The following FAQ sheet provides basic answers to questions that you may have. If you have any additional questions or requests afterwards, then please do not hesitate to contact our team at 613-880-8769. We will be more than happy to answer your questions.

Why Clearwater Pools?
Clearwater Pool Service Ltd. is fully insured and registered with the Better Business Bureau.

How much heat can I expect in the pool with solar panels?
The efficiency of the heating system will depend upon panel location, size of system, angle to the sun, the amount of sun and windage on the panels. Most of our customers want the pool in the 84-degree range. This temperature can easily be accomplished with solar panels. However this does depend on the panel location.
 
Will the solar panels work on cloudy days?
Solar panels are most efficient with intense direct sunlight, however there is still a large amount of energy to be absorbed on cloudy days. On rainy days or after dusk, no solar energy will be absorbed.
 
How does the solar heating system turn on?
A professionally installed system will include an auto control unit. It will automatically turn on when there is enough solar energy available to heat your pool. It will also turn off when it is not able to heat your pool. With the auto control unit your system will perform at its maximum.
 
What do they do at night?
The system will shut down automatically with the auto control unit. If the pool is too hot you can run the system at night to cool down your pool. The warm water from your pool would be sent to the panels and they will act like a car radiator and cool the water down. This is a practice often used by homeowners in the southern states to cool their pools down so they can swim during the day.
 
What is a solar blanket?
We recommend that each customer buy a solar blanket. A solar blanket is placed over the pool at night. The solar blanket will keep the heat in the pool that you have generated from the solar panels. Without a solar blanket you may lose some of the heat you gained during that day at night.
 
Will the solar panels harm my roof?
The panels will actually protect your shingles from the sun. We have had many customers replace their shingles years after the solar system was installed. The shingles under the panels look brand new. When a roof needs to be replaced due to its age, we simply remove the panels and re-install them once the new roof has been installed.
 
Will my present Pump work with the new solar system?
Most pools have 1 HP or 1.5 HP motors, which are more than sufficient to operate your solar system. As long as you have at least a 3/4 HP you should be fine.

What maintenance is required if any?
The Solar Pool Heating System is easy to maintain. We recommend that your panels are kept clean of debris or leaf build up. This will keep your panels working at their full potential. In the fall the panels will need to be winterized just like your pool has to be. We recommend that a professional company do this work to meet your warranty specifications.

How long should a solar system last?
Solar panels should last anywhere from 15 to 20 years. We have customers that have had them for over twenty, still working, still providing free heat.

A friend of mine suggested that a coil of black pipe on the roof would produce the same results. Is that true?
No, the piping used for this will be two large. The volume of water going through this type of pipe is just too much to heat continuously. It is like a garden hose on the lawn in the summer. When you first turn it on it is warm or even hot, but then as the water flows it soon becomes cold and stays cold. The same would apply to your coil on the roof.

Solar panels are made up of many small channels or veins in each panel. By using less water and many channels, the temperature will rise quickly and continue to heat.

How does the water from the pool get heated in the solar panel?
Each panel has a number of small channels or veins. Because these channels can only hold a small amount of water the energy from the sun can raise the temperature as fast as it flows through the channel. Basically the suns energy heats the panel, which heats the water and then sends it to your pool. Continuous circulation of the water through the system will raise the temperature of the pool.

Are the panels you install made of glass or glazed?
No, solar panels made of glass or glazed are for domestic hot water systems.

The panels for solar pool heating systems are made of polypropylene plastic. The solar panels are designed to withstand a temperature range of –40 °C to +40 °C without any damage. Anytime the temperature forecast is below freezing or 0 °C, the solar panels must be drained.

Damage to the solar panels could result if the water freezes in the pipes.

How much extra cost to run the solar heating system?
The solar heating system operates with the same pump you have now. The auto control simply diverts the water to the panels, so the solar heating system will not cost any more than it costs to run your pump now. Your heat is Free.

Warranty of panels and systems.
Clearwater supplies a one-year warranty on the installation. The panel manufactures all have their own warranty. Most will warranty the panels for up to ten years. Most can repair or replace depending on the problem at their discretion. All manufactures warranties require that a professional company winterize the panels.