Everything You Need to Know About Solar Pool Covers
Everything You Need to Know About Solar Pool Covers
Want to quickly and efficiently heat your pool without spending extra money on utilities? If that sounds like a good deal, then a solar pool cover might be a great option! We get a lot of questions about these awesome covers each summer, so we thought we’d share some insights:
How do solar pool covers work?
Solar pool covers harness the power of the sun to help heat your pool. The cover looks similar to bubble wrap and the tiny bubbles work together to collect and retain heat from the sun’s rays. The heat is then delivered to the water, effectively heating your pool.
Solar Pool Cover Do solar pool covers actually work?
Absolutely! These covers have been proven to raise your pool water temperature by 15 degrees — without using any additional heat source. Most pool owners find them to be a great investment.
What is the best color for a solar pool cover?
Solar blankets come in many colors, but clear and blue covers tend to be the most common. Which color is best for your pool depends on your goals and personal preferences.
Because they’re translucent, clear solar covers allow more light and energy to access the water, so you may see more of a temperature increase. However, it works the opposite way as well, so more heat escapes, and your pool may not retain the heat for as long. On the other hand, dark blue covers allow less energy to pass through, so the temperature change often isn’t quite as dramatic, but the pool retains the heat longer. Consider a light blue solar cover if you’re looking for a good balance between heat absorption and retention.
Properly storing your solar cover at the end of the outdoor pool season is essential if you want to prevent damage and replacement costs.
Lay the cover out on a flat area (grass preferred) and hose it down.
Let it dry completely. You can use a leaf blower to speed up the drying process. Don’t let it air dry for too long in the sun as it can burn/damage your grass.
Once dry, fold it up and place it into a container with a secure lid to prevent animals and debris from causing damage.
Follow all manufacturer instructions. In most cases, you just use water and no special cleaners are required.
How do I keep a solar pool cover from blowing off?
Generally, solar covers grip pretty well to the water surface and do not require anything to weigh them down or prevent blowing. If you’re having problems with it, contact a pool specialist.
What size solar cover do I need?
You want to get a solar blanket that covers the entire pool so there’s no room for heat to escape. To figure out the right size, measure your swimming pool from the longest and widest points. If you look at your pool like a clock face, generally you’ll measure from 12 to 6 and 9 to 3. When in doubt, bigger is better. Solar covers can generally be cut to fit.
