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Have you ever wondered how much electricity your pool heater consumes? When pool use is at its peak, likely a lot. But not with a solar pool heater! Here at Solar Bear Orlando, we believe that enjoying a warm pool shouldn’t cost a fortune, especially in sunny Central Florida, where the sun shines almost every day!

Ready to learn more about solar pool heaters? Follow along as our team discusses the efficiency of solar pool heaters and shares tips to help you conserve energy while enjoying your pool.

How Do Solar Pool Heaters Work?

It’s simple. A solar pool heater uses the sun’s energy to warm your pool. They work by using a solar collector that is installed on a roof or another sunny area. These collectors absorb energy from the sun and transfer that energy with a pump to heat the water.

This cycle of warming pool water by circulating it through the solar collectors continues as long as the sun is shining, making it quite efficient.

So, if you think about it, solar pool heaters don’t use much electricity at all; the only electricity that they use comes from the small pump that circulates the water through the solar collectors.

Maximizing Efficiency

To get the most out of your solar pool heater, consider these tips:

• Place the solar collector toward the south. For maximum sun exposure, it is important to consider the angle of the solar collectors as well.
• Avoid shading. Try to avoid any trees or structures that can cast shadows on the collectors, especially during peak sunlight hours.
• Choose the right size. The solar collector should be sized to be 50-100% of the pool’s surface area.
• Keep your pool covered when not in use. This helps retain the heat and will reduce the
• time your solar heater will need to work.
• Maintain proper water balance. Preventing corrosion and scale buildup is important to ensuring that your system runs efficiently.
• Adjust the water temperature. Lower the temperature of your swimming pool when on standby or not in use. This can help you save on energy costs.

Read More > Do I Really Need to Get My Solar Panels Cleaned if It Rains Often?

Choose Solar to Heat Your Pool

As you can see, using solar pool heaters to heat your pool won’t increase your electricity bill, especially if you take the steps to ensure their efficiency. Just remember, it’s important to maintain your pool and your solar heater to help retain heat!

Ready to make the switch to a solar pool heater or have more questions? Our team at Solar Bear Orlando is happy to help! Call us at (727) 353-3886 for a quote or more information today.

Want to heat your pool with solar? In Florida, we’re spoiled with sun-soaked days and warm breezes, so solar pool heating works faster than in most places. Really fast, in fact. So, how long does it take for solar panels to heat a pool in Tampa?

For a well-sized system and an average Tampa day, you’re looking at a 10–15°F boost in as little as 24 to 48 hours for a smaller pool. Larger pools might take closer to 3–4 days, but the sun’s working full-time—and it doesn’t charge by the hour.

Let’s Talk About What Actually Affects Heating Time

All pools are a little bit different, and all solar energy systems are, too. So, if you’re wondering how long your solar setup will take to turn your pool from cool to comfortable, here’s what you need to consider:

• Pool Size. It’s simple math. A 10,000-gallon pool heats up faster than one double the size. More water needs more sun power for heating.
• System Efficiency. A Solar Bear system installed correctly (by pros who know Tampa) will always outperform a slapped-together job. Panel size, placement, and pump settings all matter.
• Weather Conditions. On a clear, sunny day, solar heating works like a charm. Cloudy skies will provide some warmth, but slower.
• Ambient Temperature. If the air is 85°F and the sun’s doing its thing, your pool water gets warmer quicker. Winter mornings? It takes longer to build and keep the heat.
• Using a Pool Cover. A solar pool cover locks in heat at night and reduces evaporation during the day. Less heat loss means faster warm-ups.

What’s the Typical Timeline for Solar Pool Heating in Tampa?

While exact numbers will vary depending on the factors outlined above, there are some general figures to give you guidance. Here’s how long it takes to heat a pool in Tampa with solar:

• Small pool (10,000 gallons):1–2 days
• Medium pool (15,000 gallons):2–3 days
• Large pool (20,000+ gallons):3–4 days

That’s assuming decent sun exposure, a good system, and—you guessed it—Tampa weather doing what it does best.

Pro tip: On sunny days, expect your water temp to climb around 1°F every 4–5 hours. That might not sound like much, but it adds up quickly. Especially with back-to-back sunny days (which Tampa has plenty of).

Solar Is the Sustainable Way to Heat Your Pool

Solar heating isn’t just fast. It’s clean, quiet, and basically free to operate after installation. No fumes, no bills, no noise—just sun power doing its thing. If you’re tired of guessing when your pool will finally feel swimmable, solar gives you consistency. In a place like Tampa Bay, where sunny days outnumber cloudy ones, that consistency means more pool time!

Ready to Heat Your Pool Sustainably? Call Solar Bear of Tampa Today

Solar Bear of Tampa has helped thousands of homeowners make the switch to efficient, effective solar pool heating. Call us now at (727) 353-3886 and let’s make your pool feel like summer—no matter what month it is. Reach out today and get a free estimate. The sun’s ready. Are you?

Did you know that solar power installations in Central Florida have grown by over 40% in the past year? We love to see it! Now that we are halfway through 2025, we’d like to take a look at what’s going on in the solar world, because the more you know about solar, the better prepared you will be when you begin the process of installing it. Let’s discuss!

What’s New?

A lot is going on in the solar industry, so let’s break it down into sections:

Market Trends

• Overall, solar continues to expand and become a major player in the renewable energy industry.
• New large-scale solar plant projects are expected to continue.
• Solar batteries are becoming more efficient and even more popular.
• Due to the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), domestic manufacturing is on the rise.
• Equipment costs are falling in some sectors, but residential solar is experiencing an increase in costs due to tariffs
• Installation delays and scheduling backlogs are a problem, and utility interconnection is taking longer than normal. Remember to allow 2-3 months for permitting and installation.
• Utility prices are rising, which makes solar installations more popular than ever.

Read More > Are Solar Batteries Worth the Cost in Florida?

Legal & Government

• There are potential changes to the Federal Solar Tax Credit (ITC). Recently, a House bill proposed that it should end after December 31st, 2025, which could impact residents wishing to go solar. This tax credit was supposed to last decades, so if this bill is passed, it could put a damper on solar installations. The situation is ongoing, though, so there is hope.
• Tariffs on goods from China and Southeast Asia continue to be a concern
• Some states (not Florida currently) are implementing new policies that affect net metering programs. This could impact how some homeowners are compensated for the excess energy that they send back to the grid.

Read more > What Solar Incentives Are Offered to Orlando Residents?

Solar Innovations

• Solar roof tiles, bifacial panels, and perovskite solar cells are new and exciting technologies that we can’t wait to explore more.
• Solid-state and flow battery technologies are offering longer lifespans and safer operation.
• AI integrations are being used for solar system performance optimization, including maintenance and energy storage management.

Solar is Always On Trend

Looking back at the first half of 2025, we are excited to see how solar is reshaping renewable energy production across Florida. Though there are some challenges due to tariffs and possible disruptions to tax credits, there is still a lot to be optimistic about!

If you are considering installing a solar system at your Central Florida home, now is a great time to act! Waiting to go solar could cause you to miss out on substantial savings, face higher tariffs, or experience even more delays with installation.

Get started today by calling Solar Bear Orlando for a quote at (727) 353-3886!

If you’ve made the smart move to go solar in Tampa, odds are you’re already thinking a step ahead—like how to store that free, sun-powered energy. A solar battery can keep your lights on during an outage, slash your energy bill, and help you ride out peak-rate pricing. But can you combine any battery with your solar panels? We don’t recommend it.

Here’s how to make sure your solar storage setup actually works with your panels—and not against them:

1. Know How Much Energy You Actually Use

Start here—not with a specific product in mind. You need to really evaluate your lifestyle and daily habits.

• How much electricity do you use on an average day? We recommend checking a few months’ worth of electric bills and looking at your kilowatt-hour totals.
• Do you want full-home backup or just the essentials—fridge, lights, internet?
• Do you already have an inverter? If so, its output and compatibility matter.

This info gives you a baseline for what your battery needs to store—and how often it’ll be called into action.

2. Pick a Battery That Makes Sense (Not Just Noise)

There are several solar batteries on the market, and they each function quite differently.. Here’s the short list of what’s worth knowing:

• Lithium-Ion (Like Tesla Powerwall or Enphase): A sleek, efficient, long-lasting option. It’s great for homeowners who want low maintenance and high energy density.
• Lead-Acid (Like AGM or Flooded): They’re cheaper up front, but bulkier, heavier, and less efficient over time. Still fine for basic backup use.
• Other Types: Niche options, like nickel-cadmium and flow batteries, are usually reserved for industrial setups. Most Tampa homeowners won’t need these options.

The bottom line is that Most Floridians pair their panels with lithium-ion—and for good reason. The tech’s matured, and the investment’s worth the longer lifespan.

3. Match Panel Output to Battery Capacity

Here’s where the math comes in, but we’ll keep it simple. Let’s say you have a 100Ah lithium-ion battery. You’ll want a solar array that produces 150 to 200 watts per hour of sun to keep it charging efficiently. (That’s about 1.5 to 2 times the battery capacity.)

In Tampa, where sunshine is basically a utility, this combo works beautifully. But oversizing or under-sizing is how you end up wasting money—or power.

4. Look at the Battery’s Fine Print

A battery’s specs matter—a lot. Look out for:

• Capacity (kWh):This is the total energy the battery can hold.
• Power Output (kW):This represents how much power the battery can deliver at once.
• Depth of Discharge (DoD):Measures how much of the battery you can use safely without damaging it.
• Round-Trip Efficiency:Refers to the percentage of stored energy you’ll actually get back when using it.
• Cycle Life:The number of times it can charge/discharge before performance starts to dip.

All these numbers help paint a picture of how well the battery will work long term. Don’t overlook them.

5. One Last Thing: Ask for Help

If you’ve got questions about solar, you deserve answers—not from the internet, but from real people who know Tampa’s grid, weather, and rebate incentives. Turn to Solar Bear of Tampa.

When it comes to solar, the right setup is the one that fits your life—not just your electrical panel. Our local pros can look at your roof, panels, usage, and budget—and help you pick a battery that won’t just work but work smart.

Ready to lock in your solar ROI? Let’s find the perfect battery that works in sync with your system—and your lifestyle. Call Solar Bear of Tampa today at (727) 353-3886!