From: dkhedmo 
Newsgroups: misc.consumers.house alt.home.repair
Subject: Re: Heating an Above Ground Pool
Date: Wed, 11 Oct 2006 00:05:46 GMT

Jim wrote:
> Alex wrote:
>> Hello,
>>
>> We have a 25' above ground pool (48" deep), and we are looking for
>> ways of heating the pool now that it's starting to get cooler
>> outside.  We live in Texas, and though our winters aren't bad, when
>> the temp stays below 85'F for most of the day and 50's at night, the
>> pool gets quite chilly.
>>
>> I'm looking at some options for heating the pool so we can use it 
>> throughout the winter, or at least a few more months into the fall
>> now that the 90-100'F temps are gone.
>>
>> Does anyone have any experience with the solar heaters?  I know even 
>> when the temp stays in the 80s for most of the day the car is still 
>> VERY warm, so I'd assume this is enough to heat the pool rather well 
>> with a solar heater. We're looking at one similar to this: 
>> http://www.intheswim.com/Pool-Heaters/Solar-Heaters/Solar-Pool-Heaters-for-Above-Ground-Pools/ 
>>
>>
>>
>> We just put the pool in earlier this summer, so paying another $800
>> or more for a powered heater isn't really possible -- but if we can
>> get good results from a solar heater, we'd like to go that route.  We
>> havep lenty of space for it behind the pool.
>>
>> Thanks for any advise or suggestions --
>>
>> Alex
>>
> I recall a magazine article some years back where the homeowner found
> the solution to be black rubber garden hose.  Positioned in the yard
> with ample sunlight all that was needed was to connect a pump.
> 
> If recollection is correct the biggest problem was the water became too 
> hot!
> 
> 
Ours seems to be set up like this. We just moved in a few weeks ago, and 
the previous owners went ahead and closed the pool for us, so I can't 
say if it actually works. There is a black hose coming and going from 
the machinery, and the length of the hose was coiled on a low wooden 
platform/table-like thing, the surface of which has some kind of 
reflective foil on it, and the hose was coiled up on that. I'm glad to 
here someone mention this here, as it seemed a little duct-tapeish to 
me. I think there's a solar cover in the shed as well.

-Karen-