Solar Heating System Spring Check-Up
Once you’ve made an investment in pool solar heating, maintaining it so that You can make the most of it when summer comes around should be the next thing on your list.
You’ll want your solar pump, the controller & sensors, and the solar collector all working as well as possible so you can maximise your swimming season. The trouble is, most people don’t find out there’s something wrong with their solar pool heating until they want to swim! If that happens to you, you’ll be disappointed and, more importantly, swimming in water that is much colder than you’d like.
An annual check-up will make sure that when you’re ready to use your solar pool heating, it’s able to perform at maximum efficiency. Here are a few things you can check to ensure your heating is working well, and if you run into any issues, we can help get you back up and running asap!
Step 1: Clean your filter – *Only applicable to integrated systems
A dirty pool filter restricts water flow and will also reduce the effectiveness of your solar pool heating system. Make sure to regularly clean your filter and change the media where necessary (or replace it if it’s a cartridge) to ensure that your solar pool heater continues to work effectively.
Step 2: Check your solar tubes
Solar heating collectors (tubes) on the roof of your house can be damaged by storms or animals, birds in particular enjoy pecking holes in matting and a build-up of dirt and leaves can affect the efficiency of your solar system. Strong winds can also displace and twist solar tubing so looking out for this is also important
This checking process is how leaks are usually found, so once you turn on your system, either look for leaks or listen to your gutters for running water.
*Climbing onto the roof is extremely dangerous. We always suggest either working from a ladder or having professionals inspect and clean your solar system when needed.
Step 3: Check the temperature gauge & heat settings.
On the first start-up of the season, your solar pool heater’s temperature sensors should be reading the current pool temperature (cold) as well as the roof temperature. Make sure to check and set your desired pool temperature so the system knows when to turn on and off.
*If you keep seeing variations in your pool water’s temperature or frequent error codes on your controller display your sensors may need to be checked and replaced
Full Test and Flush of the System – Recommended
As your system has been off for months, blocked pipes and any chemical build-ups in your solar pool heating system are other potential issues, these can be rectified by engaging a professional to conduct a full test and flush of the system at least once a year is a good investment.
This will help ensure that your solar pool heater continues to operate at its best, ensuring your pool is heated efficiently all season.
As part of such a service, we can also check other components of your pool system to make sure there are no other problems that require fixing to make sure your season gets off to a cracking start.
