Intex pool filter and pump upgrade options/considertions

[PoolDoc]

This year I also wired/plumbed for SwimMax 11KW electric heater which does a superior job heating the small pool as you would expect.

Uhh, Bob, what were you thinking?? Anybody who knows what a KWH is . . .

Whatever. Kick that thing to the curb! (No wait, it probably has scrap-able metal - take it to the recycler!)

[CarlD]

As I once had an Intex 15' donut I'm vaguely familiar with what you can and cannot do. I agree: Lose the heater.

If you have a 10'x4' patch you can put a flexible solar heat panel on, or one of those new "Solar domes" (with the coils in a spiral) you can get VERY effective heating for your little pool, without killing your electric bill, EVEN USING YOUR LITTLE FILTER! No joke! I had the even smaller filter they put on it 14 years ago and I successfully ran the 10x4 panel with--got the water up to 105 deg one day! You'll save the cost of the panel and external hoses in electricity savings.

Plus, you can wash out and reuse the filters several times before you must discard them.

[SafetyBob]

Thank you all for the responses. I had given especially those solar domes for a little over a 100 bucks a serious look last year and it looks like I need to get one or two, space is somewhat a premium, but I will make/find room if it will save THAT much money. It is nice to have the heat when you need the heat, but boy it sure can zap the bill alot.

Actually, my walls are insulated by 1/2 inch closed cell foam insulation and also my DIY cover is made of the same stuff. That made a huge difference on heat loss.

Bob E.