Any ideas to heat an above ground pool (dolphino type)?

Question

I already use a solar cover. I am thinking of trying to incorporate some type of pump system.

Answer 1

A hose on a roof does work, but a better way is with a "real" solar collector.
Pool collectors are cheap and easy to put up. They are basically a big plastic mat with channels through it, and a header pipe that goes across the top and bottom. You strap the collector to a roof, pump the pool water in one "corner" and take it out the other. They come in different sizes, like 4' x 8', or 4' x 12'. You can find them used, new they are $250-$350 each (I know...overpriced for a hunk of plastic!)
With your pool, because you don't have a pump now...you could use a submersible sump-pump, and with regular garden hose and some fittings...probably put together a simple system for less than $400, depending on how cheap you can get the panel.
$400 would also buy a lot of hose, too!

Solar pool heating is pretty efficient, because you are collecting it at a good time of the year, the collectors don't need to be fancy glazed ones, and the temps you are trying to get are not a lot different than the daytime air temps anyway.
The biggest loss of heat in a pool is by evaporation, so your pool cover is helping a lot. If it's transparent, and a "bubble" type, it's even better. It acts like a solar collector by itself then.

Answer 2

If your pool is close to your house you can always use a pump to send the water through a hose up onto your roof. You can then serpentine the hose so that it covers more of the roof surface then have it go down through a hose back into the pool. You can use your roof's shingles as a makeshift solar heater. If your house roof is too high, you can always do the same thing on a shed or carport roof. Here is another tip, use black hoses, they will collect more heat in the summer sun.

Answer 3

I have installed a couple of heat pump pool heaters.
They look like a regular outdoor condensing unit that heats/cools your house except are a little larger. They are packaged heat pump units that heat only and do not cool and use air - to - water heat transfer.
You put it next to your existing pool pump. The unit has water in/out connections. The unit is piped in series with your pool pump so you don't need another pump.
As it runs, it takes heat from the outdoors through the outdoor coil and transfers it to a refrigerant - to - water heat exchanger.
The heated water leaves the unit and is pumped into your pool via your existing pump/piping system.

Answer 4

you can buy a solar lid at toys r us or walmart. it keeps the pool 10 degrees warmer.

Answer 5

solar c over

Answer 6

while i'm not sure how.... my brother hooked an actual solar panel to his -- worked great!