This was the first year that I left my AGP filled over the winter. We've had some warm weather recently, and the water started getting green, so I was forced to open it up much sooner than I would normally.
Consequently, everyone is anxious to get in but the water is still freezing cold. So I patched together a little makeshift solar heater that I hope will help speed things along.
All I did was tap into the 1.5" return hose between my pump and the pool with a 2" PVC tee with a 5/8" connection for a garden hose. The 2" threaded connectors on either end mate right up with the Intex hoses with the addition of an extra rubber washer.
For now I'm just running 100' of black garden hose along the ground, but my plan is to build a shallow box to hold it all coiled up in, with a Plexiglas cover to hold in more heat.
The flow seems adequate. It's only about 60 deg right now, so the water isn't real hot, but it's definitely warmer than what's in the pool, so it can't hurt, right? I'm anxious to see what it does once the temps get back up near 90 and I have it all enclosed.
All told, I have maybe $25 in this project so far, not counting the hose. The box will undoubtedly be the most expensive part.
Consequently, everyone is anxious to get in but the water is still freezing cold. So I patched together a little makeshift solar heater that I hope will help speed things along.
All I did was tap into the 1.5" return hose between my pump and the pool with a 2" PVC tee with a 5/8" connection for a garden hose. The 2" threaded connectors on either end mate right up with the Intex hoses with the addition of an extra rubber washer.
For now I'm just running 100' of black garden hose along the ground, but my plan is to build a shallow box to hold it all coiled up in, with a Plexiglas cover to hold in more heat.
The flow seems adequate. It's only about 60 deg right now, so the water isn't real hot, but it's definitely warmer than what's in the pool, so it can't hurt, right? I'm anxious to see what it does once the temps get back up near 90 and I have it all enclosed.
All told, I have maybe $25 in this project so far, not counting the hose. The box will undoubtedly be the most expensive part.