I wanted to post something about solar heating after a conversation I had with another agent, where I was sharing about my experiences with my in-ground pool.  For those of you considering heating your pool, I'd highly recommend solar as opposed to gas heat - it's environmentally sound and super cost-efficient.  Easy to install?  Well, that depends on if you are handy with PVC plumbing.

Lots of people have asked how I did it.  Here's a pic of my solar panels:

 I plumbed the system underground to my pump and filter (which I replaced as part of the installation, to make sure everything was new).  I upgraded my pump 1/2 horse to account for the extra power needed to push the water to the top of the garage roof.   Basically, the water flows from the pool to the pump and filter, then up to the roof where it is forced through the veins of the black PVC mats you see here.  Those puppies get real hot in the sun.  The heated water then uses gravity to fall back down the far tube (on the left in the photo) and to the pool jets.  It works great!  I've seen this system done in the ground near the pool as well, which would be great if you have the sun there.  By the way, this works for above-ground systems too.

There's nobody in the Lancaster area who does this specifically, so I used my national online source (Ebay) to order the mats and valves.  Cost was about $400.  My friend Steve Mellinger of Blue Moon Enterprises Solar helped me with the panel mounting.  One issue I've come up with has been leaks in the panels after the winter storms, which I've had to plug (the manufacturer give instructions for this so I guess it's normal).  Overall, though, I am highly pleased by my experience and the pool is 85 degrees all summer!  I'll get an additional month in the fall as well.

Hopefully this is helpful information for you if you are considering alternative energy to heat your pools - I'd recommend it.

For Lancaster PA Real Estate information or more info on my pool adventures feel free to email me or call at 717-581-2467.