looked at a variety of different solar pool heaters that can work with any kind of pump and others that can only work up to a 1.5 HP pump. Do your due diligence and properly research if a certain solar pool heater will work with the pump already in your pool. Failure to do so may result in you having to buy a whole new pump as well!
Other Types of Heaters
Solar pool heaters aren’t for everybody. They rely on sunlight to heat the pool water. So, if you live in an overly cloudy and rainy area, a solar pool heater will simply not do the trick. To work properly, you want to make sure you have at least 6-8 hours of unobstructed sunlight onto your panels. If this won’t be possible for you due to your climate or the placement of your house, it would be wise to consider purchasing a different type of heater.
Gas heaters and electric heaters are the two alternatives. If you are serious about conserving energy, however, you can pair one of these heaters up with a solar blanket.
Questions? Drop me a line, and I’ll be happy to help in any way I can!
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