How Do You Clean A Solar Pool Cover
An effective method of cleaning your solar pool cover starts by removing loose debris with a garden hose and sprayer. Then, mix gentle soap and water and lightly scrub any stubborn areas with the solution and a soft brush. Rinse the entire cover with the garden hose. Allow it to dry thoroughly before storing. Always avoid the use of harsh chemicals to clean the cover.
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Liquid Solar Cover Benefits
Just like any other chemical, you add to your pool water, liquid solar cover is completely safe for people and pets. It wont irritate your skin , and it doesnt leave any residue on you or your swimsuit.
Note: While its not a good idea for your pet to drink pool water on a regular basis, liquid solar cover is safe for the occasional sip or two your dog might decide to take when youre not looking. Always check the safety notes for the brand you choose before using it, and before letting your pets into the pool.
Reduce Water Evaporation
You can cut water evaporation by about 15 percent with a liquid solar cover. Does it really work? Absolutely. We even tested it.
Heat Retention and Lower Heating Costs
Liquid solar covers are about 75 percent as effective as solar blankets at retaining heat. But remember, it works constantly without your having to remember to cover the pool at night.
This may be a tradeoff for never having to reel in, clean, and store liquid solar cover, though.
Keep Bugs and Debris Out
Well, heres one area where solar blankets and rings are the clear winner. Of course, liquid solar cover isnt going to keep bugs, leaves, and other debris out of your pool.
If you opt to use this heating method, youll have to stay on top of things with your handheld skimmer and vacuum.
Lower Chemical Costs
Nope, were actually adding a chemical cost with this one. But its an affordable one that offers a good return on that investment.
You Can Remove Liquid Solar Cover But Why
Although we cant think of any reason why youd want to, the only way to remove liquid solar cover from your pool water would be to drain the pool and refill it, and no one wants to do that if it can be avoided.
The thing is, if you decided to stop using liquid solar cover for any reason, all you have to do is wait a while. The chemical naturally dissipates over a certain period of time, depending on how large your pool is and how much liquid solar cover you have to use.
For this reason, for as long as you want to use it, liquid solar cover must be added to your pool on a regular basis, so be sure to add it to your swimming pool maintenance schedule.
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Pool Fence Or Enclosure Costs
Pool Fence
A pool fence installation costs between $600 and $4,400 or more depending on the size of the pool, fencing materials you select, and how far back from the edge of the pool the fence is installed. Gates with a self-closing latch for your pool fence average an additional $200 to $250 each including installation.
Pool Enclosure
A pool enclosure costs$5 to $65 per square foot or between $4,000 and $50,000 on average. Pool cages are either custom-built or prefabricated with either screen mesh, glass, plastic, or vinyl. Enclosures reduce insects, debris, and pollen, provide UV protection, and enable swimming year-round.
Pool Cover Cost
An automatic pool cover costs$8,000 to $20,000, while a manual costs $1,000 to $3,600 on average. A pool cover is excellent for safety, keeping in more of the heat in the water, and helping restrict more of the moisture from doing any damage to the structure of the home.
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 doesnt 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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Why Trust The Spruce
Erica Puisis has been covering the best products for outdoor and indoor living at The Spruce since 2017. Her research and areas of expertise have included pool heaters, cleaners, and water testing equipment. To find the best options for this essential pool accessory, she considered the thickness of each solar cover, its ability to retain heat, block UV rays, or provide passive heating for pool water, and the length of any warranty periods.
How To Properly Store Your Solar Cover
At the end of pool season, itll be time to break out the safety cover, and store the solar blanket. But before you do that, you must make sure the solar blanket is clean and completely dry so you dont get a nasty, moldy surprise when you open it up next season.
To clean your solar blanket, remove it from the pool, and lay it on a soft surface like grass. Concrete can damage the bubbles, making the blanket less able to float and do its job.
Once you have it spread out flat, use a soft push broom or soft scrub brush and clean water to scrub away dirt, algae or buildup, then rinse. Dry the blanket well by hand, using a leaf blower, or hanging it up to dry.
Tip: Dont ever leave your solar cover out to dry on your lawn. It can burn your grass.
After you wash and dry your solar blanket, reel it up. Some pool cover reels come with a weather- and UV-resistant storage cover so you can store it outside if you dont have any indoor space for it. If your reel didnt come with a cover, you can always pick one up.
If youre folding your blanket up, place it in a container with a sturdy lid to keep pests out. Then store the container somewhere cool and out of direct sunlight to prevent the cover from shrinking, and the plastic container from deteriorating.
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Inground Solar Pool Cover Reel Systems
You are more likely to get the most out of your solar pool cover if the process of taking it on and off is easy and hassle-free. With a solar pool cover reel system, the task of covering and uncovering your pool is done with the push of a button or the turn of a crank.
Dohenys Low Profile Reel System
Dohenys Low Profile Reel System is perfect for a rectangular pool with a diving board, as it fits underneath the diving board. The easy-to-assemble and install reel system sits securely on the pool deck and requires no mounting. All necessary hardware is included. The simple extended hand crank is easy to turn, making covering and uncovering your pool a breeze. Dohenys Low Profile Reel System is backed by a 5 year warranty.
How To Find The Best Solar Blanket For Inground Pool And How To Compare Products In 2022
Finding the best solar blanket for inground pool is quite tricky. Comparing them is more complicated. This blog is here to help you with this problem.
1. How to find the best solar blanket for inground pool
1.1. Compare the prices of each of the best solar blanket for inground pool in general
The products are more expensive, and the quality is better. However, this is not true as some companies charge more for their brand or product design. This aspect needs to be considered. Also, if you find a product that can do both high quality and cheap, go for it immediately! It will save your energy and effort in finding another spot.
1.2. Do thorough research on each website or store where you have found the best solar blanket for inground pool
Check their information meaningfully and pay attention to any details that you hide that could influence your final decision on this particular item.
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2. How to compare the best solar blanket for inground pool
Once you’ve found a few of the best solar blanket for inground pool in 2022 that might suit your needs, it’s time to compare them and pick the best one. Use Excel again here because it’s straightforward once you get used to it.
3. Tips on how to choose the best solar blanket for inground pool that works for you
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Types Of Inground Pool Covers
There are 4 main types of inground pool covers and each has their own specific purpose when it comes to providing a protective covering. Its also common for pool owners to use more than one type of cover throughout the season as needs change. A solar cover is great during the swimming season when you want to quickly place and remove the cover during but isnt practical for the winter time where a winter cover provides a semi-permanent barrier that keeps just about anything while providing an added layer to your overall pool safety.
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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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Our Summary On The Best Solar Covers For Inground Pools
We hope you enjoyed this guide on how to choose the absolute best solar pool cover for your inground swimming pool!
There are many benefits to having a quality solar swimming pool cover from maintaining your pool temperature to balancing out your pools chemicals. You can use the above reviews to decide which product is the best solar cover for your inground pool, our teams personal top pick is the Sun2Solar Clear Rectangle Solar Cover.
Let us know what you think about our top solar cover choices for inground swimming pools in the comment section below!
How Do You Install A Solar Pool Cover
Installing a new solar pool cover is not incredibly difficult, but there are a couple of steps you want to make sure you dont miss. First, simply remove the cover from the box it came in and lay it next to your swimming pool. Carefully unfold it, as to not create any rips or tears, and then gently spread it over your pools surface with the bubble side down . Our team suggests leaving it out in the sun for a couple of hours if possible to give the cover time to decompress.
If you have a solar reel, this can usually be done with one person, otherwise, we suggest having a family member or friend help with this process. The next step is to cut the solar pool cover to fit your pool size & shape if needed, you want it to be a fairly tight fit, with a tiny bit of excess so no coverage gaps exist that would allow heat to escape. Check out our Full Guide on How To Install Solar Pool Covers for more details.
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What To Look For In A Solar Pool Cover
Size, thickness and color are the most significant factors in choosing a solar pool cover.
Pool covers need to cover the pool exactly from edge to edge. Large, high-quality solar pool covers close to 800 square feet may cost in excess of $200, whereas a smaller cover closer to 100 square feet will be closer to $100 or lower. If your pool cover is slightly larger than your pool, you can usually cut it to size without voiding the covers warranty.
Thicker pool coversshould offer better insulation in colder, windier climates, said Gilda Dobrica, founder of ProSwim NYC and creator of the Teach-Your-Child-To-Swim e-course. Thin pool covers around 8 to 10 mils can save you about $100, broadly speaking, and may be sufficient in warmer climates. Solar pool covers with thickness between 10 to 12 mils fall in the medium range.
Blue solar pool covers are best. A UV-protected, translucent blue color offers a better balance between heat retention and pool chemical protection, Dobrica told us. Dobrica said that a clear cover will warm the pool water the most, but it will also allow more UV rays, which can make chlorine less effective as a disinfectant. A chemically imbalanced pool without enough chlorine could lead to algae blooms in your pool.
Are Solar Pool Covers Dangerous
Pools in general have an inherent danger, so you need to be aware of the risks associated with owning a pool.
Solar pool covers, like other soft pool covers, add an additional risk factor to your pool that all pool owners need to be aware of.
On their own, soft pool covers and solar pool covers are not dangerous.
However, when they are sitting on top of the water surface they can pose an additional risk, should pets or children, or even adults, walk on to the pool cover.
Soft pool covers can collapse around a person, pet or animal, and make swimming more difficult. Soft pool covers increase the risk of drowning in a pool.
The safety of soft covers can be increased by supporting them with a frame. You can easily make a frame using PVC pipe, or purchase a frame from your cover manufacturer.
These frames will reduce the space that can sink in, should a child, pet or adult accidentally fall on top of a soft cover.
This can reduce the drowning risk, but it does not eliminate the risk completely. You still need to closely monitor activities around your pool to ensure everyone is safe.
As a pool owner, you need to make sure that when you arent using your pool that visitors, kids and pets are well supervised.
This is the case even if your pool isnt covered. Being diligent is a must if you have a pool in your yard.
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Inground Pool Cost Estimator
When estimating the cost to build an inground pool, the main factors are the size, materials, location, and any custom upgrades. On average, expect to spend $50 to $100 per square foot to build a standard 14 by 28 size pool, or $125 to $150 per square foot for larger pools that have 9 to 12 foot deep ends.
Solar Covers Transfer Heat
If you laid a sheet of plain bubble wrap on top of your pool water, all the little bubbles would act as magnifying glasses and would transfer some heat to the water. But regular bubble wrap is too flimsy to use for this purpose. Enter the solar blanket.
Depending on the color, opacity, and type of solar blanket you use, you could very well get some actual heating benefit from it. A light-colored, clear cover will allow the suns UV rays to pass through to the water, thereby heating it. A dark, opaque cover may still let some through if the material is thin, but not as many as the light, clear cover.
To get the most heat transfer from a solar blanket, look for one that is white or clear on top, with dark or black bubbles. The dark color will absorb the suns heat and will transfer that heat to the water theyre touching.
If heat transfer is one of your goals in buying a solar blanket, keep these features and benefits in mind so you can choose the right one for your pool:
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How Much Does It Cost To Open Or Close A Pool
The average costs to open a pool is around $400, and for pool closing expect to spend $300. These services include taking the cover off, cleaning the water of any debris, checking for leaks, and getting the chemicals to the right balance. At the end of the season, they can also take the water level down, drain pumps and the filter system, and place the cover to protect the pool for the winter.
About Our Solar Pool Covers
Our solar blankets are made to give you the maximum heating and insulation properties, combined with long life. Durable 8-mil or 12-mil blankets are loaded with thermal bubbles that retain heat at night and on cloudy cool days. Our transparent blue cover or Magni-Clear cover helps ensure that the sun’s heating rays are reaching your pool water, while preventing evaporation. Your pool’s water temperature will be up to 15°F warmer than an uncovered pool.
All our blankets are U.V.-protected so they last under the most intense sunlight an UV rays.
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