Warming pool with hot water heater

ScoopDogy

New member
Mar 27, 2024
3
Guntersville, Alabama
Pool Size
24
Surface
Vinyl
Chlorine
Salt Water Generator
SWG Type
Hayward Aqua Rite (T-3)
Ok..I've seen posts about the topic of how it's impractical to try to heat your swimming pool with a hot water heater. I get that. Bowman makes, what appears to be, a great heat exchanger and paired with a home boiler that is used to heat a pool. Here in Alabama, boilers are not practical for home heat. So...would a tank hot water heater in a closed loop scenario coupled with a pool heat exchanger be a viable option to heat an above ground 24-foot round pool?
 
Welcome to TFP.

Depends how many gallons are in your pool and the BTU output of the heater.

Over the years some folks have posted here about hillbilly pool heaters through hot water heaters.

It all depends how much you expect out of such a system.
 
A solar cover will heat your pool to about 90 degrees in the heat of the summer. It's a pain taking it off and on and where to put it while swimming, though. 24ft round pool, if 52 inches tall, is about 13,000 gallons.

You could also look into pool solar panels to run your pool water through.
 




 
SecoSteve.....I did try solar thermal panels last year. But these are primarily for solar hot water heaters. Putting four in a series did get the output of the water to over 120 degrees, if memory serves me correct, but a half inch line didn't raise the temp all that much. You're evidently referring to the thin panel ones with multiple tubes with the headers on top and bottom. My issue is the temp loss you'll have from after dark until the next morning. That's why I'm really enthused about the concept of a hot water heater and a heat exchanger. Just not sure if the 120 degrees from a hot water heater will be enough compared to a 190 degree boiler that most people use them.
 
Thermal solar should valve off at night unless you desire cooling. This probably requires automation of some kind, or at least a solar controller. There are panels made specifically for pools.
 
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