Solar Kiddie Pool Heater

I came up with a way to warm our kiddie pool almost to bathwater temperature on sunny days.

First, I lay a piece of black plastic sheeting over the water in the morning.  The black plastic absorbs heat, warms the water underneath, and traps the heat.

I added a small sump pump from a discarded water feature fountain, and plugged it into a GFI outlet.  I also unplug it before entering the pool as an added precaution.

The pump circulates the water from the pool, through a 100 foot coil of 1/2" black poly tubing, and back to the pool again.  The tubing is attached to a piece of plywood made black by covering it with leftover asphalt shingles turned upside down.  Nipper, the gator, helps to hold the tubes in place.

Voila! By mid afternoon, the water is warm, just in time for a pre-dinner soak.  It is a soothing place to watch the hummingbird antics at the feeder a few feet away.

Cheers!