{"id":1609,"date":"2022-02-12T13:19:00","date_gmt":"2022-02-12T13:19:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/allaboutpools.org\/?p=1609"},"modified":"2022-06-24T12:46:37","modified_gmt":"2022-06-24T12:46:37","slug":"clear-vs-blue-solar-pool-covers","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/allaboutpools.org\/clear-vs-blue-solar-pool-covers\/","title":{"rendered":"Clear Vs Blue Solar Pool Covers"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

When it comes to owning your own swimming pool, there are certain factors that you need to consider to keep your pool in working condition. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Whether that be testing the chlorine levels in the water or ensuring that the pool stays clean and free from algae. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Probably one of the most significant factors to keep in mind is the pool\u2019s temperature, which can be greatly influenced by the addition of a solar pool cover. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you have often found yourself jumping into a pool of freezing water, then chances are you need a solar pool cover to help keep it warm. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Not only do pool covers stop animals and plants from falling into the pool, but they also conduct heat into the water, which can be very beneficial for both the pool\u2019s temperature and its maintenance. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

But what kind of pool cover should you use? These days there are various solar pool covers available on the market, with each one usually ranging in ability and color. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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However, probably the most popular solar pool covers are either clear or blue, which begs the question of which one is the best? <\/p>\n\n\n\n

In this article, we have gathered some interesting information concerning the capabilities of both blue and clear solar pool covers, so that we can discern which one is the best for keeping your pool warm and clean. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

So if you have ever wanted to know the difference between these two pool covers, now is your chance to find out, but first lets dig in to how solar pool covers actually work<\/a> to help warm and protect your swimming pool. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

How Do Solar Pool Covers Work?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

When a solar pool cover is placed bubble-side down on the water, it is used to provide two major services. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

First, the plastic of the inground pool’s solar cover<\/a> will begin to absorb the heat of the sun, which it will then use to heat up the air-filled bubbles lining its interior. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

This heat or solar energy is then released from the bubbles into the pool through the process of conduction, with the heat being capable of keeping the pool warm for long periods. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The second service that the solar pool cover provides is that it helps to reduce the risk of heat loss and evaporation, which are very common in swimming pools that do not have a sufficient cover. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Uncovered pools are more likely to get cold because they are being constantly exposed to steady winds and cold nights, which help to decrease the overall temperature of the water. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

This is why many pool owners will often purchase solar pool covers, as they have been proven to reduce this process. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Scientific studies have shown that uncovered swimming pools are actually still capable of absorbing solar energy from the sun. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, the water in the swimming pool is unable to retain the energy it absorbs, which is why they need solar pool covers to absorb and retain the energy for them. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

This is also why solar pool covers are so popular, as they have been proven to be 95% more effective at reducing heat loss and water evaporation than other pool cover brands. Solar pool covers are also fairly easy to install<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Clear vs Blue Solar Swimming Pool Covers – Which Type Is The Best?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Currently, solar pool covers can be bought as either clear sheets of plastic or in various hues of blue, with many people believing that there is no difference between the two colors – however, there is. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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When it comes to solar pool covers, color is actually a very important factor in how well the cover is going to work, as different colors and transparencies will often yield very different results. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

To help you understand the various pros and cons of both pool covers, we have outlined each color down below and have covered their various abilities and limitations: <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Clear Solar Pool Covers<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Because these particular solar pool covers are made from thin and clear plastic, they provide the solar energy easier access to the water, which means that light energy from the whole spectrum is being conducted into the pool. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Due to this easier access, clear solar pool covers are also known to absorb less heat. However, this does not mean that they are incapable of heating your swimming pool, as clear pool covers will often yield more heat than solar cover types. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Although clear solar covers are considered some of the best for conducting heat, this does not mean that they don\u2019t come with any negative side effects. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Because clear covers conduct large amounts of UV light<\/a> into the pool, they do run the risk of degrading the chlorine levels near the water\u2019s surface and are capable of raising the overall chemical levels in your pool. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Light Blue Solar Pool Covers<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

These pool covers are particularly effective at trapping heat in your pool, as they are capable of conducting solar energy at a more rapid rate than clear covers. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Light blue covers also come with the added benefit of not interfering with your pool\u2019s chemical levels as the blue plastic reduces the amount of UV light being absorbed by the water. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, this does not mean that they also don\u2019t come with some added negatives. For although they are capable of heating your pool, light blue solar covers also block some of the heat that is being absorbed. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

It has actually been proven that light blue solar covers block twice as much sunlight as transparent ones, which means they can decrease your pool\u2019s overall temperature. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Dark Blue Solar Pool Covers<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Dark blue solar covers are considered the most effective at retaining the heat in your pool, which is interesting when you consider that they absorb the least amount of heat throughout the day. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

So if you are searching for a solar pool cover simply for its heat retention abilities, then dark blue pool covers are probably the best choice for you. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Our Conclusion on Clear vs Blue solar Pool Covers<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

We hope you enjoyed our guide and breakdown of clear vs blue solar pool covers for your swimming pool. Although both clear and blue solar covers come with their various abilities and features, which one you decide to choose really depends on your own personal preference. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

For example, if you want a pool cover that absorbs vast amounts of heat during the day, then clear solar covers are the product you want. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

While on the other hand, dark blue pool covers are the best at retaining heat and can also be particularly effective if you only want to cover the pool during the night. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

That being said, light blue solar covers still remain the most popular choice, as they are a happy medium between both clear and dark covers. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Not only do light blue covers offer a decent amount of heat absorption and retention, but they also look attractive and are the most common. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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