Intex 28685 Pool EcoFriendly Solar Heating Mat, Includes 32mm hose attachment points Suitable for above-ground pools with a capacity less than 30,280L

We have run a 12 foot pool in the past with a heat pump and never got the temperature above 28 degrees. We have gone for a smaller 8 foot pool at a new home and thought I would try this heat mat as a low cost way of raising the temperature. I know we have had some very sunny weather, but we managed to get the pool to a tropical 32 degrees. This was certainly well above even the highest ambient temperature.The mat is high quality, especially the connections and flow diverter, this is great as it allows you to pass through at higher volumes/speeds which is critical when you want to prioritise filtering the water over heating.Remember, you will need a pump to push the water round. We use the Intex pump that came with our original 12 foot pool and it works very well. Also, make sue you don't leave the pump on with water moving through the heat mat overnight... it is just as effective at losing heat if you do this. This is where switching the flow valve to pass through works well.Overall, really effective product at a good price and delivered quickly.

I have 4 of these in series to heat my hot tub with a separate pump. They do work well and managed to get the tub to 40deg in the recent hot weather! I do find though that the cumbersome connectors cause the pads to flex on the joins causing he veins to kink and it restricts the flow of water. Not a major issue as there is still water flowing, it just reduces the overall flow rate to a trickle at times.

I had high hopes after reading the reviews. It made perfect sense that these should work. I bought two mats. Our pool is fairly modest (8ft circular). I set up as per the instructions, nice sunny spot:Issue 1 - the flow rate was non existent, our filter/pump isn't the strongest so bought a 800 gal/ph thinking this would solve the issue. It didn't, pump on its own was very powerful but as soon as you put it through the mats you couldn't even feel it on the return hose to the pool.So I sent that one back and got an evening more powerful one (1000 gal/ph) but the same issue. Could just feel it coming through but the flow rate was pathetic. Slowing the water down that much I'm sure would eventually destroy the pump.Issue 2 - this is linked the the first issue, the mats won't stay flat, they bunch up causing kinks.Issue 3 - even once I had them fairly flat and a trickle of flow going through them on a warm sunny day with them in full sunlight for hours it made no difference.Not sure if I had a bad batch but I certainly wouldn't buy again.Gave up in the end and sent them back. Very disappointed. Going to have to resort to good old electric heater

Works reasonably well but the pump on the intex pool is not really powerful enough to filter and push through this, could do with an upgraded pump in combination with the solar heater and filters.

My system is a bit heath Robinson but was trying to find a cheaper way to heat the hot tub.The pictures were taken on 8 July 22 . It was very sunny and hot. 25 Deg in East of England.The instructions say don't put on the roof , but I've a sturdy log cabin and 2x8 beams inside.Since the roof gets hot it seams ideal.I've a 1500l/h pump which isn't strong enough really.Getting connectors to fit was a pain. But my old hottub pipes were just the right size to jam in the panels connectors. I then used standard hose pipe connectors to get the water from the pool , up 2.5m to the first panel.The slower the flow rate the hotter it gets. 56 was because the rate was too slow. But I started with pool temp at 26 Deg at 11am and had standing water heating up in the panels all morning.By 5pm the pool temp is up to 34.5. and water from the roof is 40. The digital thermometer is also on Amazon. 8 quid for 3.Room temp for the pool room is 32.1Until my bigger pump turns up , I have to feed mains water pressure from the garden hose to remove the air and get the flow going again.Yes it's a bit of a faff but for £30 a panel I've had an 8 degree increase today . And that's just lovely to sit it on such a hot day.New pump now fitted 4000l/hour. This seems to be enough to give a gentle flow through 4 panels.10/7/22 pool temp rose from 33 to 40 in 7 hours.Outside temp was 27 with uninterrupted sunshine.I do find that air builds up in the panels and needs about 4 mins of mains hosepipe water pressure to blast it through, then I swap to the 4000l pump.I've since added a 110ah leisure battery , 300w inverter and a 60w solar panel so it's now off grid.Seems to cope with the 90watt pump.

good

Product is great increased temp by a little bit

Waste of money