Having a pool is tremendously fun. But you must also worry about pool maintenance and keeping the water warm, especially if you live in a chilly place. That is why many people opt for solar pool covers. So, what are they, and do solar pool covers work?
Solar pool covers can keep your water warm, reduce evaporation, and lower energy costs. Moreover, since your pool will not lose much water, you can cut down on swimming pool chemicals. However, they can be expensive and cumbersome to operate.
Solar pool covers are an investment in every sense of the word. While their initial cost might be high, you will save time and money in the long run. That is why they are the perfect addition to your pool.
Do Solar Pool Covers Work: What You Need to Know
Yes, solar pool covers can keep your pool water warm. These awesome pool covers can reduce evaporation and heat loss by 95% in some cases.
Moreover, they can also help your swimming pool retain heat at night when it is cold outside. Solar pool covers reduce water evaporation too, which is an added benefit.
However, even though these covers work, some variables determine their effectiveness. Mainly, factors like the weather, pool depth, air temperature, and even the thickness of the cover itself affect effectiveness.
Evaporation is one of the main reasons why your swimming pool loses heat. Therefore, you will retain heat if you can reduce water lost to evaporation. This is where solar pool covers are so helpful.
Placing a high-quality cover over your pool will reduce evaporation, keeping your water warm and ultimately reducing costs. Your energy costs will reduce since you do not have to use the heater much – and who doesn’t like reducing costs?
What Are Even Solar Pool Covers?
You will be surprised how many people do not know something like a solar pool cover exists. Essentially these covers are used to keep swimming pool water warm. Therefore, it is a fantastic and nifty little thing for those in colder climates.
Solar pool covers are similar to strong bubble wrap. But they are heavier. When you lay it over your pool, you do not need to anchor them down either. The sheer weight of the cover and surface tension keeps them in place.
All pool maintenance experts recommend covering your pool anyway. However, some people are quite skeptical of solar pool covers. A pool cover and a solar pool cover are not the same things.
A regular pool cover is used to cover the pool simply. It could be for safety reasons or to keep debris out of it. Some people might even cover their pool for the winter.
On the other hand, a solar pool cover keeps your pool warm, reduces evaporation, and reduces energy costs.
How Do Solar Pool Covers Work?
Let’s dive deeper into how solar pool covers work. Think of a normal bubble wrap. Now imagine they are blown up to a large size. That is essentially what solar pool covers are.
These bubbles can trap heat inside them, which helps your pool stay warm. Two sides do not look the same. The inside, the side that will touch the water, has bubbles.
This is what insulates your swimming pool water and keeps it warm. On the other hand, the outer side, which you will see, is flat.
You can use them both during the day and at night. However, they will do different things depending on the time of day. When the sun is out, it heats the pool water.
But as soon as your pool water starts to evaporate, they get caught in the bubbles. The cover traps the water, which stops evaporation and heats the water. In addition, during the night, putting this cover on your pool will help retain heat.
Advantages of Using a Solar Pool Cover
Plenty of benefits might convince you if you are on the fence about using a solar pool cover for your swimming pool. Here are some pretty enticing reasons you might want to use one:
1. They Naturally Heat Your Pool
Solar pool covers are fantastic at heating your pool. This will benefit you even more if you live in a cold climate. Thanks to the bubbles, heat gets trapped inside.
2. They Reduce Evaporation
Solar pool covers are great for reducing evaporation as well. This means you will have very little water loss. Swimming pools lose a lot of water to evaporation.
Over time, this will cost you. You will need to replenish your pool’s water. Since solar pool covers practically act as a barrier, you can reduce water loss due to evaporation.
3. They Reduce Costs
These nifty pool covers trap heat; your pool heater does not need to work as hard. As a result, you can save money on energy costs. Over time, this can result in significant savings.
Moreover, since there is less evaporation, you can also reduce chemical costs. You do not need to constantly treat the water with chemicals since you do not have to replace the water frequently. Overall, it can also help you save time on pool maintenance which is always a plus.
4. They Are Environmentally Friendly
Solar pool covers use solar power – duh. Therefore, you are not using energy to keep your pool warm. Moreover, since you lose less water, you do not need to keep replacing lost water either. Using solar pool covers has trickle-down benefits that ultimately benefit the environment.
5. They Keep Debris Out of Your Pool
These pool covers are, in the end, just covers for your swimming pool. You can lay it over your pool and call it a day. It will help keep debris out of your pool and make cleanup easier.
6. They Help You Get More Out of Your Pool
If you live in colder climates, a solar pool cover will help you use your pool further into the pool season. The water will stay warm and comfortable. Therefore, you can get more use out of your pool without waiting for your pool heater to warm the water.
Why You Might Not Want to Buy a Solar Pool Cover
Before you click that buy button, you must also know the disadvantages of using solar pool covers. There are not many, but they are still worth noting.
They Can Be Cumbersome
Before you swim, you need to remove the cover from your pool. This is an extra chore that you will need to deal with. However, this is a very minor issue for all the benefits you are getting.
Some people install reels that can automatically remove the cover. However, these reels are for in-ground pools and can be very bulky.
They Were a Bit Expensive
Solar pool covers are a tad bit expensive. High-end ones can cost around the $1,000 range. Some models cost above that. You can find low-end ones, but they do not last that long. For example, you buy liquid solar covers for less than $40.
But be ready to replace it after a few months because liquid solar covers are not durable. Therefore, spending more and getting a high-quality one that will last and do its job is better.
Good solar pool covers are durable. So, they are very much like long-term investments. Moreover, you will also save money by reducing energy costs.
They Might Need to Be Customized
For solar pool covers to be effective, they need to cover the entirety of the pool. This means you must order a custom one if you have an asymmetrical pool.
You could buy a normal one and cut it to the shape of your pool. However, doing this is very difficult. In addition, you might not end up with a good cut either. That will lead to poor fit.
What to Keep in Mind When Buying a Solar Polar Cover?
You need to ensure that you buy a high-quality solar pool cover. This will ensure you get the most effective performance. There are a few factors to consider when buying one.
1. Your Pool Size
Your pool dimensions and size are the most important things you must consider before purchasing. The solar cover must be large enough to cover the entirety of your pool for it to be effective.
2. Thickness
Solar pool cover thickness is measured in a unit called mils. Buy one between 6 to 16 mils, depending on your budget. A thicker cover will be costlier. However, they give you better insulation and will be more durable.
A thinner one will allow more heat to pass through during the day. But at night, your pool will lose heat. However, thinner ones are cheaper.
A good range to shop at is 10 to 12 mils if you do not want to go for super thick models. Anything above 12 mils is considered to be quite thick.
3. Air Bubbles
Look for ones that have air bubbles on one side. These bubbles help absorb the sun’s heat and warm your pool water. In addition, thick air bubbles are a hallmark of a good solar pool cover.
They can transfer heat to the water. Plus, thicker air bubbles will also make the cover durable.
4. Material Quality
There are multiple material choices when it comes to buying solar pool covers. Each has its benefits and drawbacks. Vinyl is the best for most. They are durable and also UV-resistant.
Materials like Polyethylene are lighter but are simultaneously more affordable. Be careful, though. Polyethylene solar pool covers below 12 mils can tear.
Then there are also Polypropylene covers. These are durable and flexible. But they are cumbersome to fold up and store.
5. Easy to Use
Some solar pool covers are difficult to use. Pick one that is easy to use, for example, semi-automatic or fully-automatic. They cost more but will make your life much easier.
If you want to save money, you can use a manual one. But remember that you must place it over your pool and remove it by yourself.
6. Warranty
A proper warranty is also important. High-end models will come with long warranties and give you peace of mind that you will be covered if something happens.
Some models can even give you up to a 10-year warranty. Of course, they are more expensive as well.
Should You Use a Solar Pool Cover?
Solar pool covers are great if you want something that will keep your energy bills low, reduce water loss, and keep your pool warm. Although, remember that they are not the best if you just want something simple to cover your pool with.
Solar pool cool covers have a specific purpose and are an investment, for the most part. You also need to think of your budget. If you do not have the budget for a quality one right now, wait until you can afford a decent model.
There is no point in buying a cheap solar pool cover that will kick the bucket after a few months. Buying a cheap one will only cost you more in the long run. However, a good solar pool cover will help you save costs, cut maintenance time, and keep debris out of your pool.
Wrapping Up
Solar pool covers work well if you buy a high-quality one. However, do solar pool covers work might not be the right question to ask. They obviously work. But you might want to consider whether you need one.
They have many benefits, like reducing energy costs and keeping your pool warm. But they might be expensive and cumbersome to use sometimes. However, these covers are the best thing you can use to warm up your pool and save money.
