Beluga Gen2 Best Practices

Get the Most from Your Solar Pool Heating System

One of the biggest advantages of the Beluga Gen2 is its simplicity. With no electricity or gas required, it uses the sun's energy to gradually warm your pool while your filtration system is running.

Like any solar heating system, however, a few setup details can make a noticeable difference in performance. If you want to maximize the amount of heat your Beluga collects, follow these proven best practices.

1. Use Black Rubber Hose for the Best Results

Testing has consistently shown that black or dark-colored rubber hose provides the best performance.

Rubber absorbs and retains solar heat better than many other hose materials. It also holds that heat longer when conditions aren't perfect, such as during cool breezes or when clouds temporarily block the sun. This helps maintain more consistent water temperatures throughout the day.

2. Place the Hose on a Heat-Absorbing Surface

Where you position your hose matters. Whenever possible, lay the hose on a surface that naturally becomes hot in the sun, such as:

• Concrete

• Asphalt

• A dark-colored deck

• The top rail of an above-ground pool

• Other dark, sun-exposed surfaces

These surfaces absorb solar energy throughout the day and transfer additional warmth to the hose, allowing the water inside to collect even more heat before returning to your pool.

3. Coil the Hose Correctly

Proper hose placement helps maximize heat transfer. When coiling your hose, lay the coils neatly together. Then, finish with the final coil resting on top of the others.

This simple arrangement helps keep water in the hose slightly longer, giving it more time to absorb heat before it returns to the pool.

4. Don't Raise the Hose Too High

The Beluga Gen2 is designed to work with your pool's existing circulation system. Avoid lifting the hose more than 5 feet above your pool's return fitting. Raising the water too high increases resistance on your filtration system and may damage the Beluga unit or place unnecessary strain on your pool pump.

Keeping the hose closer to pool level allows the system to operate safely and efficiently.

5. Longer Hose Means More Heating Capacity

One of the easiest ways to increase heating potential is by using an additional hose.

A a longer, additional hose provides:

• More surface area to collect solar energy

• More water volume inside the hose

• Longer exposure to the sun before water returns to the pool

As water travels through a longer section of sun-warmed hose, it has more opportunity to absorb heat, resulting in warmer water returning to your pool.

6. Find the Right Water Flow

Water flow is one of the most important factors in solar pool heating. If water moves too quickly, it doesn't spend enough time inside the hose to absorb much heat.

If water moves too slowly, the water exiting the hose may become very warm — even hot — but there won't be enough heated water returning to the pool to noticeably increase the overall pool temperature.

The goal is to find a balanced flow rate where enough water is circulating while still spending sufficient time in the hose to collect solar energy. This balance provides the greatest overall warming effect for your pool.

Small Adjustments & Best Practices Can Make a Big Difference

Solar pool heating is all about maximizing the sun's energy. Using the right hose, placing it on heat-absorbing surfaces, optimizing your coil layout, maintaining proper elevation, selecting an appropriate hose length, and dialing in your water flow can all improve your Beluga's performance.

With the right setup and plenty of sunshine, your Beluga Gen2 can help you enjoy warmer, more comfortable swimming throughout the pool season while keeping operating costs to a minimum.