The primary benefit of using a solar cover is its ability to raise and maintain the water temperature in your pool by up to 15° F. Alongside this, they can prevent evaporation by approximately 95%, reducing the need for you to refill your pool, lowering the chemical consumption of your pool by around 35% to 60%, and decreasing the time it takes to clean your pool by keeping dirt and other debris out of your pool.
Cited from U.S. Department of Energy.
Every time you lose water from your pool due to splashing or evaporation, you need to replace it with new water that requires energy to heat. Swimming pools lose the vast majority of their water through evaporation, thereby losing heat. By reducing the amount of water open to the air, solar covers reduce evaporation and heat loss.
Cited from U.S. Department of Energy.
A solar cover can decrease your summer heating pool by up to 50%, especially if you have a larger outdoor pool. It reduces the energy required for heating by minimizing water evaporation, while retaining the heat already present in your pool.
Cited from U.S. Department of Energy.
The bubble side of the solar cover should always face down towards the water to maximize both heat absorption and retention. The smooth side, without bubbles, should face up, helping the cover float and preventing damage to the bubbles from the sun.
To determine the correct size solar pool cover, measure your pool at its longest and widest points (including any steps or benches), and purchase a cover that is at least as large as these measurements. Many solar covers will come with some excess material, allowing you to trim it down to the exact size to account for variations in the shape and ensure complete coverage. Trimming your solar cover in this way doesn’t void your warranty.
Each color of solar cover provides different benefits. Clear covers maximize sunlight penetration and heat your pool more effectively than any other color. Blue covers are a middle ground, trapping in more heat while also preventing UV rays from degrading the chemicals in your pool. Silver, or “Space Age” solar covers, are the best for heat retention, but may not be the best at heating your pool.
The best thickness depends on several factors, including your climate, budget, the need for durability versus heat transfer, and whether you plan to use a solar reel, as many solar reels only support up to 12 mil or 1200 series covers.
| Thickness | Best For | Pros | Cons |
|---|---|---|---|
| 800 Series™ | Warm climates | Lighweight and easy to handle | Less durable and retains less heat |
| 1200 Series™ | Most situations | A good balance of durability, heat retention, and ease of handling | Heavier than an 800 Series™, while being less durable than a 1600 Series™ |
| 1600 Series™ | Cold climates, high-durability needs | Most durable, best heat retention, and a longer lifespan | Heavy, and may not be compatible with your solar reel |
Solar Covers usually come with a few inches of overlap in order to allow you to trim it to your pool's exact size and shape. This helps if you have any accessories, such as ladders or waterfalls, that create obstacles for your cover. Before you trim the cover, let it rest on a flat surface, such as a deck or over your pool, to flatten out any folds or creases.
Use scissors or a sharp razor to carefully cut off the excess material, starting by cutting off less than you would like to trim, as you can always take off more later. The goal is to have the cover fit edge-to-edge, end-to-end.
You can also use a marker to draw on the cover where it needs to be cut, before removing it from your pool. You can then lay it out flat and cut along your marks. Trimming your solar cover in this way doesn’t affect your warranty.
The best way to clean your solar cover is to use a multi-purpose cleaner. Remove the solar cover from your pool and lay it out on a large flat or slightly sloped surface. Wet the solar cover, and use a telescoping pole and pool brush, then apply the cleaner and gently scrub the cover. When you're done, spray the cover off. Clean both sides, and allow to dry.
Be sure to maintain a proper chemical balance in your pool to protect your solar cover. Leave it off of the pool when you shock it and keep it off for 2 - 3 days after any chemical treatment. When you’re not using the solar cover, store it somewhere out of direct sunlight to protect it from UV rays. If you use a solar cover reel, consider using a solar cover reel cover.
Firstly, ensure that the solar cover is clean and completely dry to prevent mildew. Then fold it uniformly to make it easier to use again. Keep it in a sturdy box or container with a lid to keep out moisture and pests. Finally, choose a cool, shady spot for storage away from direct sunlight.
When your solar cover begins to flake or get brittle, then it’s time to replace it. You may start to see bubbles begin to peel or flake into the pool, become flattened, or develop a miscolored appearance. The material is usually recyclable, so please consider the environment when you’re disposing of your old solar cover.
Some alternatives to solar covers include liquid solar blankets, solar sun rings, and solar squares.
A solar cover does not entirely replace a pool heater, as although it does add heat, it’s much better at retaining the heat already in the pool. A pool heater is necessary to heat the water, especially in colder climates initially. However, a solar cover helps maintain the heat once it’s in the water, while also heating the pool up to 15°F in the sun.
The main alternatives to a solar cover are liquid solar covers, solar rings, and solar squares.
Liquid solar covers create an invisible barrier that conserves heat energy. It helps conserve water by reducing evaporation and minimizing heat loss. This affordable alternative to solar covers helps to preserve hundreds of gallons of pool water, depending on the size of your pool.
Solar Rings and Solar Squares are passive solar heating devices for your pool. These are similar to a solar cover; however, they don’t cover the entire surface of your pool. Many people use solar rings in conjunction with a solar blanket at night to create additional insulation.
Yes, liquid solar covers are safe both for swimmers and the environment when used as recommended by the manufacturer. They are non-toxic and biodegradable, posing no risk to swimmers or pool equipment when used correctly.
Yes! By absorbing sunlight and transferring the heat to the water, they can heat the pool using solar energy. However, they are most effective at retaining heat and minimizing evaporation.
Yes! You can combine a traditional solar cover with an alternative, such as a liquid solar blanket, solar sun rings, or solar squares. This can maximize heat retention and reduce evaporation in your pool.
Whereas a solar cover reel isn’t needed to use a solar cover, it can make it easier for you to get your solar cover on and off your pool, especially if your pool is larger. A solar cover reel lets you store your solar cover right next to your pool, so it’s close at hand when you want to use it. Additionally, a solar reel can be operated by one person alone, rather than two, even on larger pools.
The things to look out for while considering your solar cover reel are:
While both metals are durable, the deciding factor is the size of your pool. If your pool is larger, the solar cover needs to be larger as well. Therefore, stainless steel may be a slightly better option for holding the cover in place.
Not all solar reels are compatible with your type of pool, so it's essential to ensure you purchase the correct type of solar reel for your specific pool.
Be sure to check that the solar reel you choose can hold the weight of your solar cover. Many reels are unable to hold thicker, 1600 Series™ solar covers as they’re too heavy for the pole.
Your reel will need to span the width of your pool, but bear in mind that if you make it too long, it may become unstable or weak. You also need to consider the width of the reel’s hardware itself, not just the tubing portion that holds the cover, to ensure it fits across your pool and leaves enough room to pass.
Most solar reels are operated manually, with one or two people turning a handle to roll the solar cover on or off. Whereas this is already much easier than putting on or taking off a cover without a reel, if you wanted something even easier, then you can consider an automatic reel. These allow you to put your solar cover on and take it off with the press of a button. They’re also often easy to hook up, with no hardwiring.
Each attachment kit will include instructions for the specific kit, as they may vary with how they attach onto your solar reel and cover.
Yes! When it’s time to replace your solar cover, your new cover will likely be the same size as your old one, and therefore it will still fit on the reel. You just need to purchase a new attachment kit and install it on your new cover in place of the old one.
A solar pool heater is a system that utilizes the sun’s energy to heat pool water by circulating it through rooftop or ground-mounted solar collectors. The system’s pump will send pool water through a filter and then to the collectors, where the sun heats the water before it returns to the pool at a warmer temperature.
Solar heaters have a lower operation cost, but they take longer to heat and depend on the weather, while gas and electric heaters may be faster and more reliable but cost more to run.
| Feature | Solar Pool Heater | Gas Pool Heater | Electric Pool Heater |
|---|---|---|---|
| Operating Cost | Lowest (only uses the power needed for the pump) | Highest | Midpoint |
| Heating Speed | Slowest, and weather-dependent | Fastest | Fast |
| Reliability | Unreliable in cloudy weather or cold months | Very reliable year-round | Reliable, however, efficiency may decrease in cold weather |
| Best For | Extending the swim season | Quick heating for a short time, like a spa or hot tub | Consistent heating and extending the swimming season |
Yes! Solar heaters can be used for both above ground and inground pools, as they work by circulating the water from the pool through solar collectors to heat it with energy from the sun. Generally, the larger your pool, the larger the heater you require.
This actually depends on several factors, such as your climate and the size of your pool, but most solar pool heaters work most efficiently with 5 - 7 hours of unobstructed sunlight per day. They are ideally placed facing south. (in the Northern Hemisphere), but this could differ from your location.
This varies significantly depending on several factors, including the size of your pool, your local climate, and the amount of sunlight available each day.
Whereas solar pool heaters do still work on cloudy or cool days, they are less effective and therefore heat the water slower. They still function, as they can use both direct and diffuse sunlight, and collect sunlight even when clouds have filtered it.
This depends on several variables, including the amount of sunlight, the initial water temperature, and the system's design. Most systems can heat water by 40°F - 80°F above the starting temperature; however, the final output temperature might be lower as it mixes with the cold water of your pool.
Solar pool heaters are more environmentally friendly than other heating options, as they utilize the sun’s free and abundant energy, as opposed to fossil fuels and other non-renewable energy sources. Solar pool heaters don’t produce air pollution and require minimal energy to run the pump (which can often be the existing pool pump).
Whereas you can use a solar heater year-round, it's performance depends heavily on your local climate and the type of system that you have. For year-round use in colder regions, you may get better results by using your solar pool heater in conjunction with a backup heater (such as a gas or electric heater).
