Solar Pool Covers:
Essential info before you buy.
Solar pool covers are one of the simplest and cheapest ways to conserve energy, water, and maintenance in your pool.
A solar cover conserves these resources by creating an effective barrier between your pool's water and the various environmental factors that create more demand and loss.
Let's start with water.
As we all know, water is a valuable resource. We want to keep as much water in our pools instead of evaporating into the air.
The amount of water that evaporates in an outdoor pool is dependent on several factors, outlined below:
- Pool temperature
- Air temperature
- Humidity
- Wind speed
You can install windbreaks to control wind speed, but the other factors are not controllable. A solar cover will significantly reduce the effects of the other factors on pool evaporation.
Indoor pools also suffer from evaporation. As indoor pool water evaporates, it requires an air handling system to dispose of it. By utilizing a solar cover, you save on several fronts. The amount of evaporation goes down, so you are not constantly adding more water. Your electric bill is reduced because your HVAC system is not working as hard to constantly remove moisture from the air.
There are three types of solar covers: bubble, vinyl, and insulated vinyl. These covers are made from UV-stabilized polyethylene, polypropylene, or vinyl. Depending on your needs, you can get dark or light shades. Bubble covers are similar to traditional packing material. These are the most cost-effective solar pool cover material. Vinyl covers are more durable and long lasting. Some vinyl covers come with a thin layer of insulation between the vinyl, called an insulated vinyl cover.
It is important to consider your heating needs: use darker colors to get more heating and lighter colors to get less of a heating effect. This has a direct impact on your energy consumption to maintain the temperature of your pool.
The other benefit of a solar cover is maintenance. By covering your pool, you are preventing most of the airborne debris from getting into the pool. This translates into a cleaner pool that requires less maintenance and provides more enjoyment.
When selecting your cover, consider the method of storing and using (installing) it. One way is to simply pull the cover on and off the pool when in use. Semiautomatic systems use gear-driven reels (either electric or manual) but require extra hands to guide and unroll. Fully automatic covers roll and unroll at the push of a button. Although they are the most expensive, they are also the most convenient.
The benefits of a solar cover are significant. In addition to the benefits mentioned already, the amount of chemical consumption is also reduced by 35-60%. When you consider all of these benefits, it makes a lot of sense to install a solar pool cover.
Return from Solar Pool Covers to Solar Energy.
Return from Solar Pool Covers to the Home Page.
