New pool owner, can't figure out solar valves.

May 27, 2013
10
Hi everyone!

First time pool owner and I can't figure out how to get the solar roof panels to heat the pool. I believe I have the valves set up correctly, but the water is not coming out any warmer. Please critique!
 

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:wave: Welcome to TFP!!!

Valves look correct to me. Ideally the panels have enough flow such that there is only a couple of degrees of heat added. So you may not be able to feel a difference.

How large is your solar array?
Did a bunch of air come bubbling into the pool when you turn on the pump and ran through the solar?
 
Is it running in that photo?

The temp gauges appear to be reading one higher than the other....looks good!

At my first house/pool that had solar on a sunny hot 90 degree day I would
usually get about 8 degrees warmer returning water.
 
Thanks for the quick replies!

Picture of the array attached.
Yes, and I can hear/feel it move through the pipe.
Yes, running.
Not sure if the gauges are reading properly. One says 62.

One more piece of info, when we first bought the house, the water coming out was HOT to the touch. We had a "pool guy" come by to teach us about everything, and he changed the valves. We can't remember where they were, but cannot recreate the hot water feel. Temp feels the same as water throughout the pool now.IMG_2185.jpg
 
The water should never be hot to the touch. Guessing maybe the system was off with water trapped in the panels, super heating the water. Then when the system is turned on that water is purged and you can feel it.
 
Remember though, the panels should drain when the pump is off, so that water should not be sitting in them and getting very hot ... this can soften the plastic and cause damage to the panels.
 
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