Closing Vinyl And Fibreglass Pools
In preparation for freezing temperatures, an in-ground swimming pool’s pipes must be emptied. An above-ground pool should also be closed, so that ice does not drag down the pool wall, collapsing its structure. The plumbing is sealed with air, typically with rubber plugs, to prevent cracking from freezing water. The pool is typically covered to prevent leaves and other debris from falling in. The cover is attached to the pool typically using a stretch cord, similar to a bungee cord, and hooks fitted into the pool surround. The skimmer is closed off or a floating device is placed into it to prevent it from completely freezing and cracking. Floating objects such as life rings or basketballs can be placed in the pool to avoid its freezing under the cover. Sand or DE filters must be backwashed, with the main drain plug removed and all water drained out. Drain plugs on the pool filter are removed after the filter has been cleaned. The pool pump motor is taken under cover. Winter chemicals are added to keep the pool clean. The innovation of a composite construction of fiberglass, with an epoxy coating and porcelain ceramic tiles has led to the pre-form, composite-type with significant advantages over older methods however, it also has increased sensitivity to metal staining.
Save Money On Chemicals
We use chlorine in our pools to destroy algae, bacteria and germs. Chlorine is expensive. The sun is an excellent heat source, but also produces UV radiation. UV radiation breaks down chlorine to an unusable state.
In a pool, chlorine is combined with other chemicals to give it some protection from UV rays, but its not a perfect system. Even with chemical protection, chlorine remains somewhat vulnerable. Solar pool covers provide another layer of protection against the loss of chlorine, meaning youll have to replace it less often.
Sun2solar Solar Pool Cover
The performance of a solar pool cover is highly dependent on its build quality and heat-trapping ability. Hence, we are including a high-performance solar pool cover from Sun2Solar, which offers a 1200 series solar pool cover.
As a solar pool cover is kept in a swimming pool for the majority of time, you should also consider the design of the cover. If you are interested in a good looking cover, look no further. The Sun2Solar Blue Rectangle Solar Cover is one of the most attractive solar covers available on our picks as it is made up of thousands of tiny bubbles spread all over the blanket. It is a 4 x 8-foot solar pool cover which manages to retain heat and keep the pool warm at all times. After applying the cover, you will notice nearly 95% lesser water evaporation in the pool.
The Sun2Solar Blue Rectangle Solar Cover can also be attached to a dedicated roller to make it easier for application. Also, it can be easily trimmed according to your preference and the shape of the pool. Make sure you keep the bubble side towards the water while placing the solar pool cover. There is an 8 years long warranty available for the Sun2Solar Blue Rectangle Solar Cover, which is retained even after trimming the cover for your pool size.
Best Features
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How To Use Solar Rings: Theyre Not Just For Looks
Unlike the solar blankets air-filled bubbles, solar rings are flat and must be inflated before you place them on the water. Youll inflate the inner portion only slightly, and the outer portion until its firm, the way youd blow up a balloon. Then simply place them on the water and let them do their job.
Some solar sun rings have magnets around the circumference of the outer portion. This not only helps the rings stay connected to each other, thereby reducing gaps, it also keeps them from overlapping and leaving even more water exposed.
Its important to note that neither solar sun rings nor squares will cover every inch of your pool water. There will be gaps, even when theyre connected by their magnets. Its for this reason that solar rings and squares are not as effective as a solar blanket at either heating your pool water or preventing evaporation.
Tip: You can continue to run your pump while solar rings are on the pool.
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Spare Parts And Repairs
We provide spare parts for most makes and models of swimming pool heat pumps and pool heaters.
From our experience, we can troubleshoot and repair most pool heat pumps.
We have a network of over 150 engineers throughout the UK who can assist on-site to repair any problems that you may have
Please contact us for a quotation for a spare part, servicing or repair of your pool heat pump
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Robelle 352040r Super Winter Pool Cover
Best for Mild Winters
Robelle is one of the most reputable names in the industry, and their covers are a wise choice for anyone looking for the utmost in protection and reliability.
The Super cover is made from durable polyethylene that weighs in at nearly 2.4 ounces per yard squared. This cover has a lengthy 10-year warranty, so youll have peace of mind should your cover fail.
The top side of this cover is a vibrant blue color, while the underside is a dark black to inhibit algae growth. Attaching the cover to your pool is a breeze, and there are water bag loops every four feet to keep the cover secured, while steel grommets at each corner add another layer of security.
- Not as durable as Robelles more expensive covers
Direct Sunlight Does A Great Job Heating Water
Swimming pools that have a lot of direct sunlight will have much warmer water than pools with partial or full shade. And it doesnt matter if its 100 degrees outside. This is because direct sunlight can transfer its heat energy well into the water.
This has helped me consider that a solar cover heats water better than direct sunlight as a ridiculous notion. Here in Central Florida, the direct sun is intense in the summer. Its very common here for people to have their pools in too much direct sunlight which makes the pool water too hot to be enjoyable.
To help remedy this, some will cover their pools during the heat of the day just to keep the water temperature down. Thats right. To keep their pools cooler, they cover them. Some will only have a solar cover and will use it for this purpose and it works well.
Its funny to me that while many think a solar cover will somehow make their pool water hotter, some are using one to keep the water cooler.
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Free Technical Support And Advice
We fully understand swimming pool heat pumps and all types of pool heaters so we can offer you FREE technical support before and after your purchase.
We provide FREE pool heater sizing advice to ensure that the pool heater that we recommend will meet and exceed your requirements.
We also offer an indoor pool design service covering dehumidification and pool heating for domestic and commercial swimming pools
Call us now on +44 1268-206560 and speak to our friendly expert team.
Splash Pools Scv 2412 Oval Solar Cover
With the Splash Pools Oval Solar Cover, you get three size options to find a great fit for your above-ground pool. We found one that should have been a great fit, but we were dismayed to see that it was several inches smaller than advertised. This resulted in a large gap around the perimeter of the cover that allowed debris to get into the pool and reduced this covers effectiveness. But it still did a pretty decent job of increasing the waters temperature.
Our biggest complaint with the Splash pools solar cover is that it started to disintegrate within the first year. When this happens, youll notice your pool starting to fill up with little plastic bubbles that can easily clog your pump and vacuum. For us, the headache this caused wasnt worth the few degrees of warmth we got in exchange, which is why this cover is in the last position of our list.
- Started to disintegrate in the first year
- Filled pool with plastic particles
- Smaller than advertised
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If You Are Heating Your Swimming Pool You Must Have A Solar Cover
As explained above , most of the heat loss of the pools water will be out from the pools surface. So, if you are heating your pool with something that actually generates heat into the water, then you will need a blanket of insulation over the top of the pool to help keep the heat in.
This blanket of insulation is what my industry calls a solar cover. And you absolutely need to be using one in unison with the heater. This will allow the water you heated to stay in the pool longer.
A pool heater and set-up is expensive. A solar cover is not. If you are planning on heating your pool, just take my word for it and order one and have it before heating your pool.
Dohenys Solar Pool Cover
The bubbles available on a solar pool cover plays an important role in retaining solar energy and trapping the heat. Thus, Dohenys solar pool cover is a decent pick on our list as it features microbubbles over its surface.
Dohenys Clear Tek Micro Bubble Solar Cover is a decent solution for in-ground pools varying up to 18 x 36 feet in size. As this is a 1600 series solar pool cover, it features nearly twice as many bubbles over its surface. Due to the microbubbles, the heat transfer rate is nearly double that of any standard solar cover. It is made up of blue plastic and backed by 3 years warranty period. You can also get 2400, 2400 supreme, and 3200 series solar covers from Dohenys.
As the majority of heat loss in swimming pools is caused by evaporation, the Dohenys Clear Tek Micro Bubble Solar Cover is specifically designed to prevent evaporation. Thus, you can effectively avoid up to 70% heat loss in your swimming pool. If you are worried about the size and fitting for your pool, fret not. The Dohenys Clear Tek Micro Bubble Solar Cover can be easily trimmed with scissors without voiding the warranty period.
Best Features
- Blue plastic solar pool cover
- 14 x 28 feet in size
- 1600 series solar pool cover
- Can be trimmed according to user preference
- 15 to 25% increase in energy absorption
- 3 years long warranty period
Pros
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Keep Bugs And Debris Out
Although its not one of their primary purposes, solar blankets do shield your pool from bugs and debris such as leaves and twigs. If your blanket does trap debris, use a hand skimmer to scoop it out before removing the cover.
The more debris you can keep out of your pool water, the less you have to run your pump on high to vacuum, and the more you can save in energy costs.
How To Use A Solar Pool Cover
The first time you unpack it, a solar blanket may be a little unwieldy, but its easily fixed. First, unfold it next to the pool. Spread it out bubble-side down on top of the pool water. The bubbles keep your cover afloat while, depending on the color and type of cover, acting as little magnifying glasses to heat up your pool.
Straight out of the box, the solar blanket will probably hang out over the sides of your pool, especially if you have a uniquely shaped pool. Use multi-purpose scissors to trim the excess so the blanket fits inside the pool.
Tip: Leave a flap 2 to 3 inches long where your skimmer is so you can tuck it under the edge of the skimmer. This allows you to push debris into the skimmer before removing the blanket.
Ideally, youll put your solar blanket on whenever the pool is not in use. Daytime is the best time for it to heat up your water, of course, since it relies on the sun. However, keeping it on through the night prevents water and heat loss via evaporation.
Tip: Running your pump while your solar blanket is on is completely safe.
If youre in and out of the pool throughout the day, just be sure to put it back on when youve finished using the pool for the day. Obviously, youre not going to want to swim with a solar blanket on the pool, so before you get in, youll need to remove it.
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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 To Maintain A Solar Pool Cover
- Do not leave the solar pool cover on the pool while shocking. The chlorine will degrade the material.
- Do not place your solar pool cover on the pool immediately after shocking the pool. Wait for at least 24 hours.
- Do not use the solar pool cover on the pool when the chlorine level is higher than 2 ppm. High levels of chlorine will degrade the material of the pool cover and make it brittle.
- Ensure you maintain the pH of the pool at around 7.4. Low or acidic pH levels also degrade the material of solar pool covers.
- To avoid unnecessary tugging and folding, use a solar cover reel to roll up your solar pool cover.
- When the solar cover is rolled up or folded, do not leave it under the sun. The air bubbles will keep focusing sun rays on the cover, and this will promote deterioration. It is better to wrap the solar cover with a UV-resistant material or store it in a shaded area.
- If you will not be using the pool cover in a long time, roll it up and store it in a shaded area. Before storing it, ensure you dry it and clean it. This way, you will reduce or remove any residual chemical that can degrade it in storage.
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Blue Wave Ns1: Best Solar Pool Cover For Removal
The Blue Wave NS120 is a solar pool blanket that is made up of small bubbles that insulate your swimming pool and can improve the temperature of your pool by up to 15 degrees Fahrenheit.
Since this solar pool cover is going to be directly in the sunlight, itâs made to be resistant to the wear and tear from UV radiation, along with the chemicals that you treat your pool water with. The Blue Wave solar pool cover is one of the pricier options in our round up, however, for what you pay, you do get a three-year warranty.
This solar pool cover is round so obviously wonât be suitable for square pools, and it has been designed for above-ground swimming pools. It does, however, claim to prevent up âto 95% of pool water and chemical evaporationâ. This means you wonât have to spend as much money or time replenishing your pool.
The Blue Wave NS120 scores an average of 3.7 out of five stars on Amazon. Users that loved this solar pool cover state it âraised the water temp over 20 degrees in a weekâ. Others suggested it was easy to take off the pool, and it was very durable. Criticisms come in the form of stating this solar pool cover is âthinâ and some users had issues with the bubbles popping and disintegrating.
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.
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