Intex 28685 Eco-friendly Solar Heating Mat for Swimming Pools

wow these actually work --- in the sun of course :)

I've got two of these on my garage roof in series with a submersible pump slowly pumping the water through , on sunny days we're seeing any thing from only a lowly 3C to a healthy 16C rise between input and output depending on the sun, our 10ft metal frame pool gets shaded by a fence in the afternoons and we've struggled to get it to bearable bathing temps , but two days of sun and the water temp was 26.8C ...wow....A pool above the ambient air temp ..yay....that is with the submersible pump running from the moment the sun hit the mats till ~ 6:30pm both days.
Ok so that's not hot tub temperatures but it really has made our pool more enjoyable than last year with out the mats.

I've not got around to covering them with clear plastic or even better glass which always makes solar collectors work better due to limiting losses due to wind and light rain showers.... I so impressed with these cheap mats I am going to make a clear cover for them on top of my garage where they can live out the summer.

Be aware though no pipes are supplied with the mats, there are some pump adaptors supplied for differing sizes of standard above ground pool pumps , but if you want to mount them remotely like i did you'll have to make up you're own adapters and of course buy some piping.

Last thing to note is that the mats seem quite thick and robust but only time will tell if thats true.
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Verified purchase:  Yes • Condition: new • Sold by: garden-paradise

Poor quality solar mat

I bought 2 of these solar mats and both failed for the same reason within a day of setting them up and using them.
The plastic weld is poor in some places leading it to fail and leak.
I was very careful setting them up and made sure they were placed on flexible soft plastic under sheet to ensure nothing could puncture them so it was definitely not a case of misuse or bad installation!
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Verified purchase:  Yes • Condition: new • Sold by: DqQ6wsUkRR-@Del...

It works - but you do need a pump

I took a bit of a gamble on this as there were some negative reviews, but it does work. Don't expect instant results in terms of pool temperature but it does what it says, raises the temperature by a few degrees over several hours. I'm using one mat with an 8-foot pool and when you're in the pool and the mat is in the sun you can feel that the water coming in is considerably warmer than what's going out. I wonder if the people who gave poor review didn't;t realise that you have to use this in conjunction with a pump/filter - if you don't circulate the water, it won't do anything!

The only downsides are that it is quite large so check you have the right space; I'd had ideas about moving it during the day to catch the best of the sun but that isn't really practical, not least as the hoses supplied aren't terribly long, and the need for the pump in the circuit further restricts how and where it can be sited.

I also have some concerns about longevity - the mat creases quite a bit where the inlet and outlet pipes join, especially the bigger bypass valve on the inlet side (though that is a useful feature) and I can see that with weathering, it's likely to split there, where it would be very difficult to repair. I don't plan to leave it out any longer than we're using the pool of course, and hope that with care it'll last a few years. Read full review

Good quality

The mat was supplied with the incorrect clamps, I have emailed Intex but no response yet. I used cable ties as a temporary measure and the mat works well. The mat has crumpled up at one end and doesn’t quite sit flat anymore but doesn’t affect the performance. Read full review

Verified purchase:  Yes • Condition: new • Sold by: eurocarparts

Does the job.

If you have a garden pool around 12 foot in diameter two of these (run in series) will raise the temperature by enough to make it comfortable. It will need a decent pump (look at the ones that Machine Mart sell) and not the flimsey things that come with the pools. Also use a sand filter not the paper filter things that are useless. The way the mats are constructed means that there are weak spots around the entry and exit points, keep a repair kit handy for when it happens. You will also need a few metres of 32mm flex tubing (and hose clips) to connect pool, mats and pump.Read full review

Has to be really sunny for long periods to work well

Not sure the UK is really sunny enough for this to work that well. Our pool (3mx2m) temperature has barely changed over the few days we have had it installed and running inline with the pump.

Verified purchase:  Yes • Condition: new • Sold by: spreetail_uk

Limited, but it works.

Don't expect massive heating with this, but I managed to get up to 8 degrees difference dependent on the conditions.

Not worth it

Unless you live in sunny climates don’t bother. Even in 30 degree heat it won’t work.You’d need at least 5 of these to make any sort of difference. The water from the pool cools the mat so therefore doesn’t heat the water. It’s well made but that’s about all it’s got going for it
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Verified purchase:  Yes • Condition: new • Sold by: sport_and_fashi...

Not fit for Purpose

This Solar pool heater is not fit for purpose. It basically did not work. What a waste.
It can not heat a bowl of water talk less of a Pool

Highly Recommended

I have utilised these Index solar heating mats for years now.
Current is a replacement for an old mat (number of summers old) that cracked at a junction [it does spent hours & hours in direct sunlight]. Such cracks are unfixable - just replace the solar mat.
They heat my 12-foot pool by 2-6 degrees Celsius - depends on duration + strength of sunlight. Unrealistic + unreasonable to expect more.
Most cost-effective option I reckon.
Mine is driven through/by a sand filter.
Probably will need longer connection tubing than short black pipe included.
I paid GBP26 this time = reasonable, but price can vary widely. Under GBP30 would be acceptable to me.
* I highly RECOMMEND the Index solar mat *Read full review

Verified purchase:  Yes • Condition: new • Sold by: spreetail_uk