Solar heated Hot tub
 

Well, rather then clog up my Greenhouse I figure I'd start this thread
I should have done this before
Here is the greenhouse thread with info

http://www.bananas.org/f313/diy-gree...aybe-7923.html

Recap: Picked up (2) 4x12' solar water panels for free off craigslist for free
Connected them to my Hot Tub w/515gph pump beginning of May
Tub was at 56 - shut off, within a few days it was up to 104
I left it running too long one day & it hit 114

So now I pulled one 4x12 panel off & installed it on the hot tub (un-used) out by the pool
Filled the water thru the panel to warm it up, then started to recirc water once full
Temp went from 55 (hose temp) to 75 the 1st day
Weather Temps tomorrow are supposed to be 90, good heating day
So hoping the 2nd tub will be over 90

I also picked up 4 smaller panels & they are being used to heat the 16x32 inground pool
Today I connected my old solar pool panels & water coming out was 82
Pool has climbed from 58 to 65 since the small panels were connected
Hoping to get over 70 tomorrow

Eventually 2 of the smaller panels will be used for a Solar hot water system for the house

Oh, electric bill dropped a LOT since the tub was shut off
We are using the hot tub a lot more now that the heat is free



Pic of the 2 panels installed on the 1st hot tub

Re: Solar heated Hot tub
 

Temp in the front of the house (North)...in the shade.....just topped out at 94.5
Hot tub #1 is up to 106
Hot tub #2 is up to 96, started out at 83 this morning
The pool is up to 74 !!

With 2 solar system heating the pool I have:
350 gph being heated approx 5 degrees higher then input
515 gph being heated to approx 88 degrees - a 14 degree rise
And I still have 2 more panels to install

Solar panel for the 2nd hot tub is in its final location
On top of the pool cabana roof
With the height I'm only getting about 200gph from the pump
But its working fine

Re: Solar heated Hot tub
 

I don't have a clue how those sloar panels work LOL. Do you put them directly over the hot tub?

Re: Solar heated Hot tub
 

LMAO!!!! to funny :^) I guess you could on a frame over one for shade.

Re: Solar heated Hot tub
 

No the panel goes to the side, not above the tub
A pump runs water thru the panel, sun heats the water & it goes back to the tub
In the prior picture posted the big square on the roof of the pool cabana is the solar water panel
Inside the panel is painted black & the water goes back & forth in the panel via one long pipe

I've had water coming out 150+ degrees when its been sitting in the sun

Here is a view from the roof of the setup near the house
The green hose is the return from the panel to the tub
You can see the pump in the water below & to the right of the blue skimmer
The big 3 glass panels are my greenhouse
The big panel with the 2 silver bars is the solar hot water panel
I need new plastic - existing is old & not totally clear any more

Re: Solar heated Hot tub
 

This is over my head LOL. I sorta have a clue but it seems complicated. I can't find the green hose either LOL.
I could use that hot tub right now... I woke up sick this a.m. w/ sore throat & nasty cold & congestion. We had full sun & warm temps today for a change too.
I admire your work & efforts Dave.

Re: Solar heated Hot tub
 

Here's the same pic with red illustration of the water flow
Water starts at the circle - the pump - pumps the water ~2' up to the panel

Re: Solar heated Hot tub
 

Here is the 2nd hot tub by the pool
You can see the green houses on the orange cabana
Eventually the hoses will be inside the cabana & hidden

The white PVC is for the 2nd roof solar heating system for the pool
Pool was close to 74 again today

Re: Solar heated Hot tub
 

OK, I found the green hoses now too.

Re: Solar heated Hot tub
 

Spent the day building a small deck around the 2nd hot tub
Its only about ~27" wide along 1st side, then ~22" along the next side
3rd side has the stairs & the seating area for the patio
4th side (on right in pic) is open to the bar

I'm doing tempered glass as the "rails" -some sliding glass doors
Main reason is to cut down on wind going thru this area
Plus I have the doors.......
Supposed to be nice tomorrow so hoping to finish the railings

I put the stairs leading up to the hot tub the other day
Makes it much easier to get in & out now
I picked up the stairs & other PT lumber from someone taking down their pool deck
I still have some 2x PT left, might need to buy one 12' 2x6 PT for the top of the rail

The 1st hot tub was up around 106 today, 2nd one only maybe 96
The pool was up to 82 today at the surface....filter/pump not on
Tomorrow ill be warm, so the solar cover will be off & we'll be swimming
Have to see what the temp is once the water circulates
But it was 76 on Memorial day w/pump running

Re: Solar heated Hot tub
 

The 2nd deck is mostly finished, need 1 more 2x6x12' PT for top ofd one railing
I found railings from someone elses pool deck that I took down last year
So I went with standard wood railings...still have one 8' section left
And - I can still install the glass from the lsiding glass door behind the balusters

Now I can fold the cover off the entire tub
This really came out nice, glad to have this setup in the corner
And the pool was up to 78 today !!
That is a new record
Usually I am either just opening the pool or working on getting it clean
Some years I havent opened it until mid-June
My Staycation area is looking good

Re: Solar heated Hot tub
 

Solar hot tub is topping off at 110 now
So I am only running the solar 1/2 a day or every other day
The 2nd "warm" tub topped out at over 104 today
So I drained some hot water to the pool & used pool water to refill & cool it off down to 94

I need to setup a system to do this all the time
Since the warm tub is now getting too hot
Pool with solar heat is over 82 now....usually 83-84
..........and I still have 2 more solar panels to connect

Re: Solar heated Hot tub
 

auxiliary Heat for winter Dave? :^)

Re: Solar heated Hot tub
 

Yeah...I've been thinking of aux heat for the winter
I bet if I moved both panels together & set them up at the right angle I could get some heat out of them

We lost power the other night - maybe 3-4a
Hot tub reset from 60 degrees to 100....had to turn it back to 60
Not sure if the heat ever came on

Re: Solar heated Hot tub
 

I only heat the hot tub for a few hours every other day now
It will still hit 107-110 easily
Its too far away to cycle water to the pool

The "warm" tub has been going over 104 every day now
So when I re-installed the solar heat on the pool cabana roof I setup a water chage system
I can now drain the warm tub water to the pool & refill with water from the pool
The water goes to the pump, then filter, then solar heat on cabana roof, & finally to the warm tub
Coming out of the solar heat today it was 94-96

The pool itself...all ~19,000 gallons is now just over 88 degrees :woohoonaner:

Re: Solar heated Hot tub
 

Sounds like your going to need some fresh cool water for the pool pretty soon.

Re: Solar heated Hot tub
 

Well I finally decided I needed to redo the pool cabana roof & setup the solar heat for the pool correctly
Right now the roof faces East & West - not correct for solar heat, you want it facing South

The final "prompt" to do this is I went by Lowes....they had 2x6 x 14' long on clearance for $1.08
They are normally maybe $8 each...so I bought 60....saved over $400 :woohoonaner:



Last year I moved the solar heat for the warm tub to a new support over the bar
Also put some Tiki frond stuff up for decoration



This year ripping the roof off



Former "attic" tenants evicted
The "base" upon which the new roof will sit is now 14' 3" x 23' long
There is a 2' overhang on the East & West sides, plus a 1' overhang on the bar side



And the outline of the new roof line, approx 28' facing South
It will extend out over the bar area & maybe 18" beyond the bar
The attic wall facing the bar will have a glass panel from a sliding glass door installed
A spare 27" wide screen TV will go up in the attic for viewing
Short roof facing North will have a 2x4 skylight
Plus there will be a window on the new East & West walls

Instead of the 4 panels I had on the roof in prior years there will now be 6 panels 2' x 20' long
Plus there will be (2) panels 2'x12' long for the "warm" tub...maybe
I'm debating setting it up to be able to cycle the warm tub water thru all 6 panels....that would heat it up faster in the spring & fall

Re: Solar heated Hot tub
 

Of course after I start this we have rain for a few weeks, not a ton but enough to slow me down

South roof over cabana framed out, it will eventually extend over the bar area - total length will be 28'. I installed a ridge beam instead of a ridge board. The ridge beam will support the peak & 1/2 the roof & take some of the weight off the overhangs



North roof framed out, 2x4 skylight will be installed - framing hidden by sm tarp I put up



"Attic" overhang on front & back, you can just see the bottom of the framing for the skylight at the bottom edge of the tarp
The lower side needs to be textured & painted dark orange



The orange color we painted the back originally, it looked darker in the store. The back side of the new roof will be painted a dark green to blend in more with the woods. I haven't decided if I will repaint the lower side - have to see how much paint I have/need

Re: Solar heated Hot tub
 

Never updated this thread
Sadly the 2 4x12' solar heaters have failed, they were VERY old when I picked them up
I haven't had a chance to build a new solar system for the hot tub
Hoping to do that this summer, Pool cabana is finished & ready for the solar panels
Skylight & windows allow a lot of light into the attic area



I went with white panels over the bar area to let lite thru



Added some windows & lights. That small vent will be blocked once the solar heating system is setup



Also added a light on the North side, and added a bunch of globe lights under the white plastic for the bar area
This spreads the light out more.....attracts less bugs