One of the prominent ways to stretch your pool season is to keep your pool warm and comfortable. Among various pool heating options, solar pool cover is one of the most effective ways that regulate the temperature for an extended period. Now a question might arise: How does a solar pool cover work? What is so new about using a solar pool cover? So, without further ado, let us dive into the pool of this eco-conscious heating solution.
How Does Solar Pool Cover Work?
Solar pool covers are plastic sheets designed to trap heat in the pool, use the sun’s heat to warm the water. They are made with lightweight and UV-resistant plastic like polyethylene and look like bubble wrap. One side of the cover has small bubbles, similar to bubble wrap, which absorb heat from the sun. The opposite side has a sleek and smooth texture.
Working: Unlike other pool covers, it heats your pool water by effectively allowing maximum sunlight to pass through the transparent bubbles. The air bubbles act like a magnifying glass to generate heat and trap the heat for a longer period.
Solar Pool Cover’s material also operates to effectively reduce the risk of evaporation or water loss by functioning as a wall between the atmosphere and the water’s surface. According to experts, covering a pool with solar cover can prevent 50% to 70% of evaporation. Since it has a cooling effect, preventing evaporation results in rising pool temperature.
How Fast Does a Solar Cover Heat a Pool?
The average time taken is around 6 hours to heat a pool of water between 10° and 15°. The duration required for a pool to heat using a solar cover is influenced by various factors, including weather conditions, pool size, sunlight exposure, and the type of solar cover utilized. On average, it can raise the temperature by about 5° on the first day.
How to Use a Solar Pool Cover?
There are a few important points to understand for using solar pool cover.
Step 1: You must cover the swimming pool in such a way that the cover nicely fits and properly touches each inside edge. Solar covers generally come in different shapes like round, rectangular, and even oval, and standard sizes to choose from according to your pool’s surface area.
Step 2: You can trim the cover to make it fit better, especially for larger ones that are harder to take off. Cutting them accordingly can help you to fit them and easily get them on and off.
Step 3: It is vital to position the bubbles facing downward to ensure optimal heat retention for your pool water. Placing it incorrectly will lead to the gradual deterioration of the cover.
Step 4: Use a pool cover roller, also known as a reel, to make this frequent cover-removing task quite easy for you. Removing the pool cover for big pools where people swim often can be difficult. Thus, read this guide on how to roll up a solar pool cover?
What are the Types of Solar Pool Cover?
Now we know what is a solar pool cover and how it works, let us learn about its types.
1. Custom Solar Pool Cover: It is specifically made for homeowners with unique pool designs. You can upgrade it with a reel for easy cover retraction, or a system that turns the solar pool cover into a security cover.
2. Liquid Solar Pool Cover: These are like invisible shields that can raise the water temperature by up to 6° Fahrenheit. The application process is simple: pour the recommended amount of biodegradable liquid cover into your pool. It only needs to be replaced once a month. Not suitable for debris protection or added security.
3. Solar Blankets: Also known as bubble solar covers, they trap heat and raise water temperature by up to 15° Fahrenheit, depending on the duration and strength of sunlight exposure. They are crafted with small thermal bubbles and with varying thickness, they effectively trap heat and preserve the pool’s moisture.
4. Solar Rings: They provide a more streamlined option compared to full solar blankets, designed as floating discs with a solar bubble lining. While they are less bulky, they may leave some areas of the water exposed, affecting their efficiency in filtering debris from the pool. Solar rings come in different shapes and sizes, offering flexibility and affordability to cover your pool.
Also See: 4 Types of Solar Carport
Pros and Cons of Solar Pool Cover
Despite being the sustainable option for heating your pool, solar pool covers have the following benefits and drawbacks.
Advantages
The following are notable pros of solar pool covers:
1. Eco-Friendly and Cost Savings: Solar blankets are cost-effective and eco-friendly for pool heating. Despite an initial investment, they save energy and maintenance costs compared to other options. Understanding how they work is crucial to maximizing their benefits.
2. Reduces Evaporation: A solar cover prevents evaporation by functioning as a wall to reduce direct contact between the pool surface and the atmosphere. Pool exposed to wind, excessive temperature rise, and heat, causes evaporation, leading to quick draining and loss of water.
3. Holding Heat: The main purpose of a solar cover is to retain heat in your pool. Solar covers not only keep the pool warm but also prevent water from evaporating. This saves water because you don’t have to constantly refill the pool, thus, retaining heat longer.
4. Prevention from Drowning: It’s risky to let children or pets play near a pool because they can easily fall into the water. To prevent accidents, it’s helpful to use a solar cover when there is no one watching them.
5. Protection against Dirt: A solar blanket is also a good option to keep your pool clean by preventing debris and dirt from entering the pool. They work as a protector by preventing insects, waste materials, or other objects from entering the water.
Also See: 10 Common Problems With Solar Hot Water Systems
Disadvantages
Some cons of using solar pool covers are as follows:
1. Hard Maintenance: You know how a solar pool cover works but regular removing and installing it can be tiring. Moreover, in this process it is crucial to maintain these covers to avoid damage during storage, installation, or removal.
2. High Cost: There is a high initial cost that you have to bear, especially if you have a larger pool. In addition, many pool owners also opt for automatic rollers to unroll the cover from the pool instead of doing it by hand to avoid the difficult task. This can cost you even more.
3. Improper Coverage: This is a common drawback as solar cover comes in different shapes and sizes, so choosing the right size is important to make it effective and cover your pool properly.
In conclusion, solar pool cover offers an energy-efficient and environment-friendly solution that keeps the water clean and prevents evaporation. But make sure you always take proper measurements of your pool before you go for a purchase. To get more informative solar content, keep reading our blogs.
