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ocrenter.
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May 16, 2014 at 2:50 AM #774093May 16, 2014 at 6:41 AM #774094
localguy
ParticipantRegarding pool temperature, we were at 90 yesterday evening and swimming. Solar to heat the pool of course. It has been running 80-86 prior to this heat wave. We have not installed solar for electric. Our typical summer bill runs $350.00 with minimal air conditioning. The pool pump runs 8 hours max in the summer.
localguyMay 16, 2014 at 8:45 AM #774098Navydoc
ParticipantThat’s making me want to buy a solar heating system for the pool. My pool builder said they were a waste of money, but your numbers would suggest otehrwise. Our pool was nice yesterday, but was only 77. Out of curiosity, is your pool dark? Mine is light and it seems the dark pools are warmer. Not sorry I went with the light bottom, I love the way the pool looks.
May 16, 2014 at 8:57 AM #774099an
Participant[quote=Navydoc]That’s making me want to buy a solar heating system for the pool. My pool builder said they were a waste of money, but your numbers would suggest otehrwise. Our pool was nice yesterday, but was only 77. Out of curiosity, is your pool dark? Mine is light and it seems the dark pools are warmer. Not sorry I went with the light bottom, I love the way the pool looks.[/quote]You pool builder is correct. I would much rather use the extra roof space for more panels for your electricity usage than to heating the pool. I find pool pump to use a lot more energy than nat gas to heat the pool. Especially if you just get a solar blanket the keep the heat in the pool. It raises the pool temp by about 5 degrees.
May 16, 2014 at 10:41 AM #774102ParticipantThat’s making me want to buy a solar heating system for the pool. My pool builder said they were a waste of money, but your numbers would suggest otehrwise. Our pool was nice yesterday, but was only 77. Out of curiosity, is your pool dark? Mine is light and it seems the dark pools are warmer. Not sorry I went with the light bottom, I love the way the pool looks.
We have the French gray plaster (white) and will use a bubble wrap type cover at the start of spring and fall to supplement the solar. Variable speed pump. Like you we are in SB and it seems like those breezy days pull the warmth out.
localguyMay 16, 2014 at 11:15 AM #774103ocrenter
Participant[quote=Navydoc]That’s making me want to buy a solar heating system for the pool. My pool builder said they were a waste of money, but your numbers would suggest otehrwise. Our pool was nice yesterday, but was only 77. Out of curiosity, is your pool dark? Mine is light and it seems the dark pools are warmer. Not sorry I went with the light bottom, I love the way the pool looks.[/quote]
LG is right, the ocean breeze overnight does a very good job cooling down the water. Plus SB simply does not get that hot. I can count with my fingers the number of days the AC is actually needed for the entire year.
The pool cover/solar blanket is the way to go. If you are good about keeping the pool covered all the time except when you use the pool, you may not even need the solar heating for the pool. It’ll cut down your water bill too as it reduces evaporation.
May 16, 2014 at 3:06 PM #774106FlyerInHi
GuestGood god… looks like owning a pool is the price of a mortgage on a 1-bed apartment, or house in cheap area ….
Our family used have a pool in Florida but that was a long time ago and I’ve all but forgotten. I used to clean the pool as a teen and that was a pain.
San Diego is kinda cold so heating would be necessary to fully enjoy the pool.
A pool cover would detract from the looks of the pool.
May 16, 2014 at 11:08 PM #774111CA renter
Participant[quote=Navydoc]
The system is 6.2 Kwh, 23 panels, but the panels are a bit bigger than industry standard. I must have a micro since they told me I can add panels if I need to. Has been generating 39-41 Kwh/day.
We noticed a big difference in our electricity bill after completing the pool in Feb, bill went from about $350 to almost 600, so the solar was a no-brainer. The biggest offender seems to be the hot tub. When we use it the pool pump runs and there is another dedicated pump for the auxillary jets. When we use it a lot we see a big differnce in the bill. I know the solar won’t do much for the gas portion, but I’m hoping it will generate enough to offset the gas a bit.
By the way, when do pools get warm around here? After 3 days of almost 100 degrees I expected my pool to be warmer than 75. I actually like it, but my wife’s family finds it a bit cold. Their calling us “The Resort”, and are wondering when the water’s going to warm up.[/quote]
Navydoc, do you have a deep/diving pool? That can really keep it cold, too. I’ve had a pool for most of my life, but our current pool is very shallow and I’m always surprised by how fast it heats up (and cools down!). We’re getting a solar cover this year to keep the water in because the water seems to evaporate much faster than any of the other pools we’ve had, and because it really does help to heat the water up a bit and, most importantly, it keeps it warmer through the night.
Glad to hear we’re not the only ones with such high electricity bills. The bills in our current house were higher than our other house (the one we were renting around the corner) even when this house was empty. It has to be the (very old) pool pumps — two of them because our pool vac has to use a dedicated pump and it would cost a fortune to convert to another type of vacuum system. We’ve been told that it would be more difficult to get the newer variable-speed pumps because of the system configuration; still have to do some more research on it, though. Add to that the A/C that we like to keep at 71 degrees, and getting solar is a no-brainer. We once had a $750 bill for one month!!!! 🙁 As crazy as this may sound, we’re getting an 11KW+ system in an attempt to completely eliminate our bills. SDG&E is moving to a two-tiered system (and then to a TOU system), so solar customers won’t be able to lower their bills by as much as they can with the current 4-tiered system.
May 16, 2014 at 11:09 PM #774112Participant[quote=FlyerInHi]Good god… looks like owning a pool is the price of a mortgage on a 1-bed apartment, or house in cheap area ….
Our family used have a pool in Florida but that was a long time ago and I’ve all but forgotten. I used to clean the pool as a teen and that was a pain.
San Diego is kinda cold so heating would be necessary to fully enjoy the pool.
A pool cover would detract from the looks of the pool.[/quote]
Yep. Pools are incredibly expensive!
May 17, 2014 at 12:15 PM #774118Participant[quote=CA renter]
Navydoc, do you have a deep/diving pool? That can really keep it cold, too. I’ve had a pool for most of my life, but our current pool is very shallow and I’m always surprised by how fast it heats up (and cools down!). We’re getting a solar cover this year to keep the water in because the water seems to evaporate much faster than any of the other pools we’ve had, and because it really does help to heat the water up a bit and, most importantly, it keeps it warmer through the night.
Glad to hear we’re not the only ones with such high electricity bills. The bills in our current house were higher than our other house (the one we were renting around the corner) even when this house was empty. It has to be the (very old) pool pumps — two of them because our pool vac has to use a dedicated pump and it would cost a fortune to convert to another type of vacuum system. We’ve been told that it would be more difficult to get the newer variable-speed pumps because of the system configuration; still have to do some more research on it, though. Add to that the A/C that we like to keep at 71 degrees, and getting solar is a no-brainer. We once had a $750 bill for one month!!!! 🙁 As crazy as this may sound, we’re getting an 11KW+ system in an attempt to completely eliminate our bills. SDG&E is moving to a two-tiered system (and then to a TOU system), so solar customers won’t be able to lower their bills by as much as they can with the current 4-tiered system.[/quote]
very good point about the depth of the pool. it could be a difference between a 12000 gallon pool vs a 30000 gallon pool. that temperature difference can be huge.
I also heard about SDGE moving to two-tiered and TOU as well. over the last month or two I have casually spoke with a number of folks working in the solar industry, and they all say the same thing, that pass $300/month, moving to solar is an absolute no-brainer. And that’s exactly what has been happening. Essentially SDGE has lost almost all of its very best cash cows all to solar. We are only looking at $150 average per month at this point, otherwise we would be all over solar as well.
May 17, 2014 at 9:07 PM #774120ParticipantYes, I think those of us who are funding everything at SDG&E are moving to solar in a rather spectacular fashion. As you’ve said, going solar for those of us who are regular Tier 4 users is one of the easiest decisions we’ll ever have to make in life. SDG&E is going to try to make up for these losses by dropping the 4-tiered system and charging everyone a higher price for the lowest tier and for daytime usage when everyone is using their air conditioners. The solar industry has been trying to fight it, but it looks like SDG&E has won on this front.
You are so lucky to have $150/month bills!!!
May 17, 2014 at 10:04 PM #774121moneymaker
ParticipantMy PV produced 43.2 kWh today, that’s a savings of $13.39 for one day.
May 18, 2014 at 4:47 PM #774124ParticipantPool is 7 feet deep (not supposed to go below 6, but nobody measured). 44,000 gallons, took 40 hrs to fill with 2 hoses. That was a no-joke water bill. Yeah it may be expensive but we’re having an absolute ball with it. This weekend has been an almost non-stop pool party. The fire refugees have been here since Thursday.
May 18, 2014 at 5:03 PM #774125ParticipantSounds like fun, Navydoc! I hope your fire refugees are able to return home soon.
That’s not too deep, so it shouldn’t be the cause of your cooler pool. Definitely try the solar covers to see if that works. At the end of the day, it’s worth a little money to have great memories. While pools are a lot of work and money, the memories that you’ll all make are priceless! 🙂
May 18, 2014 at 6:15 PM #774129Participant[quote=CA renter]Yes, I think those of us who are funding everything at SDG&E are moving to solar in a rather spectacular fashion. As you’ve said, going solar for those of us who are regular Tier 4 users is one of the easiest decisions we’ll ever have to make in life. SDG&E is going to try to make up for these losses by dropping the 4-tiered system and charging everyone a higher price for the lowest tier and for daytime usage when everyone is using their air conditioners. The solar industry has been trying to fight it, but it looks like SDG&E has won on this front.
You are so lucky to have $150/month bills!!![/quote]
We are very happy with room temp around high 70’s, that might explain the difference. Downstairs almost never reach 80. On a hot day upstairs can hit 84 by later afternoon, then AC comes on to bring temp down to 79. That likely explains why we rarely turn on the AC. If we have the AC on to bring room temp down to 71, I can definitely see the bill double.
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