6 Things to Know About Sizing Solar Panels for a Pool

Aim for 400 to 600 square feet of solar collectors for a 15,000-gallon pool. That is about 60-75% of your pool’s surface area. More is better unless you live in Arizona.

Undersizing is the biggest mistake. Too little panel area and you will barely notice a difference on cloudy days. For 15,000 gallons, 500 square feet is the sweet spot for most climates.

Installation is DIY-friendly if you are handy with PVC. Mount panels facing south, plumb them into your existing filter pump loop with a three-way bypass valve, and add a simple automatic controller or run it manually.

Do not cheap out on roof mounts. A panel flying off in a storm is a bad day. Use quality hardware.

Ground-mount kits work if your roof slope is wrong or shaded. They take up yard space. Make sure your pump can push water high enough, as some old single-speed pumps struggle with roof height.

Buy one extra panel. Future you will thank past you for it.