Top 10 Best Solar Pool Heater Reviews for 2024

Having an ice-cold pool could easily take away the fun and entertainment your swimming was built to offer you. What do you do then do to such pools that gets too cold due to weather and temperature extremities? You simply heat them up. For pool heating, you’ve got a lot of options that range from heating with the best solar pool heaters to gas pool heaters, electric heaters as well as geothermal heaters.

Among all of these various options, we’ll be discussing the use of solar pool heaters as the best choice among all of these available options with which you can decide to heat your pool. As you’ve known us to always do, after we provide you with a buying guide and arm you with the necessary info that should guide you into buying the best products in different categories, we’ve always take it as an additional responsibility to bring you the best top ten products from long hours of research and careful examination.  We’ll proceed by talking about why you should need the best solar pool heaters for your swimming pool.

Why You Should Need the Best Solar Pool Heater

Although we’ll do some above ground solar pool heater reviews, we’ll also equally touch some of the best solar pool in-ground. Whether above ground or in-ground, solar pool heaters seem the best. They work by harnessing the energy that comes directly from the sun, trapping this energy through solar panels then using this to heat water in tubes with the water then passed back into the pool where it heats up the pool. This method is both highly efficient and cost-effective. Energy from the sun is free and your running costs would come nowhere near the costs of electric bills or even cheaper alternatives such as gas.

All of the heating is done in these tubes from where they are pumped back into the pool. This ensures that there is no significant heat lost while trying to heat your pool. The best solar pool heaters are the best way with which you can simply raise up your pool’s temperature to some satisfying degrees in Fahrenheit. Now put simply, you stand a lot to benefit from using solar pool heaters for your recreational pools. Along with being a cost-effective and highly efficient method, it is a green and environmentally-friendly alternative that can qualify you for several tax breaks and incentives from the government.

How to choose the Best Solar Pool Heaters for Your Swimming Pool

Just as it is with many other products out there, there are various solar pool heaters of different models and brands with varying levels of efficiency and capability. Opting for just anyone that crosses your mind may not be the best solution to your problem as there are various factors and considerations you’d need to consider before making your purchase. Choosing the wrong product may result in inefficiency with poor durability and lifespan.

We’ll start by advising you to first evaluate the sunlight of your location. Learn also about your local codes and regulations about solar installations as well. Try to find out the efficiency as well as the size of the system that will properly support your pool. Decide where this will be placed as well as the angle of the collector. Remember to compare the costs and prices as well as the various features of the solar systems you’re looking to buy.

While it may be stressful if you have to read through hundreds of different reviews about each product’s characteristic features and performance levels, it is still necessary to ensure you find out some certain things about your next solar pool heater before splashing the cash. On top of this we’ll still bring you our top ten recommendations for the best solar pool heaters available today, but before that, here are the important things you should look for in your best solar pool heaters.

Things to Consider Before Buying the Best Solar Pool Heater

We explain below some of the things you should try to check when buying your next solar pool heaters. This will help you make the right choice so you can easily and always get the best out of your chosen system.

Size of the Pool

The size of the pool is one of those things that will determine the type of solar pool heater you’ll need. The bigger and deeper the pool is, the more powerful your solar pool heater should be. While smaller pools should be okay with small to medium size solar pool heaters, larger pools would need larger and more powerful solar pool heaters for optimal heating.

Build Quality

The materials and build quality vary with several types of pool heaters. Some of the best solar pool heaters have glass coatings while some actually do not. Depending on what the owner feels is best, you can certainly look out for the material and build used in these different options available before making your final decision.

Functionality of the pool

While there are pools intended for exercise and sports, some are intended for occasional enjoyment and relaxation. Exercise-oriented pools need exercise-oriented best solar pool heaters to help deliver a consistent temperature suitable for this purpose. Pools meant for relaxation will also have to make do with solar pool heaters that will deliver for this purpose.

Solar Pool Heater Cost

Another important thing you’ll need to consider is pricing. Though you’ll certainly find some of the best solar pool heaters to be well within your range, some also retail at steep prices and it is necessary to always check this out to know what to expect. Though cost is not the single sole determinant of how powerful and efficient the system will be, the best solar pool heaters retail at medium to steep prices.

How to Install a Solar Pool Heater

Installation of solar pool heaters can be a breeze or nightmare depending on the particular product you choose. This is why we provided our readers with the top ten recommendations of the best solar pool heaters at the end of this article. These offer satisfactory pool heating to satisfying temperature levels while still being easy to install.

First, try to choose a solar heater with a collector panel of approximately half of your pool surface area. Along with this, some other factors should also determine the type of heater you should pick. These include the type of pool whether in-ground or above ground, pump running time as well as the solar potential of the heater.

To start with installation, place the solar collector in a sunny spot in your yard while the pool is running. If you’d like to place this on rooftops, be sure you keep them out of the wind as much as possible and also try to minimize water flow resistance. Cut the PVC line after the filter and connect a couple of flex hoses to the collector panel. This can be placed on the ground or may be tilted towards the sun to absorb heat maximally.

After this, install the water diverter valve. Most solar heaters would contain instructions on how to perfectly install this as it depends on the model you’ve chosen. The valve is to help with exclusive water flowing to the panel when closed while also constricting water flow through the panel when open. This helps to give you complete control over how you want your pool temperature to be.

Although most solar pool heaters may possess differing features from one another, they designed to be easily installed as you’ll be able to get them up and running within a few hours. These steps are easy to follow and may also contain little differences depending on the particular solar heater you finally decide to settle for.

Top 10 Best Solar Pool Heaters Review

Whether you’re in the market for solar pool heater in-ground or you’d like some above ground solar pool heater reviews, we cover both of these equally. Our review involved careful research and detailed observation of some of the best brands of solar pool heaters. We detail the functionality of these systems as well as the opinion of many users to arrive at this Top 10 Best Solar Pool Heaters Review. In no particular order, we present to you ten of the very best models and brands of the best solar pool heaters available for heating swimming pools today.

 1. SmartPool Solar Arc Swimming Pool Heater

(2.7 / 5)

Sporting a small and compact appearance, you may be forgiven for seeing the small seeing the SmartPool Solar Arc Pool Heater as one less powerful solar pool heater but do not make the mistake of doing this twice. The small-looking Solar Arc Pool Heater has one of the best designs we saw on solar pool heaters.  The uniquely curved Solar Arc measures about two feet across and four feet deep.

The curved design and architecture of this Solar Pool Heater does not only contribute to the aesthetics and appearance but also allows for maximum absorption light absorption. Along with this compact and beautiful design comes great functionality and efficiency that rivals even some of the larger solar pool heaters available today. If you are in the market for the best in-ground solar pool heater, then this may as well be your best choice.

The small and compact arc is designed to support easy installation as well as performance. The curved design helps with maximum heat absorption which helps the under-sized solar pool heater to perform just as great as many of its larger components. The built-in legs, as well as a host of some other great features, makes the SmartPool Solar Arc one of the best solar pool heaters available today.

Product Features & Specifications

2. SmartPool WWS601P SunHeater Solar Pool Heater

(3.7 / 5)

The Smartpool WWS601P Sunheater Solar Pool Heater is yet another great product that found it easy to make our list and review of the best solar pool heaters available today. It uses a traditional solar collector panel system to deliver heat consistently to your pool.  Although the installation may not be as easy as those of some others, the SmartPool WWS601P SunHeater has a design that has been proven over time to be both durable and reliable.

The SmartPool WWS601P is able to passively raise the pool’s temperature by as much as 15 degrees in under a day. The system uses a series of tubes and panels which are then connected to your pool pump. Aside from the fact that it cannot be easily installed like some other solar pool heaters, the SmartPool WWS601P Solar Pool Heater is worth every penny it costs.

Product Specifications & Details

3. Sunquest 2-2’ x 20’

(3.5 / 5)

The SunQuest brand of solar pool heaters, as well as the SunHeater brand, is one of the best solar pool heater brands. These particular SunQuest Solar Pool Heating Panels have been proven time and again to be very efficient at keeping pools warm and friendly for exercise, enjoyment, and relaxation. They are large and efficient and unlike many other solar pool heating systems, these can be installed and working efficiently under an hour.

The futuristic design and the advanced features of this SunQuest Solar Pool Heater make it easily one of the best solar pool heaters available today. The panels feature advanced solar collectors with copper absorber plates along with Tefzel glazing that gives them UV-resistance and a durability that cannot be matched by most other solar pool heaters.

If you’re worried about installation just as a lot of buyers are, then you can rest assured you’ll have a jolly time installing this system. Along with the many beautiful features, a great price tag and a durability of up to fifteen years, you can start enjoying serious pool heating to keep your pool at the desired temperature for optimum enjoyment.

Product Features & Specifications

4. SUNHEATER 2′ X 10′ Solar Heating Universal System

(3.2 / 5)

Looking for a greatly affordable solar pool heater for both in-ground and above ground swimming pool heating? Then, you may have your way with the SunHeater 2’ x 10’ Universal Solar Heating System. With such an affordable price tag and a great functionality, the SunHeater is a workhorse that will start raising your pool temperature to newer satisfying levels in no time.

The system uses a traditional solar panel collector pool heating system and uses a long panel of tubes in which water is circulated, heated and sent back into your pool presenting your pool with a rise in temperature that may be up to as much as 15 more degrees.

The SunHeater 2 X 10 connects easily to your existing layout though you’ll need the services of a professional to handle the installation. It is not like you can’t actually do this yourself. It is just that it may prove a little bit difficult if you do. Aside from that, this is actually one of the best solar pool heaters we’ve come across as the highly affordable system can be used to heat small and medium pools of varying sizes.

Product Features & Specifications

5. SmartPool Universal Swimming Pool Solar Heating System

(4 / 5)

Although the SmartPool Universal Swimming Pool Heating System may be a little costlier than many other brands and models of solar pool heaters on our review of the best solar heaters, it is still highly loved and preferred by many pool owners so we set out to know why. Our finding is obvious and reasonable. The system features some advanced designs which have impacted the productivity and efficiency of the system. Likewise, if you’ll need something for your pool with a reliable and proven record of functionality that won’t let you down when you needs it most, then you may have well found your perfect solution in this pool heating system from SmartPool which is arguably the best solar pool heater available today.

Product Features & Specifications

6. Fafco Above Ground Solar Bear Solar Heating System

(3.7 / 5)

If you are in the market for a dedicated above ground swimming pool solar pool heater with a reputation for great functionality and durability, then this grizzly-like Fafco Bear Solar Heating System. You’ll need some 20 foot of space in your backyard though but there are no connectors to deal with which makes it so easy to use.

The design and build are top-notch. The durable construction of the Fafco Bear Solar Heating System is UV-resistant and features oversized two-inch headers. The durability and value of this system are not in doubt as it comes along with a whopping ten-year warranty to provide you with reliable functioning with assurance.

Fafco is one of the best solar pool heater brands and this particular pool heater seems to be the best to come out of their ranks. Installation of this is easy and can be done by oneself. A proven design along with the solid reputation of Fafco coupled with the proven functionality of the Fafco Above Ground Solar Bear Solar Heating System has placed this among the best solar pool heaters of today and these are the major reasons why lots of pool owners around the world prefer this to heat their swimming pool and spas.

Product Features & Specifications

 

7. Intex Solar Heater Mat for Above Ground Swimming Pools

(2.5 / 5)

This Intex Solar Heater Mat for Above Ground Swimming Pools measures 47’’ x 47’’ around and is one of the least noticeable pool heaters to be featured in our review of the best solar pool heaters. Despite this small size, this pool heater still performs excellent and is a great option if you are cash-strapped, operating within a very tight budget and still need to heat up your pool.

Although you can’t compare this to the other larger pool heaters, at a price that also is incomparable to those, this Intex Solar Heater Mat for Above Ground Swimming Pools still manages to raise your pool’s temperature by as much as 10 degrees. The heating mat directly connects to an Intex Pump from where it circulates water back into the pool for temperature adjustment.

 

Product Features & Specifications

8. GAME 4721 SolarPRO Curve Solar Pool Heater

(2.8 / 5)

Large space requirement along with steep pricing are two of the most discouraging factors that deter a lot of pool owners from going the solar pool heating route. The GAME 4721 SolarPRO Curve Solar Pool Heater just like the Intex Solar Mat above requires little space to start raising your pool’s temperature to satisfying levels. It does this without causing a strain on your budget as it costs only a third of the price of some of the larger and expensive solar heating systems for swimming pools.

The solar pool heater sports a unique curved shape which has been purposely designed for optimal heat absorption. It is one of the best solar pool heaters around and has garnered a lot of fans in many pool owners who used this daily to heat up their pools for enjoyment and relaxation.

Product Features & Description

9. GAME 4714 SolarPRO Contour Solar Pool Heater for Intex

(2.8 / 5)

The Game brand of solar pool heaters is known for its design expertise which is often responsible for the efficiency and functionality despite the often small and compact design. Coupled with their affordable price tags, these solar pool heaters have dominated the markets and are one of the top favorites of pool owners the world over.

Rather than have some spacious array of panels lining up your backyard or rooftops, this compact and small dome-like pool heater features a more compact and less-space demanding design that not only adds to your backyard aesthetics but also enhances the efficiency of the system. The decreased footprint, increased efficiency, and the affordable price tag are enough to convince almost anyone about the GAME 4714 SolarPRO Contour Solar Pool Heater.

Product Features & Specifications

10. XtremepowerUS 2′ X 20′ Swimming Pool Solar Panel Heating System

(3.3 / 5)

For some pool owners who need the proven reliability and functionality of the traditional solar panel pool heaters, this XtremepowerUS 2′ X 20′ Swimming Pool Solar Panel Heating System seems the top choice for many as it offers this along with a highly affordable and incredible price tag. The low-priced pool heating system solar panel measures about 2-foot by 20-foot  and in less than a day, you can easily install this and get your pool temperature up to about 15 more degrees.

Although the system will require ample space for installation, the installation is easy and can be done by oneself. The pricing and ease of installation is enough to help you overlook the difficulty that this may seem to bring. Another thing is that although you can heat up above ground pools of average sizes easily with the XtremepowerUS 2′ X 20′ Swimming Pool Solar Panel Heating System, you’ll need like two of these to heat in-ground pools of medium to large sizes.

Product Features & Specifications

How to Know What Type of Heater You Need for Your Swimming Pool

Heat is an important aspect of a pool. It not only keeps you warm, but it also keeps the water warm enough for the bathers to enjoy. It’s recommended that your pool water be between 80 and 88 degrees Fahrenheit. Most heaters on the market are made to ensure that your water is maintained at a constant temperature. If you’re not sure how much heat your pool needs, you can use a hot water test kit to find out. The kit is designed to measure the temperature of your hot water.

What Are The Different Types Of Above Ground Pool Solar Heater

The great thing about solar heating systems is that they’re simple to install and easy to maintain. These are all qualities you want in a pool heater, and these are exactly the reasons why a lot of people choose a solar heating system for their above ground swimming pool. It doesn’t matter if you have a small, backyard swimming pool or a large above ground pool with an attached hot tub. They’re both capable of using a solar heating system.

With the right type of solar heater and the proper maintenance, your pool will be able to stay warm during winter months.

How Do Solar Pool Heaters Work?

Pool heaters, whether they’re electric or gas-powered, create a natural process called heat rejection. All heating systems reject heat if they can’t maintain a stable temperature where they’re located. Therefore, a pool heater must be able to maintain a temperature close to the water’s temperature while it’s producing heat.

The water needs to be heated and cooled to maintain a stable temperature. It’s the same as if you were to walk around with your hands out of the pool – while they’re in the water, they’re not really feeling any heat or cold. If you take your hands out of the water, they’ll immediately feel the difference in temperature. The same applies to pool heaters – they need to be in the water, but not touching the pool water, to maintain a stable temperature.

What type of pool do you have?

Over the years, there have been many different types of pools built and used around the world. Some of the earliest were made from natural materials such as stone, clay, and gravel. While they did provide a convenient place to cool off, they weren’t very good at retaining heat.

Over time, engineers developed better methods of heating and cooling pools. The biggest breakthrough came from scientist Lord Rayleigh in the early 1900s. By mixing different sized minerals together, he was able to achieve a product that not only provided good heat retention, but could be easily shaped and molded. It wasn’t long before scientists had figured out how to make concrete, which became a popular building material for pools.

• Solar Vs Other Swimming Pool Heating Methods

Solar pool heating is a cost-effective and environmentally-friendly way to heat your pool. In addition to being reliable, solar pool heating is relatively simple to use. A paragraph about Solar Vs Other Swimming Pool Heating Methods would read:

Solar pool heating is a cost-effective and environmentally-friendly way to heat your pool.

• Solar Vs. gas swimming pool heaters

Swimming pool heaters are devices that are used to maintain the water temperature in swimming pools. They are either gas or solar powered. Gas-powered swimming pool heaters use propane gas to raise the temperature of the water. They produce more heat than solar powered ones, but they require more maintenance and can be dangerous if not properly installed. Solar-powered pool heaters, on the other hand, use the sun’s rays to power them.

• Solar Vs. heat pump swimming pool heatersIs

A solar pool heater is an alternative to traditional heat pump pool heaters. Solar heaters work by absorbing heat from the sun and using it to heat the pool’s water. Solar pool heaters do not use any electricity so they can save on energy costs. Solar pool heaters are also advantageous because they will work even when the pool is covered with snow or ice. Heat pump pool heaters work by collecting heat through a heat exchanger.

Is solar pool heating worth it?

An outdoor pool heating system is a popular choice for people who do not have the money to purchase a pool cover. A solar-powered water heater is a cost-effective way to heat a pool without a lot of ongoing maintenance. Solar pool heating systems are a popular choice for people who do not have the money to purchase a pool cover.

What are the operating costs of these solar pool heaters?

Solar pool heaters help heat up the water in your pool. They use solar panels to transfer heat from the sun to the water. The panels are made of a special kind of glass that lets the light through while blocking the heat. The operating costs of these solar pool heaters vary, but a typical home installation would cost around $9,000 for a typical sized pool. They often have a life expectancy of 20 years.

How many solar panels does it take to heat a swimming pool?

A single panel can heat a 12-by-20-foot pool by about 20 degrees, but an average outdoor pool of that size would require about 9 panels. It takes about 9 solar panels to heat an average outdoor pool of that size.

What Is The Difference Between A Solar Pool Heater And Regular Heater?

There are two different types of heaters. One is a solar pool heater and the other is a regular heater. A solar pool heater heats up a pool with natural energy from the sun. It doesn’t use any gas or electrical power. Regular heaters, on the other hand, use gas or electrical power to heat a pool. A solar pool heater heats up a pool with natural energy from the sun. It doesn’t use any gas or electrical power.

How Much Sunlight Do You Need?

How often do you need sunlight?

In general, the more sunlight, the better. In order to maintain a healthy balance between your day and night cycle, it is best to get at least 30 minutes of sunlight in the morning and in the afternoon.

What Is A Solar Pool Heater Made Of?

A solar pool heater is made up of several components. They include solar collectors, collectors pipes, copper pipes, insulation, and a blanket. A solar pool heater is made up of several components. They include solar collectors, collectors pipes, copper pipes, insulation, and a blanket. The collectors are typically made of black metal plates, set in the ground in rows, mounted to a rack. These racks are covered with reflective material that will capture the sun’s rays.

How Do Solar Pool Heaters Work?

Solar pool heaters can help reduce the amount of energy needed to heat your pool because they collect the sun’s energy and transfer it to the water. Solar pool heaters can help reduce the amount of energy needed to heat your pool because they collect the sun’s energy and transfer it to the water. Solar pool heaters are an excellent solution for pools that are located in shady areas or have little sunlight.

How long does it take solar panels to heat a pool?

Many factors can affect the amount of time it takes solar panels to heat a pool. Factors such as the size of the solar panels, sun exposure, and insulation of the pool can all change the time it takes to reach a desired temperature. It is best to look up the required time on a site such as, SolarQuote.com, or just have a specialist come by and assess the pool to determine the amount of time it will take to heat it.

The time it takes for solar panels to heat a pool will depend on the size of the pool and the amount of sunshine.

Do solar Sun Rings Work?

Solar Sun Rings were invented by Ross Evans, who wanted to help generate electricity in low-income countries without expensive wiring. Solar rings are constructed of 12 lenses, which focus sunlight onto solar cells, heating them up and converting them into electricity. Solar Sun Rings work so well, you’ll never want to wear shoes again.

Do solar panels need maintenance?

Solar panels are made up of two layers. The bottom layer is made of metal, and the top layer is made of silicon cells. The metal is used to form the solar cells, and the silicon cells are used to generate the electricity.

What is the best temp for a pool?

When swimming, you want the water to be between 72°F and 78°F. The best temperature for a pool is 72-78 degrees Fahrenheit. This is the perfect temperature for swimming, because it’s not too cold or hot.

Do solar pool heaters work in the winter?

Solar pool heaters are not appropriate for use in colder climates, because they don’t work when it is cloudy or at night. If you live in the south, the answer is yes.

What is the best above ground pool solar heater?

A solar heater is a device that helps heat a pool by using a solar collector to absorb the sun’s rays and transfer them to the pool. Solar pool heaters are a good option for those who have problems with their electric or gas bills. Solar pool heaters are a good option for those who have problems with their electric or gas bills.

Do I have to buy additional pool pumps as well?

In order to have a pool that works properly, one must make sure that the pump is working and has enough power. How many will it take to fill up my pool? When you have a new pool, it is best to buy two or three pumps that are able to do the job.

Do you want a temperature sensor with an automatic valve?

A temperature sensor with an automatic valve is a device that can be used to monitor the temperature of various substances, such as water or air. This device has an automatic valve that opens and closes in response to changes in the ambient air temperature. Do you want to measure the temperature in your home with the touch of a button? A temperature sensor with an automatic valve can help you do this.

How Do You Make a Solar Heater for an Above Ground Pool

You can make a solar heater for an above ground pool by drilling holes in the lid of the pool and filling the inside with flat, black or green film that will soak up heat from the sun. The hole drilled in the lid of the pool should be as small as possible to reduce solar heat loss.

Verdict

We’ve gone through some of the best solar pool heaters currently available for pool owners who have to deal with frigid pools to raise temperatures to satisfying levels. The ten solar pool heaters above offers great functionality which is lacking in most other pool heaters out there, whether you are looking for easy installation, affordability, and maximum heating, you’re sure of finding your perfect solar pool heater within these lot.

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Conclusion

While most pool owners install their pools for enjoyment, relaxation, and exercises, the often cold temperature may deter people from using such pools. This should no longer be a problem as pool owners can now confront this issue by using some of the best solar pool heaters available today to tackle this frigid and excessively cold pool temperature problem.

Although pool heaters with gas and electric source can be used, the best solar pool heaters are the best as they offer environmentally and cost-effective options for pool heating.

Choose your pick today from among these top 10 best solar pool heaters today and start enjoying your pool sessions once again.