You’ve bought your dream pool, and looks amazing! As a new pool owner, you may quickly come to realise that there is a never-ending number of accessories you can buy for your pool. One of them is a solar pool cover. Unlike many of the other pool accessories, a solar pool cover can offer a breadth of benefits. Below, we’ve compiled a list of some of our favourites for this year.
A solar cover explained
When the weather is warm and the sun is shining, your pool water will warm up to some degree, the problem lies with evaporation. The warmer the water is, the quicker it escapes into the air and evaporates. Solar covers work by capturing heat from the sun and transporting it into the pool water. The cover acts as a protective barrier that prevents heat from escaping and significantly reduces the effects of evaporation.
How well do solar pool covers work?
Some brands of solar covers work better than others, and while they won’t heat your pool to the temperatures that a heat pump or heating system can, they can still raise the temperature by 8 to 12 degrees on a good day. The great thing about solar covers is they don’t cost anything to use them, so you are essentially warming your pool for free.
Are solar pool covers expensive?
No, in fact, they are economical to buy, and you can pick up a solar pool cover for around $200.
How do you use a solar pool cover?
Solar pool covers are reasonably straightforward to use. You simply unroll it and drag it across the pool surface. The bubble side needs to be facing the water. If the cover hangs too much around the edges of the pool, you can trim it down to suit. Never let people swim in the pool with the cover only partially rolled back, and to get the best heating, you should cover the pool whenever it isn’t being used.
Cons to solar covers
The biggest and probably only con that solar covers have is that they don’t work if there is no sun about. This can be an inconvenience if it is the only form of heating you have for your pool. So do you really need a pool cover?
Top solar pool covers for 2022
SolarBlue+ Pool Cover
The SolarBlue+ pool cover uses innovative GeoBubble Technology and an extra UV + colour stabiliser formulation. This additional layer enhances the durability of the pool cover, and it effectively elevates the pool’s water temperature. You can expect an increase of about 8 degrees when using this cover on a day with ample sunshine. The SolarBlue+ pool cover is robust against the harsh Aussie climate, and it works well to keep dirt and leaves at bay. By using this solar cover regularly, you can reduce your water loss and chemical use greatly. Being a trusted Australian made brand with an inclusive warranty, you can buy with confidence.
Daisy Premium Range 525B Blue Pool Cover
The Daisy brand is a long-standing and reputable pool cover supplier here in Australia. Bubble covers are their speciality, and they are backed by extensive research. While they have a huge selection of top-quality covers on offer, The Premium Range 525B Blue Pool Cover from their collection is a superior choice and offers the ultimate heat retention. This sturdy cover can warm the pool by up to 8 degrees which can make the water much more enjoyable to swim in when the weather is cooler. With evaporation reduced by 97%, you can keep your pool warmer for longer and retain heat. This cover comes in different price points depending on whether you stick with the manual version or upgrade to an automatic cover.
Sunline Australia Aquavent Pool Cover
Sunline Australia is a well-established Aussie brand that is family-owned and operated. They have many quality covers to choose from, and when it comes to solar pool covers, their Aquavent pool cover is a front runner. With its optimal thermal resistance, its captures warmth in the water and prevents it from escaping. What sets it apart from other solar covers is it is breathable. It is one of a kind, and there is no other cover in the world that offers this exclusive feature. Its breathability allows chemicals such as chlorine to escape rather than concentrating in the water underneath the cover. This keeps the pool healthier for swimmers by boosting the quality of the water. With its innovative deep and generously sized heating cells, it can capture heat and transfer it to the water continuously. With an Aquavent cover, you can expect to experience an 8-degree temperature rise.
Sol+Guard Pool Cover
The Sol+Guard pool cover is another fantastic solar pool cover choice. With its GeoBubble technology, translucent tinted bottom layer, and clear top layer, it offers unparalleled performance by allowing the highest penetration of solar energy to transfer into the pool and can heat the water by a massive 12 degrees. With a significant reduction in evaporation, you can cut down on your pools water and chemical consumption. They keep your pool cleaner for longer, so you don’t have to. If you intend to use a solar cover as the only means of heating for your pool, the Sol+Guard is an ideal choice to obtain the highest temperature elevation.
Pool covers are fantastic and solar covers are that much better!
A pool cover is a must-have if you want to save money and time on looking after your swimming pool. Solar pool covers provide all the same benefits as a regular pool cover, except they warm the water too. When you compare the price to the number of advantages they offer, they are undeniably a worthwhile purchase. If you live in a cooler climate, a solar cover alone may not be enough to warm up your pool up when the weather cools off; however, it most certainly is better than nothing. To get the absolute best result from heating, we suggest using a pool heating system or heat pump in conjunction with a solar pool cover.
If you have any solar pool cover related questions, send them through to our friendly team here at The Fibreglass Pool Company, we are happy to answer them if we can.
