How To Store The Solar Pool Cover Properly
It is quite common to fold up and store the pool cover at the end of the season. But before storing this blanket, you have to ensure that it is clean and dry completely to prevent getting moldy or nasty when you want to use it next season.
- For proper cleaning of the solar blanket, you have to take it off from the pool and place it on the soft grass surface. Then concentrate on the bubble damages, which make the blanket less likely to float.
- With a soft scrub brush or soft push broom, you have to scrub away the build-up, dirt, or algae on the flat blanket. Then rinse it off with water, and dry the blanket completely by using a leaf blower or simply hanging it up.
- Avoid leaving the solar cover on the lawn for drying, as it can burn the grass.
- Ensure to reel it up properly after the blanket dried completely. A few reel models offer weather and UV-resistant storage cover. These models offer you to store the cover outside if there is not much indoor space. In case, if the reel wont come with a cover, then purchase one.
- After properly folding up the blanket, keep it in a container with a sturdy lid to prevent children and pests out. Store the container in a cool, dry place that deters cover shrinking and its plastic container from deteriorating.
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.
Does A Pool Warm Up Faster With The Cover On Or Off
On a hot, windless day it may be that the pool water will heat up quicker with the pool cover off as more of the suns energy will reach the water.
However, the pool cover also helps stop heat loss and evaporation, and this loss happens quicker in windy conditions, so it may heat up quicker with the cover on.
In my experience it makes very little difference so leaving it on is rather easier than having to keep putting the cover on and taking it off.
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In The Swim Pool Solar Cover
Available in many different sizes, this solar cover from In The Swim makes it easy to match it perfectly to your pool. With five to seven days of sunlight, it can raise the temperature of your pool water by eight to 10 degrees. Compared to some of the other covers we tried, this isnt very impressive. Its even worse when you consider that this is one of the most expensive covers weve seen. It is protected by eight years of limited coverage, but dont expect that to mean youll get a replacement if yours tears five years from purchase date.
This cover is marketed as being ultra-clear, but its actually a drab gray that doesnt look very attractive on a pool. Overall, we think its an overpriced and ineffective solar cover thats easily outperformed by other covers that are half the price.
- The gray color isnt very attractive
Next Day Delivery Details
Dohenys is pleased to offer free next day delivery at no additional charge for orders over $100 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. We do have a shipping charge of only $9.99 for orders under $100.00.
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 3 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 3 PM Local Time 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.
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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:
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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Above Ground Pool Solar Cover Hacks
Solar Covers are a wonderful invention, but Ive always added that they have a good bit of hassle factor, in their use. They can be cumbersome to put on and off the pool, and even more when the solar cover is 4-5 ft above ground.
Todays post highlights the many sparks of genius from pool owners across the fruited plain, who have found ways to deal with the hassle factor of solar blankets.
With a hat tip to DIY pioneers, heres ways to hack a solar pool cover, along with regular retail methods to manage them.
Solar Pool Cover Above Ground
Please choose a store to view pricing and availability.
Extend your swimming season with a solar pool cover for above ground pools. This heavy-duty solar pool cover is made with a polyethylene material that works with the sun to catch and retain heat. It helps raise the water temperature by absorbing sunlight during the day and retaining the heat at night, extending the pool season. The material of this solar blanket is highly resistant to ultraviolet rays which inhibit deterioration and prevent fading.
3 Year Limited Warranty.
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How Long Do Solar Covers Last
Generally the thicker the cover the longer it will last. If you store the solar cover under cover or away from UV rays over winter and take care of it during the summer you may get 5 years out of it but it could be as little as 3 years.
I have to say this is my one bugbear with solar pool covers. Their one function in life is to be in full sunshine and float on water containing strong chemicals so why cant they be made to withstand that better? Why cant the manufacturers solve this problem? But thats just me I guess.
Over time the UV light starts to rot the plastic and it starts to disintegrate. Individual bubbles start to come away . You just have to bite the bullet and replace it at that point.
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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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.
How Fast Does A Solar Pool Cover Heat A Pool
This obviously depends on many factors such as the weather , the air temperature, the wind, the cover thickness and color and even the depth of the pool. See the sections below.
Its ability to heat the pool up is as much a factor in retaining the heat overnight as it is heating the pool up during the day.
In good sunny weather you can see daily gains of as much as 1-2ºF.
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Why Do They Not Last Long
When a pool cover is made, UV protection is chemically added to the material to prolong its lifespan. This protection only lasts so long though. UV rays from the sun are very effective at breaking down the bonds that hold the cover together at the molecular level. Nature is quite powerful in this regard.
Once the UV protections useful life has passed, it is just a matter of time before the material starts to become rigid. At this point, it becomes vulnerable to damage by wind, rain and falling debris.
If thats not enough, chlorine, the chemical that keeps our pools safe, also plays a big role in the deterioration of pool covers. Chlorine is a corrosive chemical that breaks down molecular bonds nearly as effectively as UV rays.
How Does A Solar Pool Cover Work
A pool cover works in three ways:
Obviously using the sun to heat a pool is very eco-friendly and can save you money if you use a pool heater.
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Does A Solar Cover Stop The Pool Getting Dirty
Although some seem to suggest that solar covers do at least help in keeping the pool clean, in my experience, this is not one of their benefits. You always have a small gap between the pool sides and the cover so dirt and debris often get blown towards the edges and then enter the pool.
Also, to keep the cover in good order it is good practice to hose any dirt off the cover before you roll it up so this ends up in the pool anyway while you are using the hose or when you roll it up.
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
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Cover Thickness And Color
Solar pool covers vary in thickness and it should be no surprise to hear that when it comes to the best pool solar cover thickness, the thicker it is the overall heat increase is likely to be higher. The lighter the color of the cover, or the clarity, will also result in more heat entering the pool .
What Is A Solar Pool Cover
A solar pool cover is basically a large solar blanket. It is similar to very strong bubble wrap that floats on the surface of the pool. It doesnt need to be attached to the pool as the surface tension, and its weight, holds it onto the pool surface. In 8 years of having a solar pool cover mine has never been blown out of the pool or even been lifted and we get some pretty strong winds here.
It has bubbles on one side and a strong flat layer on the other. The bubbles help to act as an insulator to stop heat transfer out of the pool.
A solar pool cover is different from a pool cover. A pool cover is intended to cover the entire pool to protect it during the winter and/or to prevent children or pets from falling in.
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