Best Inground Solar Pool Covers

How To Remove A Solar Cover From Your Inground Or Above Ground Pool

If you have a large pool, or if you swim often, removing the solar blanket every time you want to use your pool can be quite a chore. One solution is to cut the solar blanket into smaller panels so you can remove the pieces one at a time. If youd rather not cut the blanket up, a convenient alternative is a solar cover reel.

Good for both inground, above ground, and Intex pools, the solar reel is placed at one end of the pool. Youll attach one end of the solar blanket to the reel, and then turn the handle or wheel. The blanket will be spooled onto the solar reel, saving you a lot of hard work.

Some solar blanket reels are available with wheels, so you can roll up your cover and then move the solar reel aside. Others come with mounting hardware to install permanently in one location. Which version works best for you will depend mostly on how much space you have around your pool.

If you dont have a solar reel, you can pull the cover off and accordion fold it. Pull about four feet out, then fold that section in half. Continue pulling two-foot sections, folding each one back and forth like an accordion. This method also lets you rinse off each small section before folding, if needed.

Tip: If you remove the solar blanket temporarily, be sure to keep it covered or in the shade to prolong its life.

Our Recommendation For Solar Pool Cover Brand

As you can see, each of the three brands cater to specific needs. Those needing a cover for above-ground pools should look into Sun2Solar and Intex, while in-ground pools are best left to Blue Wave and Sun2Solar.

So, who do we think makes the best solar pool cover? When it came down to it, we had to once again go with Sun2Solar. They simply offer the best selection of goods at the best prices.

Every pool cover we have tested has performed well and been a solid investment. If you need to spend as little as possible, Intex is certainly worth a look. Every above-ground solar pool cover they make is easy to use and affordable.

If you just want a solar pool cover that is sure to last, Blue Wave is your best bet. They might cost a bit more at times, but they are reliable and well-made.

If you want the best of both worlds, Sun2Solar wont disappoint. Every pool cover is well-made, and they work exactly as they say they do. With the right care, your Sun2Solar investment will likely pay for itself many times over. And thats the best part about using a solar pool cover.

Keter Factor 46 Foot Large Resin Outdoor Shed With Floor For Patio Furniture Lawn Mower And Bike Storage Taupe/brown

If you are short on garden space, this vertical offering may be the best solution. You can also find it ideal for storing ladders upright. The Keter Factor can offer that extra storage space you have been looking for and is stylish enough to blend into your garden landscape.

With internal dimensions of 44 inches wide, 67.5 inches deep, and 82.5 inches high. The durable exterior is made from polypropylene resin plastic with sturdy steel reinforcement. It can stand up to harsh weather and offers plenty of UV resistance.

Unlike many horizontal garden sheds, you get a skylight and window if you wish to use your shed for potting or some other pastime that doesnt take up too much room.

Pros

• Natural light from window and skylight
• Great design to blend into the garden

• Door may not be wide enough for entry of some garden gear
• Not the most durable floor

With a guide price of just under $400, you get a decent work area for all your gardening tasks. One of the main issues is the door, and if you store a lawnmower as this takes up more room, you need to move this to access the rear.

However, it offers lots of storage capacity for garden or pool toys tools as you can hang these in the heavy-duty space-saving DIY shed from Keter.

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Winter Block Aboveground Pool Winter Cover

Amazon

Why You Should Get It: If you want a low-cost, lightweight option, this is one of the best pool covers to purchase.

Keep In Mind: The lighter material makes it easy to install, but it may not hold up as well as thicker pool covers.

Sometimes, you just want a no-fuss pool cover that wont blow the budget. In that case, this round pool cover is a good go-to. The cover is meant for an above-ground pool and is sold in nine different sizes, including this 18-foot option. The cover size itself is 21 feet, allowing it to fit neatly over an 18-foot pool.

Made out of laminated polyethylene sheeting with high-density polyethylene stitches, it will keep out falling leaves in the autumn, snow in the winter, and rain in the spring and summer months. Its lightweight and treated to resist UV rays. However, since the material is lightweight, it may not be as durable for pools in climates that receive tons of snow.

Still, installation is easy. The grommets for the perimeter and the steel cable and winch are all included with the pool cover itself, so you wont need to guess at the correct hardware to use.

Price at time of publish: $32

Product Details:

Size: 18 feet | Material: Plastic | Recommended Pool Type: Round, above-ground

Best Choice Products In Ground Pool Cover Reel Best Overall

Our pick for the best pool cover reel, the Best Choice Products reel cover is made of stainless steel, aluminum, and plastic, which keeps it lightweight and durable. The legs are steel with a plastic handle and treated plastic wheels. The hand crank is large, which makes it easy to roll up the pool cover, and the wheels are big enough that it isnt a chore to move the whole system to another spot.

It has a weight capacity of 140 pounds, and the middle aluminum tube is 3 inches in diameter. This reel comes with 10 straps and fits in-ground pools measuring 17.5 feet in width and 21 feet in length. It is fairly simple to put together, though the instructions are somewhat lacking, since they are only diagrams.

The Intex is the best solar cover reel for the money because it is an affordable option for your rectangular above-ground pool. It fits pools with a width from 9 to 16 feet, and the reel attaches to the metal frame of your pool. The hand crank is easy to turn and features a locking mechanism to prevent the cover from unrolling when you want to leave it in place.

The interlocking shaft is made from aluminum, and this system comes with the straps. Setup is simple and the instructions are understandable. On the downside, the handle is made from plastic that doesnt feel that well-made. However, it is a great option for those who need a reel at an affordable price.

• Plastic handle not as sturdy

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Next Day Delivery Details

Dohenys is pleased to offer free next day delivery at no additional charge to most of the US for all Doheny’s brand chemicals and many of our most popular swimming pool supplies. Next Day Delivery Service does not mean Next Day Air, but simply that your qualifying products will be shipped from the warehouse closest to you resulting in delivery the next day.

Some details regarding this service:Other than for Pleasant Prairie, Wisconsin, not all products are stocked at all locations and therefore not available for next day delivery. Only those items with a Next Day Delivery designation on the product page can be expected to arrive the next day and orders must be placed by 4 PM local time .

If you reside in the next day delivery area served by our Pleasant Prairie facility, order in-stock products and place your order by 4 PM CT you should receive your order the next day . This applies to products even if they do not have a Next Day Delivery designation.

Because next day delivery is not guaranteed for standard service and residential deliveries are made only Monday through Saturday though Saturday delivery is not guaranteed, there is a chance that our product will not arrive the next day. While we try our best, unexpected demand can cause products to occasionally be out of stock or create a warehouse backlog that also can prevent shipment the day of the order.

The 8 Best Solar Pool Covers Of 2022

The Sun2Solar 1200 Series Rectangle Solar Pool Cover is our top pick

We independently research, test, review, and recommend the bestproductslearn more about our process. If you buy something through our links, we may earn a commission.

The Spruce / Chloe Jeong

A solar pool cover provides many benefitsraising water temperature using solar energy, preventing heat loss through evaporation, and shielding the water from UV exposure that can impact chlorine levels. We spent hours researching the top solar pool covers available online, considering ease of installation and use, durability, and overall value.

Our favorite, the Sun2Solar 1200 Series Rectangle Solar Pool Cover, keeps pool water at a comfortable temperature, is up to 95% effective at preventing evaporation, and can be cut to fit most pool shapes.

Here are the best solar pool covers.

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When Is The Best Time To Use A Solar Cover To Heat The Pool

There is really no bad time to use a solar pool cover.

Direct sunlight to the water in your pool will warm it quickly, but all that heat speeds up water loss via evaporation. Covering your pool when its sunny will give you the best heat-per-buck.

Solar covers can also reduce heat loss by radiation when left on the surface of the pool overnight. And of course, when its covered overnight, its also keeping stuff out of your swim pool.

What Is The Best Color For A Solar Pool Cover

Solar pool covers are available in several thicknesses. Theyre measured in mil, which is the standard United States unit of measure for one-thousandth of an inch.

• Blue solar covers can measure 4 mil and 8 mil .
• Clear solar covers can measure 12 mil and 16 mil .

Clear solar covers heat the pool better than blue solar covers because they allow more of the suns heat to penetrate more efficiently. Dark blue solar covers are great for heat retention. And even a lightweight cover can last if you take care of it properly.

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Benefits Of Solar Pool Covers

Solar pool covers are a great way to reduce your out-of-pocket expenses on pool upkeep. As any pool owner knows, chemicals are expensive. Its one of the main reasons for investing in a solar pool cover, as they are highly effective in extending the life of chemicals.

You can also look forward to more comfortable swimming conditions, regardless of which thickness or color you choose. Your pool water will stay warmer longer, effectively extending the swimming season as a result.

Additionally, these covers serve to keep bugs and debris out of your pool. They help to cut down on your need to clean your pool as often, too. With so many advantages to owning a solar cover, they make a safe and worthwhile investment for any pool owner.

Other Notable Solar Pool Covers Researched

• Pool Supply World Velox Silver Solar Cover – When testing for compatibility with all above ground pools, the Intex solar cover clearly bested the Velox.
• Summer Waves Adjustable Round Solar Pool Cover – I found that some people are not too fond of the ease of installation with the Summer Waves cover.
• Dohenys Micro-Bubble Solar Cover – When testing for price, it seems to me that the micro bubble just doesn’t give you the right value for the price you will be paying.
• Spa Depot Thermo-Float Spa Blanket – When testing for durability, the Midwest Canvas cover just cannot be beat, another downside for this one is that it will come with wrinkles due to the packaging technique.

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Safety Precautions And Tips

Although pool covers have their advantages, using them properly will also help prevent accidents. According to Safety.com, drowning is the leading cause of unintentional death for young children ages one to four. However, keeping the pool covered is an excellent way to help prevent accidents. Pool covers should completely cover the surface and be securely strapped down so a child or animal can not slip under the sides. Rigid covers block water access better and automatic covers are often the safest and easiest to use.

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.

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Sun2solar Clear Rectangle Solar Pool Cover

Now onto the cream of the crop. Many see the Sun2Solar Solar Cover as the best solar cover for an inground pool, including the vast majority of our team that was involved in testing the solar covers. Its affordable, durable, heats pools extremely well and it still offers good value for its price. The 16 x 32 ft. cover that we tested comes in either blue or clear color, and they are made from thousands of round bubbles.

This pool cover also comes in over a dozen different sizes for both rectangle and square pools, meaning less cutting and more convenience in setting it up. When considering what color to go with, blue can provide an appealing look, while clear does a better job at acquiring more heat.

This solar cover is 12-mil thick, and it can have a reasonable amount of durability. You can trim it to suit your specific needs, and you wont have to worry about voiding the warranty. This was hands down our teams favorite of the 20 solar pool covers we tested and is an online best seller.

So, how exactly does a solar pool cover work?

Our Teams Answer: A solar cover for swimming pools essentially works like a heating lid. It captures the heat from the sun and prevents your pool from debris and dirt. It also prevents heat loss as well as helps prevent the water from evaporating.

In The Swim 16 Mil Pool Solar Blanket Cover

The In The Swim brand has got several series of solar pool covers among which there is this 16-mil thick pool cover. This particular pool cover has a dimension of 32 feet by 16 feet but it is also available thirteen more dimensions.

It features an excellent design that is clear in color. It is made from polyethylene and can be cut easily with scissors.

It also has a high thermal efficiency thanks to its aluminum base layer. For improved thermal efficiency, it has a thickness of 16 mils. To cap it all, it comes with an 8-year warranty. It is very much compatible with a pool cover reel and it is ideal for areas with less sun duration.

Key Features:

Williams Take:

To see how this solar cover functions when being installed, click the video below!

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Lxkckj Solar Pool Cover

The performance of a solar pool cover is highly dependent on its built quality and heat trapping ability. Hence, we are including a high-performance solar pool cover from LXKCKJ.

As solar pool cover is kept in a swimming pool for most of the time, you have to consider the cover design. If you are interested in a good-looking cover, look no further. The LXKCKJ round trampoline solar pool cover is one of the most attractive solar covers that are quite easy to install and remove, and also prevents leaves, debris, or trash from entering the pool and contaminating it.

This foldable round cover is made of heavy-duty sturdy 210D density oxford fabric with painted silver material coating. This makes the cover strong, durable, and long-lasting and offers the utmost protection to the pool in any weather conditions. It uses solar power to heat the water and also it prevents water evaporation in the pool by nearly 90%

Furthermore, the weather protective cover offers universal compatibility for almost all 6 feet round-shaped trampolines or round swimming pools. You can also get a suitable above-ground pool from LXKCKJ along with the cover for the best compatibility.

Best Features

Whats The Best Solar Pool Cover

One of the best ways to reduce the cost of managing your pool is by purchasing the best solar pool cover for your pool. If you are planning to have a pool, it should be on your must-have list. Even if you have a pool already, it is not too late to buy.

They are simple to install and use, hence, I dont see any reason why you shouldnt have one. Below are some of the best solar pool covers available.

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