Solar Pool Covers
Solar pool
covers offer another interesting way for heating your
swimming pool. They can be an addition to your already existing
solar pool heating
system or can operate as a stand alone system. Covering a pool when
not in use is a very efficient way to keep the water warm and make
your swimming season a little longer. A solar cover will also reduce
your utility and maintenance bills if you are using gas to
heat your
swimming pool.
Solar blanket as they are also known can be positioned manually or by using
a swimming pool reel system that will allow easy deploying and retracting of
the solar cover. Opening and rolling-up the pool cover can be easily done by
only one person.The choice of solar cover for swimming pool will depend
mostly on the budget you are willing to spend. Solar pool covers are
available for above ground and in ground swimming pools. Pool covers are
usually made of polyethylene or vinyl. Both materials are UV treated
enabling them to resist deterioration over time. Vinyl solar covers have a
longer life span. Polyethylene solar blankets look very similar to the
bubble packing material used to wrap fragile objects but they are thicker.
The function of a solar cover is to allow the utmost amount of sun’s ray to
enter to the maximum depth of your swimming pool. Solar pool covers works
like giant solar collectors, they grab the solar energy all day long and
move the heat obtained to the water. Solar blankets work by reducing the
water evaporation process and retaining the heat of the pool. They are more
suitable for gentle climates where there is no extreme cold. It is most
probably the cheapest technique for heating a swimming pool.
Solar pool covers float on the water and anchors are not necessary. They can
raise the water temperature up to 15 degrees. Although solar covers are not
intended for cleanness purposes, they will significantly reduce the amount
of debris that usually fall into any swimming pools.
Too much chemicals in your pool is the most frequent cause of degradation of
pool covers. Chlorine will slowly attack the material forming the cover.
Make sure to always roll back the solar pool cover before adding chlorine
and other products to the water. The solar cover can be used again once the
chemicals are totally mixed with the water.
To extend the life of solar pool covers you should always remove them during
the winter season. Before storing the cover in a safe place it is important
to clean it and dry it meticulously to avoid deterioration.
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