Solar Rings Vs Bubble Blankets:
In general, the solar pool covers are designed to be either solar ring covers or bubble blankets. Choosing among them is based on ones personal preference, yet knowing about them in detail will help you to choose the best one.
- Bubble Covers
These covers are lightweight, affordable, UV-resistant , and easy to handle. These bubbles will absorb the solar heat, trap it, and radiate it to the water effectively during daytime and act as insulators during night-time. You can easily place and take it off the cover over the pool. They are made of polypropylene or polyethylene materials that come in different thicknesses, ranging from 8 16 gauge. Remember that thicker materials trap heat effectively and are durable.
- Solar Ring Pool Covers
These are efficient covers that work to enhance the collection of solar energy into the pool. They come with rings in which when attached, they generate a raft on the pools surface via. magnets. You can easily remove the rings whenever you want to vacuum or skim. Here, the uncovered space/gap might allow the light to pass.
Hydrotools By Swimline Complete Above
Swinline hasnt forgotten about above ground pools. This reel system is made from premium aluminum reels with heavy-duty construction. If you are in search of a lasting option, you wont be disappointed. It is designed for above ground pools between 12 to 18 feet.
Like other Swimline products, its very easy to move. Only one person is required to get the job done. You must mount it on a deck or top rail to use.
Pros
- The aluminum reel is rust-proof
- Takes 5 minutes to install
Cons
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How To Choose The Best Pool Cover Reel:
A solar pool cover reel is used to deploy the cover while the pool is not in use, uncover the pool when you want to use it, and store the cover temporarily till the winter season. To utilize the pool cover reel properly, you have to choose the correct option.
So, we are here to guide you on what factors to consider and how to pick your best option. Lets get started.
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Sun2solar Rectangle Solar Cover Best For In
This rectangular solar cover from Sun2Solar was our favorite choice for in-ground swimming pools. Its available in many different sizes, so you should have no trouble finding the perfect fit for your pool. You also get a choice between a blue or white cover, depending on what you think looks better. Similar to other solar covers, this one reduces evaporation up to 95% while helping your pool water retain heat. Its one of the most effective covers weve seen when it comes to heat retention. After a day in the sun, we noticed a 10-degree change in water temperature. After two days of sun-heating, we saw just under 15 degrees of added warmth in our pool water with no heater needed.
While we really liked the performance of the Sun2Solar solar cover, we werent thrilled with the price. This is one of the most expensive solar pool covers that weve seen. That said, it worked so well that we think its worth shelling out the extra cash for its solid performance. When you need a reliable solar cover for your in-ground pool, this is the one we suggest. For these reasons, weve named this as the best solar pool cover for inground pools available this year.
- Plastic bubbles started falling into the pool
- Warranty doesnt cover damage from chemicals
- More expensive than other options
Can You Walk On A Pool Safety Cover
Although they may sound like safety covers for pools, they aren’t meant to be used as walking surfaces. Many pool owners discovered that if you walk under a safety cover, it can bow to your weight. If you attempt to walk across the entire thing, you’ll be wet to your knees. You will also find that your footing can be very unstable due to the slippery cover and the steep slope. It is dangerous to walk on the pool cover and can result in damage. They can be used as trampolines by children in the neighborhood, which often results in the stainless springs being stretched. The spring hardware can also be affected by heavy snow loads.
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In The Swim Premium 12 Mil
Specifications
Reasons to buy
The In The Swim Premium 12 Mil Solar Blanket is made of polyethylene and its thick material can raise the temperature of your pool by up to 15 degrees Fahrenheit. This can really help cut heating costs.
Raised air pockets on the surface of this thick blanket prevent your pool water from evaporating and protect it from things like falling tree branches or garbage – not to mention small, unwanted insect visitors. The air bubbles also trap heat and keep your pool warm. The thickness of this solar blanket means itâs pretty durable but the real winner is the impressive seven-year warranty to give you added peace of mind.
This solar pool cover also has UV-stabilized resin to prevent excess damage from the sun. If your pool isnât round, thatâs not an issue either as you can cut this pool cover to size.
While there arenât many reviews for the In The Swim 12 Mil Solar Pool Blanket, it scores an average of 4.5 out of five stars on the companyâs website. Users state that it effectively warms the water.
Benefits Of Using A Solar Cover On The Pool:
Besides pool water warming, the solar blankets offer several benefits, which you have to know before making your purchase.
Warm Pool Water Solar pool covers help to maintain a comfortable backyard pool. The air bubbles on the cover will trap solar heat and radiate it into the pool water. All it depends on the amount of sunlight and how long the cover stays on the pool. It may increase the temperature in the 10° 15°F.
Retain Heat Usually, the solar heat grabbed by the pool during the daytime is lost after sunset, as night air cools down. While floating a solar blanket on the pool will help to retain heat, and when combined with a pool heater, it keeps a steady temperature.
Lessen Evaporation Using a solar blanket will prevent water evaporation by about 95% compared to pools without covers.
Prevent Bugs and Debris Solar pool covers will protect the pool from insects, debris , and bugs. If the blanket trap debris, then uses a hand skimmer to scoop it out before taking off the cover. Removing more debris from pool water will let you run the pump less on high vacuum, and thereby saves energy costs.
Low Chemical Costs Evaporation not only lose water but also loses some chemicals used to treat the water. With the solar cover, you can minimize 35 60% of pool water chemicals. So, you can spend less money on chemicals every year.
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Commercial Pool Rollers & Cover Systems
**This is a Price On Application product. Please call the office before placing your order**
Suitable for almost any size and style of commercial pool, indoor or outdoor, Certikins offering of a tried and tested range of cover and roller systems suits the standard and the more unusual environment and specification.
With a range of manual and motorised options manufactured from the highest grade materials, the reel systems are complemented perfectly by a wide choice of cover alternatives to allow the best possible efficiencies in operation and the highest levels of heat retention.
Heat retention is a key factor in any pool environment, but especially so in a commercial one. A high quality heat retention cover will reduce heat loss by up to 85% and make considerable savings in energy as well as reducing chemical evaporation and condensation levels. Our commercial systems can be pre-fitted with a range of covers including heat retention bubble materials and a variety of high density, closed-cell, polyethylene foam, offering a solution for practically all requirements and budgets.
AVAILABLE SYSTEM STYLES:
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Additional Solar Pool Cover Information
A solar cover saves you money and extends your swimming season. By absorbing and trapping the energy of the sun, a solar cover can heat your pools water by up to 15 degrees without using a gas heater or propane pool heater, thus saving you on heating costs by 50%-70%. This is the same on in-ground pools and above ground pools.
A solar cover also holds the suns heat in the water when the nights start to get chillier as the summer season wanes. By keeping the pool water warm, for free, youre extending the fun you can have in the pool for the season. It also works in spring, when the days and nights start to get mild, but arent too warm, the solar cover can kick start the heating process and get you in the pool early.
If having a large solar cover that always needs putting on a taking off the pool isnt your thing, In the Swim has a unique set of items called liquid solar covers. These products retain your pools heat without having a physical solar cover you always have to manage and move. Natural Chemistrys COVERfree liquid solar cover is a popular and very effective item that also decreases water evaporation. Put the Solar Fish liquid cover into your pool, two fish for larger pools, and its fin dispenses Heatsavr that is highly effective at reducing heat loss but not detectable by swimmers. The innovative Solar Sun rings holds insulating air to trap heat and use magnets to connect to each other to cover your pool for easy use.
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Do The Type Of Straps Matter
Solar pool cover reels usually come with two types of fasteners that actually connect your pool cover to the reel itself.
These are either embedded straps or hook-and-loop straps:
- Embedded straps connect directly to the reel by drilling and screwing them in place. Typically, they are much more secure than other kinds of connections because they are embedded directly into the reel by means of grooves in the metal.
- Hook-and-loop straps use Velcro instead, looping around the reel and eliminating the need for drilling any holes. This makes assembly a breeze but may not hold up with long term use.
So, if you have a large pool with a heavy cover, the hook-and-loops straps may not cut it and you may want to spring for the embedded-style straps.
- COMPLETE KIT: Includes 8 each of Straps (6ft long
- 1 YEAR GUARANTEE: We got tired of straps breaking
- UNIVERSAL FIT: Works on pool covers from 10ft to
What Is The Best Solar Pool Cover
There are three types of solar covers: blankets, rings, and liquid. Here are our top picks for all three.
NOTE: These solar pool covers are available to buy on either Amazon and InTheSwim.com. Check both sites for availability. All the links are affiliate links which means if you click a link and make a purchase, we earn a commission at no additional cost to you. It helps us keep the lights on
For a classic solar cover thatll not only heat your pool but will also help reduce water and chemical evaporation at night, we like this lightweight clear solar cover. Perfect for both inground and above ground swimming pools.
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What Can I Do About It
There are some things you can do to slow the rate of deterioration and prolong the lifespan of your solar cover. They dont stop the breakdown from happening, but can delay the process.
- Purchase a pool cover with excellent UV protection built into it.
- When not in use, keep the cover out of the sun by placing it in a shelter or covering it with a protective cover.
- The bubble side of the cover is where the thinnest, most vulnerable material is. If its not possible to avoid sunlight, at least keep the bubble side protected. Either roll up or fold the cover so that the bubbles face inward.
- Keep the chlorine concentration in the pool at recommended levels. Using more chlorine than necessary is not good for your budget or the pool cover.
- Remove the solar pool cover when shocking the pool, or if too much chlorine has been accidentally added. Keep the cover off until chlorine levels fall back to normal.
In The Swim Ultra 16 Mil Solar Cover
Specifications
Reasons to buy
The In The Swim Ultra 16 Mil Solar Cover is thick and durable, so itâs sure to withstand nature and keep your pool safe, clean, and warm. This solar pool cover is round-shaped and it has been designed to protect your pool and keep the water warm.
The top layer of this blanket is made of polyethylene while the aluminized bottom layer with its tiny air-filled pockets keeps your water insulated. Your pool can be a full 10 to 15 degrees warmer thanks to this thick blanket. The aluminized bottom layer reflects heat back into the water so youâre not going to waste any sunlight.
This solar pool cover is excellent value for money considering its eight-year warranty and thickness of it. There arenât many reviews for this cover, however, one user described it as âheavy-dutyâ.
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Liquid Solar Cover: The Future Is Now
Is it really possible that you could pour something into your pool water that magically warms it up? Yup. Thats basically how liquid solar cover works. Except its not magic its more science!
Liquid solar cover contains aliphatic alcohols, which form a monolayer film on the surface of the water, thereby requiring upwardly escaping water molecules to expend energy in forcing adjacent molecular chains sufficiently apart to pass between them
In plain English? A one-molecule-thick layer of fatty alcohol sits on the surface of the water, inhibiting the waters ability to evaporate normally. Preventing evaporation prevents heat loss, and voilà! Your pool stays warmer than if you had no solar cover at all.
Liquid solar cover ranges in price from about $10 to about $30 or more, depending on brand and whether you buy a single container or a pack of multiple containers.
Intex 29022e Solar Cover Best For Above
Well-built yet dirt-cheap, the Intex solar cover is our top recommendation for above-ground pools. Its one of the cheapest solar covers weve seen, but that doesnt mean its not effective. With a 95% reduction in evaporation, this cover will help you keep your water levels full and will help save money on your water bill since you wont be losing any to the sun. Moreover, it helps retain heat within your pool, reducing the cost of keeping the water heated. Used correctly, you should see temperature increases of about 15 degrees when using this cover.
One of our favorite features of the Intex solar cover is the drain holes that prevent water accumulation. On covers without this feature, water can get onto the cover and weigh it down, causing it to sink into the pool. But that never happened to us with the Intex cover. However, it only fits round pools that are 12 feet wide and there arent any other size options. But if your above-ground pool falls within those bounds, then this is the cover we most highly recommend. Overall, we think this is the best solar cover for above ground pools we have reviewed this year.
- Only fits 12 wide round pools
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Midwest Solar Pool Cover
MidWest Canvas is providing you the most reliable option for a solar pool cover. If you are investing a considerable sum for a solar pool cover, you should prefer a durable and reliable option such as the MidWest Canvas Space Age Round Solar Cover.
The MidWest Canvas Space Age Round Solar Cover is also one of the attractive options available on our picks for the best solar pool covers. Designed with a higher number of heat bubbles and an attractive blue color, this solar pool cover offers to cover up to 18 feet diameter pools with ease. While this cover will keep your swimming pool water warm at all times, it will also reduce the water evaporation rate greatly. It is made up of 12 mm thick resin, which ensures a durable build quality.
Even if your swimming pool is not exactly circular in shape, you shall not worry. The MidWest Canvas Space Age Round Solar Cover can be easily trimmed with a pair of scissors without affecting its warranty period. Talking about the warranty period, you will be getting a 10 years long warranty which makes it the most reliable option from our listicle.
Best Features
Perfect Day Winter Solar Reel And Blanket Covers
This 16ft wide pool cover reel is designed to protect the rolled-up solar blanket of your pool. Its made from waterproof material resistant to snow, rain, and other weather damage. It features two elastic cords that allow the cover to securely fasten itself to the solar blanket.
The waterproof cover zip wraps around the solar blanket while its still on the reel. This cover fits all types of reels. Drawstring and straps are present at both ends to protect against rain, ice, snow, and UV rays. The cover is designed to extend the life of your solar blankets.
Pros
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