Frequently asked questions

Compared with heating the same pool with gas, solar typically pays for itself within two to four swimming seasons of regular use — depending on how warm you keep the pool and how long your season runs. After that, the sun's heat doesn't cost you anything. If you heat with gas now, here are five signs it's time to switch to solar.

Ask us about financing — call (951) 276-8286.

Your existing pool pump pushes water through black panels on your roof, where the sun heats it directly before it flows back to the pool. No fuel, no flame — just sunshine and the pump you already run. The full walkthrough is on our how it works page.

Warm enough to add close to three months to your swim season. Around Riverside, an unheated pool is comfortable from about early June to late September. A properly sized system makes it about mid-April to late October, and with a cover on at night, March into November.

It needs sun. A stretch of overcast days slows the heating down, and solar can't heat the pool on demand overnight the way a gas heater can; that's gas's advantage. Southern California gives you sun through most of the swimming season, which is why solar works so well here.

East- and west-facing roofs work well with about 20% more panel coverage. We calculate the right configuration for your roof.

No. Properly installed panels actually protect the roof surface from UV exposure, and industry-standard mounting prevents any water intrusion.

California's Solar Rights Act (Civil Code section 714) strongly limits what an HOA can do about solar energy systems, which generally includes solar pool heating: they can apply reasonable placement guidelines, but they can't prohibit the system or impose conditions that significantly raise its cost or reduce its performance. We're glad to help with HOA paperwork.

Depending on your city, a plumbing or building permit may be required. Requirements vary across Riverside, Orange, and San Bernardino counties — ask us about your city when we quote your project. Building a new pool that will be heated? See the Title 24 pool heater requirements.

Tile, composition shingle, and flat roofs all work. The mounting hardware is chosen for your roof type.

Yes — the two work as a team. A solar cover holds overnight heat in while the panels add heat by day. Together they give you the warmest water and the longest season.

It depends on the system. One that drains itself doesn't need it: the panels only hold water while the system is running, and it only runs when it's warm enough to heat. One that doesn't drain on its own does: we turn it off and drain all the water out before winter, then start it back up in spring. Not sure which you have? Call us in the fall and we'll check, and take care of it if it needs it. More in our article, Does your solar pool heater need winterizing?

Panels typically last 12–20 years, and every panel we install is backed by a 12-year manufacturer warranty. Details on our warranty page, and what helps a system reach the long end of that range is in how to make a solar pool heating system last.

Yes. We repair and maintain solar pool heating systems other companies installed — it's a big part of what we do. Start on our repair page or give us a call.