{"id":512,"date":"2022-01-20T19:23:09","date_gmt":"2022-01-20T19:23:09","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/allaboutpools.org\/?p=512"},"modified":"2023-06-12T14:19:31","modified_gmt":"2023-06-12T14:19:31","slug":"how-do-solar-pool-covers-work","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/allaboutpools.org\/how-do-solar-pool-covers-work\/","title":{"rendered":"How Do Solar Pool Covers Work?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
Curious on how solar swimming pool covers actually work? Let’s dig into it!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Nothing beats enjoying your weekend by your backyard pool. However, it\u2019s always an issue to get into the water if it\u2019s ice cold. That\u2019s why a lot of people use electric and gas heaters to warm up the water.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The problem is, these consume a ton of electricity and you lose a ton of water by evaporation. That\u2019s where a solar swimming pool cover option<\/a> comes to the rescue. One question that might come to your mind is \u201chow do solar pool covers work?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Below you\u2019ll find everything you need to know about solar pool covers, including their working mechanism, their benefits, and the best options that you can find out there.<\/p>\n\n\n\n To understand how a solar pool cover works, you should know what happens to the water in your pool if you leave it completely uncovered or with a regular pool cover.<\/p>\n\n\n\n During the day, if you leave the pool uncovered, it\u2019ll absorb a lot of the sunlight throughout the day. Ideally, pool water will absorb more than 60 to 70%<\/a> of the solar energy directed at it. This energy will end up heating up the pool by about 0.7 to 1 \u00b0F every hour. <\/p>\n\n\n\n However, with an uncovered pool, the water will start to counteract the warming process by evaporation. <\/p>\n\n\n\n One property that always follows water evaporation is a quick reduction in temperature. In fact, this can cause the water to cool up at a much higher rate than it heats up, rendering the water icy cold on a hot summer day.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A solar pool cover is simply a huge blanket that looks like a thick sheet of bubble wrap. How solar pool covers work is by capturing the heat energy that comes from the sun and use it to keep the water warm. This resembles the greenhouse effect used to keep the plants in warmer conditions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The great difference here is that although it heated up much faster, the blanket doesn\u2019t allow the evaporation process to escalate. So, the pool remains warm without using external means of heating.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It goes without saying that the solar pool cover also works as a physical barrier that blocks all the external factors of the environment from tampering with the chemical composition of your water.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Here are some of the benefits you\u2019ll get by opting for a solar pool cover.<\/p>\n\n\n\n While using a solar pool cover, you\u2019ll be able to harness the power of the free solar energy to warm up your pool. This will save you a lot of money on electricity bills.<\/p>\n\n\n\n One thing you should know is that a solar pool cover\u2019s heating efficiency is highly dependent on the availability of solar energy throughout the day where you live. <\/p>\n\n\n\n In other words, if it isn\u2019t sunny enough during the day in your region, the solar pool cover might not be enough to warm up your pool on its own. <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n In that case, you might still need an electric or gas water heater to get the pool to the ideal temperature for swimming and retaining chemicals. However, you\u2019ll still save a ton of money by combining both systems.<\/p>\n\n\n\n By adding the physical barrier of the solar pool cover to your pool, you\u2019ll also enjoy the benefits of a regular pool cover. This includes keeping debris and dust out of your pool.<\/p>\n\n\n\n This keeps your water cleaner for longer, so you won\u2019t have to spend time or money on continuously cleaning or refilling your pool with clean water. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The increase in water temperature will also prevent algae from forming in your pool.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Pool chemicals are also affected by the evaporation process, so you have to refill them in a tedious process to maintain the cleanliness of the pool.<\/p>\n\n\n\n That\u2019s why retaining the chemical composition of the pool is another added perk of having a solar pool cover<\/p>\n\n\n\n Solar pool covers are available in a wide variety of shapes, styles, and sizes. For example, a solar pool blanket fit to cover a pool of about 10 ft in diameter should cost you about $70 to $80.<\/p>\n\n\n\n As a rule of thumb, you should expect a solar pool cover to be fairly inexpensive, especially when compared to the value they bring and the money they save. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Most solar pool covers on the market will set you back anywhere between $70 to $400 depending on their sizes and thickness while retaining the heat.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Usually, these blankets come in bulk where you can cut and trim them to fit whatever shape of a pool you have in your backyard. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Finding a good solar cover for your pool depends on various factors, and there are various options out there that you can come across.<\/p>\n\n\n\n To save you the hassle of finding the ideal one for your pool, we scoured the market to get the top solar pool covers on the market. See our top 3 picks depending on what kind of swimming pool you have and your budget that are available on Amazon below.<\/p>\n\n\n\n One of the highest quality products on the market. However, it\u2019s also one of the priciest. According to Blue Wave, this one saves up to 95% water and chemicals from evaporating.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Intex Solar Cover is one of the most popular solar pool covers for above ground pools out there due to its high efficacy and budget-friendly price. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Sun2Solar offers an excellent level of heat entrapment while staying relatively well priced. It\u2019s also available in both blue and clear varieties, so you can choose the one that fits your needs. <\/p>\n\n\n\n There you have it. A complete guide with everything you need to know about solar pool covers and how solar pool covers work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n As you can see, solar pool covers will work by entrapping and preserving the heat without costing you more on electricity bills!<\/p>\n\n\n\n Also, it\u2019ll keep all dirt and debris out of your pool and maintain the water\u2019s chemical stability for longer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n For that reason, a solar pool cover is an excellent investment that you should consider if you want to worry less about your pool.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Curious on how solar swimming pool covers actually work? Let’s dig into it! Nothing beats enjoying your weekend by your backyard pool. However, it\u2019s always an issue to get into the water if it\u2019s ice cold. That\u2019s why a lot of people use electric and gas heaters to warm up the water. The problem is, […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":516,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_genesis_hide_title":false,"_genesis_hide_breadcrumbs":false,"_genesis_hide_singular_image":false,"_genesis_hide_footer_widgets":false,"_genesis_custom_body_class":"","_genesis_custom_post_class":"","_genesis_layout":""},"categories":[1,4],"tags":[],"yoast_head":"\nUnderstanding Exactly How They Work<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
What Are the Benefits of Having a Solar Pool Cover?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Achieving Higher Cost-Efficiency Than Using a Water Heater<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Keeping the Swimming Pool Water Clean<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Preserving Pool Chemicals<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
How Much Do They Cost?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Top Options Available on the Market Today<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Blue Wave NS520 14-mil Solar Blanket<\/a>
(Best For Inground Pools)<\/h3>\n\n\n\nIntex Solar Pool Cover<\/a>
(Best For Above Ground Pools)<\/h3>\n\n\n\nSun2Solar Blue Rectangle Solar Cover<\/a>
(Best Under $200)<\/h3>\n\n\n\nOur Conclusion on How Solar Swimming Pool Covers Work<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n