Australian summers are synonymous with time spent in the water. But while backyard pools are common throughout the country, rising energy prices are putting a strain on household expenses. And for many Australians, pool pump expenses are blowing out their energy bills.
In fact, a report by Canstar found the average pool owner spends between $800 and $1,200 annually on pool maintenance. That’s around $23 every week. The majority of those costs are due to the electricity required to run the pool pump.
Solar panels can play a significant role in reducing household energy costs. During the summer months, they can entirely offset the costs of a standard 1.5kWh rated pool pump.
And it’s not just households that can take advantage of solar panels to reduce their energy expenses.
Last year, the Halls Creek Shire invested in a rooftop solar energy system for its local aquatic centre. With an annual energy bill reaching $100,000, the new solar installation is expected to save the town around $30,000 – covering the cost of panel installation.
Regular or heated pool: What’s the cost difference?
Drawing from the Canstar report, a regular pool can cost up to $1,200 to run annually, consuming anywhere between 2,000 to 3,000 kWh of electricity. The bulk of this expense is made up by running electricity to your pool pump.
However, for homeowners with heated pools, those energy costs skyrocket. Gas pool heating is popular because of how effective it is at heating water quickly. However, heating a pool with gas can cost $4 to $17 per hour.
Solar heating is a far cheaper alternative. With solar, that hourly price drops to between $0.18 and $0.26 per hour, according to Canstar.
Additional expenses on top of the pool pump
Heating isn’t the only major expense when maintaining a pool. Necessary pool filters, which remove debris from the water, can add $0.26 to $0.53 per hour to energy bills.
Water evaporation can also drive up household bills, and even affect the heat of your pool. Canstar reveals owners can see up to 70 per cent in energy loss.
Our professional solar installers in Brisbane will assess and determine your energy needs. We customise a solar panel system in Brisbane to fit the roof size of your property, ensuring you receive the most suitable solar panel system for your Brisbane home, meeting to property’s energy requirements.
Using solar panels for your pool’s energy needs can alleviate many of these expenses. Solar keeps the costs of maintaining and heating your pool much lower than by traditional means.
