Place your solar collectors almost anywhere in the sun. However, more solar energy reaches them during the swimming season when they face within 45 degrees of true south and slope at an angle from the ground that is 15 degrees less than the latitude in your location. For year around swimming in the Sunbelt, the ideal angle is equal to latitude.

The solar collector sizes listed in the selection tables are based on an ideal solar collector location. If the slope angle is 10 to 15 degrees more or less than ideal, increase collector area by 10 percent. If the collectors are laid flat on the ground, or on a flat roof increase collector area by 15 percent.

The direction that the collectors face becomes more important as the slope angle increase. if they face 45 to 60 degrees from south, add 5 to 20 percent to collector area. If they face east or west, add 25 to 50 percent.

The lower number is for flatter slopes, the higher number is for steeper slopes. If the collectors are mounted flat and you have allowed for this by adding 15 percent to the collector area, they may face in any direction.

If the pool is shade all day, increase the collector area by 50 percent of the percentage shaded. For example, if the pool is shade 50 percent of the day, add 25 percent collector area. If the pool is inside and insect screen room, increase the collector area by 25 percent.

In locations where the average wind speed exceeds 10 miles per hour, add 25 percent to the collector area for each 5 miles per hour over 10.

The more water flowing through the solar collectors, the more heat they will send to the pool. Recommended flow rate is 0.10 gallons per minute per square foot. For example, 0.10 x 48 square feet equals 4.8 or about 5 gallons per minute for a 4 x 12 foot Hi-Deluxe panel. Minimum is 0.05 gallons per minute per square foot.