How to maintain and winterize solar pool heating?

How and when to maintain solar heating for swimming pools?

Solar pool heating is very efficient and requires little maintenance. However, it is important to carry out a simple cleaning at least once a year. It is also an opportunity to check that the installation is in good condition, to check the fixing of the device, in particular if the equipment is placed on the roof and to detect any leaks.

When to clean solar panels for swimming pools?

The cleaning of solar panels for swimming pools is done at least once a year, depending on the case, at the start of the season, at the end of the season or during the season. However if the installation is located in a place where the pollution is more important such as an area:

• Urban, with heavy road traffic or near a site industrial,
• Maritime where sand and spray can dirty and clog the panels more quickly,
• Forestry where pollen, leaves and twigs are very present and settle on the installation,
• Agricultural where plowing and harvesting produce a lot of dust,

or even, if the region has little rainfall, you must then be more vigilant and check the solar installation several times during the season to ensure that the various types of pollution do not alter its good working.

Most of the time, the rain cleans the main dirt from the solar collectors. If there is a more favorable period to undertake cleaning, it is when the pool reopens or during wintering.

If the panels are on the roof or high up, cleaning at spring is interesting because leaves, twigs and other dirt may have accumulated during the autumn and winter period.

For panels that are on the ground and more particularly kits for above-ground pools, cleaning occurs at the time that seems most appropriate, that is to say when the equipment visibly needs human intervention. Rain is generally enough to keep the equipment clean.

For solar domes, it is necessary to intervene when traces of water mark the walls. Because then, the installation can become a little less efficient.

How to clean solar panels for swimming pools?

Cleaning pool solar collectors is quick and easy. If the solar heating is at a height, on the roof for example, it is essential to take all the necessary measures to ensure the safety of whoever intervenes.

For cleaning, simply pass a cloth or a soft sponge on the surface. If necessary, soap can be used provided you rinse well. But do not use a high-pressure cleaner, aggressive detergent, solvent or abrasive sponge, as this may damage the panels.

The cleaning water should not be too cold, especially if the maintenance takes place in season, because the thermal shock between the hot water which circulates in the pipes and the cold water, can have consequences on the sensors.

How to winterize the solar heating of the swimming pool?

Solar heating can be winterized as soon as the sun is no longer strong enough to heat the water in the collectors, or when the pool is winterized. In all cases, the swimming pool filtration pump is closed, the circulation valves of the suction and discharge nozzles are also closed.

For domes and solar kits, it is necessary to clean the equipment, disconnect the pipes that connect the heating to the swimming pool, purge the device, obstruct the openings of the device in order to prevent dust, animals or insects lodge there. Then carefully store the equipment in a frost-free place, taking care not to put anything on the domes.

For rooftop installation, the heater stays in place. It is essential to bleed the sensors and the lift pump. The latter can be disassembled and stored in a frost-free location if the region has harsh winters.


Ultimately, solar heating is low maintenance and winterizing is done very easily!

So why choose solar heating for your swimming pool rather than another method of heating? How to install solar pool heating for optimal operation? These are the questions we answer in our dedicated articles.