Solar Pool Heater Kit Sizing Calculator Fill out the form below to calculate the ideal solar panel setup for heating your pool. Solar Pool Heater Calculator STEP 1 - Establish Pool Surface Area Using a tape measure, determine the pool's overall length and width. Enter the overall pool width: ft Enter the overall pool length: ft STEP 2 - Select Pool Shape Use the Pool Shape chart to determine the Shape Factor by selecting your pool shape and its corresponding factor number. Pool Shape Factor Rectangle 1.00 Kidney 0.85 Freeform 0.85 Oval 0.90 Round 0.79 Enter the pool shape factor number: STEP 3 - Select Roof Orientation Determine your roof's directional orientation with a compass. Choose the roof area based on fit, function, appearance, and direction. A south-facing roof is ideal for maximum efficiency. Solar panels can face up to 30° East or West of True South for optimal performance. Panels should not face north unless mounted on a rack that tilts them southward. Use the Roof Orientation chart to find the Orientation Factor by matching your roof direction with the corresponding factor. If using multiple roof locations, use the least efficient direction for calculations. Roof Orientation Factor South Facing 1.00 East Facing 1.25 West Facing 1.25 Flat Roof* 1.10 Enter the roof orientation factor number: STEP 4 - Determine Pool Shading Use the Pool Shading chart to determine the Shade Multiplier Factor by estimating the percentage of shading on the pool between 9:00 am and 5:00 pm. Shade Factor No shade from 9 am - 5 pm 1.00 25% Shade 1.10 50% Shade 1.25 75% Shade 1.50 100% Shade (Indoor Pool) 1.75 If only a portion of the pool is shaded for part of the solar day, then a Shade Multiplier Factor should be extrapolated from the table (e.g., 50% of the pool shaded for 50% (4 hours) of the solar day equals 25% or a multiplier of 1.10). Indoor pools should use 100% shade multiplier. Enter the shade multiplier factor number: STEP 5 - Select Screen Enclosure Choose the appropriate Screen Enclosure Multiplier. Screen Enclosure Multiplier No screen enclosure 1.00 Screen enclosure 1.25 Enter the screen enclosure multiplier: STEP 6 - Establish desired swimming season Florida Residents - Using the chart below, find your location, then choose the corresponding factor number. If you are located between two numbers, use the average. When in doubt, use the larger number. Florida Map Region of Florida 9-10 Month 11-12 Month North 0.64 0.80 Central 0.56 0.68 South 0.48 0.56 Outside of Florida - Using the map below, find your location and then choose the corresponding factor number. If you are located between two or more numbers, use the average. When in doubt, use the larger number. Insolation Map Insolation Map Enter the swimming season factor number including the decimal point: Click the "calculate" button to see your results: Calculate Reset Pool Surface Area: sq. ft. Pool Footage: sq. ft. Number of 4' x 8' panels needed: Number of 4' x 10' panels needed: Number of 4' x 12' panels needed:
