Can I Heat My Hot Tub With Solar? Yes!
Wondering if you can heat your hot tub with solar? Well, no need to wonder anymore! The answer is YES! With just a few hours of sunshine, solar hot tub heaters can heat your hot tub to over 100 degrees Fahrenheit. Nice!
Our team at Solar Bear Orlando explains everything you need to know about solar hot tub heaters.
Solar Panel Location
One of the most important things to consider is where your solar panels are mounted. Many of our clients mount them on the roof of their homes or garages with a 30-40-degree angle.
We recommend that your panels receive at least 6 hours of sun each day to adequately heat your hot tub.
How Does Solar Work to Heat a Hot Tub?
There are two different types of solar heaters for hot tubs:
Solar Thermal AKA Heat Exchange Panels
Hot tub solar panels use the process of heat exchange to heat your hot tub. Solar panels that use heat exchange are fitted with a large solar panel that consists of small tubes where water flows through and gets heated by the sun.
Once the water flows through these tubes, it passes out of the panel through the heat exchanger end. This process is repeated, and eventually, your hot tub will be heated and ready for you to enjoy after a long day at work!
One thing to remember is that solar-thermal systems don’t generate electricity that you can use elsewhere in your home. Their purpose is purely just to heat the water in your hot tub. This means, that even though you are using solar to warm the water in your hot tub, you’ll still need to use grid electricity to power the lights, features, and water jets in the spa. That is unless you have additional solar electric panels. More on that below.
Solar Electric Solar Panels
Using traditional solar panels, or solar electric panels, is one of the most popular ways to heat your hot tub. Solar panels convert the sun’s rays into electricity that heat and power the spa. This electricity can be sent directly to the hot tub, or it can be stored in a solar battery for use during bad weather or at night.
Note: These systems can heat and power your hot tub, making them the most popular solution for heating a spa.
Things to Know About Solar Hot Tub Heaters
Here are a few other things to keep in mind when installing a solar hot tub heater:
- A solar controller can be used to control the thermostat for the hot tub heater. This also allows you to turn off the solar heater when it is night or during bad weather.
- It is possible to overheat your hot tub with a solar heater, so be cautious. The water should not be over 104 degrees.
- Solar panels and heaters do not work at night or during overcast or inclement weather.
- For best results, we recommend using an insulated spa cover to help retain the heat in your hot tub, plus the installation of a solar controller to optimize heating.
Solar hot tub heaters work quite well in Central Florida where we have ample sunshine.
Invest in a Solar Heater Today
Whether you are interested in heating your hot tub with a traditional solar panel system or a solar thermal system, our team at Solar Bear Orlando is here to help! We can’t wait to help you enjoy a relaxing evening in your hot tub while knowing that you are using an energy-efficient energy source to keep it toasty and comfortable.
Ready to get started? Contact us at Solar Bear Orlando for a quote today at (727) 471-7442!
