Best Solar Covers For Pool

My Experience Of Using A Solar Cover

We live in the Canary Islands, which are off the coast of north Africa, so the climate here is pretty warm generally. We have solar heating panels on the roof which obviously heats the water up quite well, but without a solar cover, much of that heat is lost overnight.

We are not masochists, and dont want to die of shock when we get in the pool, so we want the temperature to be at least 82ºF/28ºC before we put a toe in.

Before we bought the solar cover we usually managed to swim comfortably from mid-April until mid-October. With the solar cover we are often in the pool by early March and swim until mid-November at least..

My pool normally loses 1.5-2ºF overnight without the cover on but hardly loses anything overnight when it is on.

In the summer, on a sunny day , without our solar heating on, I often see an increase of 2-3ºF during the day when I have the solar cover on.

Interestingly, we had a power outage for just over 24 hours last summer and I had the pool cover on. My wife and I wanted to swim late afternoon so I rolled the cover back and in we went. The water temperature in the top foot was much higher than the water below by at least 10ºF. Of course the pool pump had not been running so the water had been undisturbed which is why this was so noticeable.

As an aside, it was amazing how the warmer water had such a defined edge to the cooler water below. It was not a gradual transition from hot to cool as I would have expected but a sudden change.

Kokido Solaris Ii Above Ground Swimming Pool Cover Reel & Tube Set

Product Details

Store your solar blankets easily. for swimming pools up to 5. 49 m wide. Roller for solar roofing made of super resistant, durable and non-corrosive resin. Simple installation. Pivots to take up less space when using the pool.

Includes brackets for fixing to steel and wooden pool surrounds and brackets for tubular pools. Recommended for steel, wood and tubular pools. Store your solar blankets easily. for swimming pools up to 5.

49 m wide. Roller for solar roofing made of super resistant, durable and non-corrosive resin. Store your solar blankets easily. for swimming pools up to 5. 49 m wide. Roller for solar roofing made of super resistant, durable and non-corrosive resin.

Simple installation. Pivots to take up less space when using the pool. Includes brackets for fixing to steel and wooden pool surrounds and brackets for tubular pools. Recommended for steel, wood and tubular pools.

Store your solar blankets easily. for swimming pools up to 5. 49 m wide. Roller for solar roofing made of super resistant, durable and non-corrosive resin.

Reviews From Real Customers

We bought this 2 months ago and atill have yet to install it. The box was very damaged when it arrived. The instructions are so hard to read that we have not even tried to put it together. It seemed like a great product but now I am not so sure.

The 13 Best Solar Pool Covers Reviews

Adequate knowledge about a product will go a long way in helping you to determine which solar pool cover will work for you.

To help you make the right choice, each of the selected top thirteen best solar pool covers has broken down for better understanding. The features of each product, as well as their pros and cons, are discussed.

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Where Do You Buy Solar Pool Covers

Our team agrees that the easiest place to buy a solar pool cover is online, due to the often cheaper prices and variety of options available. We recommend Amazon, In The Swim, or PoolSupplies.com. If you prefer to shop in-store, Home Depot or Leslies Pool Supplies are good options if you have a location nearby.

Bestway Solar Pool Cover

Above ground pools are quite popular as anyone with a backyard can install one in their homes. Thus, our next choice from Bestway for a solar pool cover is suitable for above ground pools.

If you have a large above ground pool, then you should consider the Bestway Above Ground Swimming Pool Solar Heat Cover. It is a circular solar pool cover with 14 feet diameter which can easily cover most above ground pools available in the market. While it will keep the debris out of your pool, it will also retain solar energy in order to maintain the temperature of your pool. It is also quite easy to use as the cover easily fits inside the frame of pools and stays in place.

Bestway is also offering a carrying bag so that you can easily store the cover and carry it around if required. Unfortunately, there is only a 90 days warranty period available for this solar pool cover. But considering the blue plastic material used for this cover, it should last as long as other premium options. You can also get a suitable above ground pool from Bestway along with the cover for best compatibility.

Best Features

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Do Liquid Solar Covers Actually Work

Yes, if you were talking about reducing evaporation which is keeping heat in the water.

Daniel Arthur

Hey there, I am Daniel Arthur. I have 10 years of experience in the water treatment industry. I am very passionate about researching water treatment products available on marketplaces. Love to share my opinions & most up to date information to my blog that helps you to find the right product for your household.

What Are The Advantages Of Having A Pool Enclosure

Retractable pool and patio enclosures provide the benefit of extending the life and service life of your pool and accessories while reducing maintenance time and costs. A retractable enclosure will also do the following: Extend your exercise and entertainment area for all four seasons.Provide exposure to the warmth of the sun without the harmful effects of UV rays Provide protection from irritating bugs and insects or even animals similar to a screen pool enclosure but even better And there are even more benefits !

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What Do I Do

The climate is great here in the Canary Islands, with the lowest temperatures rarely dropping below 50ºF at night and 68ºF during the day in winter. But there is insufficient sunshine to keep the pool at a temperature that we are prepared to swim in , even with our solar heating and the solar cover.

So from around mid-November until late February or early March, I take the cover off and store it. See the next section for tips on storing.

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Why You Need A Solar Pool Cover

The solar cover is a protective bubble wrap that is placed on the surface of the pool water. There are covers in different shapes, colors, and thicknesses. This item is necessary for all pool owners, as it performs the following functions:

The cover has a lot of air bubbles, which retain the heat of the sun and transfer it to the water in the pool, thereby heating it.

Thanks to the solar cover, people living in sunny regions may no longer use the heater, and others can use it much less. You can also enjoy swimming in warm water even in bad weather.

Most of the heat in the pool water is lost through evaporation. In turn, solar covers let in sunlight, which heats the water, and air bubbles in the cover create an insulating layer that prevents heat from evaporating.

Solar covers notably reduce water evaporation. This means that you will need to add water to the pool much less often, and your water bills will decrease.

Chemicals also evaporate. The presence of a solar cover notably reduces the loss of chemicals, which saves you money.

Since the solar cover is on the surface of almost the entire pool, significantly less dirt, insects, leaves, etc. get into it. This makes it possible to clean the pool much less frequently.

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Shape And Size Of Your Pool

This is the most important criteria! If anything is going to work well for your pool, you need to understand the characteristics of your pool. You need to know the shape and the size of your pool.

Most pool configurations are rectangular, round, square, oval or kidney-shaped. An idea about this will help you know where you should begin the search from.

Of course, the shape will be obvious, you might need to measure the size of your pool. Rectangular solar pool covers are more popular and easy to install. Other shapes may require you to cut out from rectangular ones. Notwithstanding, there are many brands that sell shaped pool covers.

To determine the size of your pool, simply get a measuring tape. For rectangular and square ones, you simply measure the length and breadth. For the round ones, you measure the diameter i.e. the length through the center of the pool.

For the kidney-shaped pools, you measure the length of the large end and the smaller end separately and then the longest length of the entire pool.

Protect The Pool From Debris & Bugs

If you dont cover your pool, you risk leaving it exposed to a number of elements. Leaves, debris, and even bugs can fall into the water. This can risk damaging your filter. Also, as a solar cover maintains a steady temperature, it can reduce the chance of mildew developing inside the pool as a result of uneven temperatures.

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Hinspergers Sc18 Solar Pool Cover

Hinspergers is yet another brand from our picks that is offering a solar pool cover along with a special reeling mechanism. This makes it much easier to use and store when not in use.

In the end, we are bringing you the most affordable choice from our picks for the best solar pool covers. The Hinspergers SC18 Poly Tarp Swimming Pool Solar Blanket is available at a fraction of the price compared to other premium choices on this list. Still, it is a great choice for a compact pool. A single roll will offer you an 18 x 3 foot covering. Thus, you might require multiple reels to cover a large pool.

Made by a highly durable white plastic material, the Hinspergers SC18 Poly Tarp Swimming Pool Solar Blanket offers great resistance to damage due to environmental factors and wear and tear. The solar pool cover is basically a protective shield for your pool which blocks harmful UV rays and maintains the temperature of your pool. There are special velcro fasteners present with the cover so that they can be securely stored with the reel.

Best Features

Robelle Heavy Duty Solar Pool Cover

You can conveniently raise your pool temperature by 10 degrees with the Robelle solar pool cover. It has a diamond design and has two-color sides blue surface and grey-aluminum underside. Therefore, if used properly, it will exhibit an excellent level of heat gain and retention.

It is heavy duty and UV-resistant, therefore, it will not deteriorate very easily. Hence, it will last long. It has a thickness of 10 mils and a dimension of 32 feet by 16 feet. It also comes with a 10-year warranty.

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Buying Guide To Choose The Best Solar Pool Cover:

Before getting into the topic, you should know about solar pool cover, why we need it, and how it works. This will help you for better understanding and aids in proper selection according to your needs.

Usually, a pool with a 4.5 feet depth will absorb around 60% of sunlight, which is used to heat the pool water by 0.7°F per hour, especially under noontime. Besides this heat gain, it leads to water evaporation caused due to water and air temperature, along with wind on the surface and humidity of the pool.

Splash Pools Oval Solar Cover

If you own an oval pool, then you should consider the Splash Pools oval solar cover. The cover, which is available only in blue color, has a small thickness of 8 mils.

Notwithstanding, it does well in maintaining water temperature, keeping debris out and preventing evaporation of pool water. It is lightweight, hence, it is easy to install and even use without a cover reel.

Made from durable resin, it should last effectively more than two seasons or more, withstanding daily use and sunlight. It is sold in two bigger sizes 30 feet by 15 feet and 45 feet by 18 feet.

It is ideal for above-ground pools, easy to use and very stable in water. On the flip side, it may sink if water accumulates on it.

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Having any confusion about installing cover for an oval-shaped pool, see this tutorial video!

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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.

Pool Solar Cover Thickness Does It Matter

Pool solar covers can be found in 8 millimeter, 12 millimeter, or 16 millimeter thickness. In terms of performance, a thinner solar cover will allow more heat to pass through to the water, but a thicker cover will absorb more heat. Thicker covers are also more durable against UV rays, water chemicals, and punctures or tearing.

16 millimeter solar covers are usually quite heavy, and can be a struggle to move on and off the pool. Long solar covers can make solar reels sag in the middle, or roll-up too thickly to fit on the edge of your pool. 12 millimeter covers are the perfect middle ground and are the most popular.

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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.

The Best Solar Pool Covers

If you want my quick answer, I think the Sun2Solar Blue Square Solar Cover would be the right fit for most people, however, the Blue Wave Solar Blanket is my close second. If you want great value for a killer price, I would recommend the Blue Wave all the way. To find out more, check out my top picks below!

Solar pool covers are a great accessory to invest in for any pool owner because they reduce the pools heating costs, prevent the loss of water evaporation, and stop debris from entering your pool. Youll need to find one that fits your pool and is durable. However, with dozens of solar pool covers on the market, it can be daunting to choose the right one.

Read on to learn the criteria I used to pick the top solar pool covers and my recommended solar pool covers in the market.

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Intex Rectangular Pool Solar Cover

Here is another good product from Intex. Unlike the other Intex product on my list, this one is made for rectangular pool owners. It has a moderate dimension of 18 feet by 9 feet, hence, it will fit any pool with such dimension or less.

It is a lightweight pool cover and it quite stable on water surfaces, either on above-ground or in-ground pools.

The pool cover is made from quality 160-micron material which gives its durability and rugged nature. If used properly, it should absolutely, about 95 percent, prevent evaporation of pool water and chemicals.

It also includes a carrying bag, making it portable and easier to store.

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