If you are looking for an easy and inexpensive way to warm the water in your backyard pool and extend the swimming season into the cooler months, a solar pool heater is an affordable solution with many advantages. Solar pool heating systems use renewable energy from the sun that is readily available at no cost and non-polluting. Here are 6 ways you’ll save money using a solar pool heater.
1) FREE Energy to Heat Pool Water
Solar pool heaters are the most cost-efficient way to heat your pool, according to the U.S. Department of Energy. Solar collector panels use the heat from the sun to warm pool water from 6 o to 10o F (6 o to 8 o C).  Since the sun’s heat is free, pool owners can save thousands of dollars each year using a solar pool heating system vs. a conventional pool heater that is powered by electricity, natural gas or LP.
2) Uses Existing Pool Pump
Water is circulated through the solar pool heater’s collector panels and back to the pool by your pool’s pump, so there’s no need to buy extra water heating or circulating equipment.
3) Cools Pool Water Too
In hot climates, a solar pool heater can also be used to cool the pool during peak summer months by circulating the water through the solar collector panels at night.
4) Available in Easy & Affordable Do-It-Yourself Kits
As a money-saving alternative to a professional solar heater installation — which averages $2,000 to $4,000 — pool owners can install a solar pool heater system themselves using a DIY solar pool heater kit for less than $300! Kits are available for above-ground and in-ground swimming pools and prices vary based on size and style. Smartpool SunHeater solar pool heaters, for instance, come with slotted solar collector panels that provide easy installation on a roof, rack, and fence or on the ground.
5) Requires Little or No Maintenance
Solar pool heater panels are generally made of heavy-duty rubber or plastic treated with an ultraviolet (UV) light inhibitor to extend their life.  Because of their inexpensive parts and simple design, there is little ongoing maintenance for a solar pool heater other than draining the system for the winter (in cold climates) and repairing an occasional leak, which is easy to do.  Solar pool heaters typically have a 5-year warranty, but usually last 10 to 15 years under normal conditions.
6) Expandable for Larger Pools
Your solar pool heater will not be obsolete if you replace your current pool with a larger pool. Solar pool heater systems can be expanded easily by adding additional collector panels. With a do-it-yourself solar pool heater, the manufacturer’s “order guide†will tell you how many boxes of collector panels you will need based on the dimensions of your pool.
Summary
A solar pool heater is the most cost-effective and environmentally-friendly way to heat your backyard pool. Â To maximize the performance of your solar pool heater, choose an unshaded location on your property that generally faces south.
