How To Use A Liquid Cover
This is the best part about liquid pool covers: there’s no big floppy piece of plastic to unroll and spread out!
- angle-right Read: A Smart Guide to Solar Pool Covers
You simply shake the bottle of liquid pool cover and pour in the amount the instructions tell you to.
Usually, you’ll add it weekly and most brands call for about 4 ounces per 20,000 gallons of water.
Its always best to pour it into the skimmer, but it will work if you add it directly to the water.
Also, you should run your pump while applying it so that it gets distributed properly.
You’ll only need to add it more than once a week during times of very high usage or severe weather conditions. In those cases, twice a week should do the trick.
Pool Covers Save Water
One of the single most effective things a pool owner can do to save water is to use a pool cover. Because of this, the use of an approved pool cover is a requirement in many areas. If youre not sure about your current water restrictions, you should check with your local council before refilling a renovated pool, or in some places, even topping up.
You may need to supply a certificate of compliance for your pool cover. If you have already purchased an ABGAL solar cover, but do not have a copy of the relevant certificate, you can ask for a copy at your place of purchase. If you registered your warranty with us, you can also direct and well send it to you.
All ABGAL Oasis 400, 500 and 550 micron solar covers are Climate Care Certified, WaterWise and Smart Approved WaterMark licensed, making them compliant in every Australian state and Territory.
How Long Does A Solar Pool Cover Last
Because a solar cover is made of plastic material, it will begin to deteriorate after a while. Also, because of the outside elements and chemicals in your pool, the pool cover will begin to dry around the corners and the bubbles will start to deflate as well. High-quality solar pool covers can remain in good quality condition for about 4-5 years on average.
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Are Liquid Covers Safe
You might be concerned about putting additional chemicals into your pool. But a liquid solar cover is simply another safe and effective addition to your pool system.
Liquid covers have been used by both residential pool owners and commercial pool owners over recent years. The chemicals used within the products are FDA-approved. Studies also show that liquid solar covers are safe to use with any sanitizing system and will not damage your filter.
The chemicals used within liquid pool covers are also safe to use around your animals, so you dont have to worry about their impact on your family pets. It is important to note, however, that some liquid covers do contain chemicals that can irritate the skin. So carefully note the individual chemicals in the liquid cover product before you make your purchase.
You may start by trying a product for a short time to see if your family can tolerate the chemicals. This is a great way to ensure their safety and comfort over many summers spent playing in the sun.
Why Trust The Spruce
Erica Puisis has been covering the best products for outdoor and indoor living at The Spruce since 2017. Her research and areas of expertise have included pool heaters, cleaners, and water testing equipment. To find the best options for this essential pool accessory, she considered the thickness of each solar cover, its ability to retain heat, block UV rays, or provide passive heating for pool water, and the length of any warranty periods.
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But How Well Do Solar Blankets Work Really
If they didnt work at all, they wouldve died out a long time ago. And Ive personally covered many pools that gained 10 degrees or more in a single day. A solar blanket helps to both heat the water, and retain the heat at night, or prevent heat loss from cool air temps or heat robbing winds.
Solar Blankets will add heat to the pool to a greater or lesser degree, depending on 1) amount of surface coverage and 2) amount of direct daily sunshine. For a pool that is completely covered by a solar blanket, and one that gets at least 6 hours of direct sunlight on the pool, a 10-15 degree F gain is not unusual.
Solar Blankets will also reduce heat loss and evaporation by as much as 95%, depending on 1) amount of surface coverage and 2) average nightly temperature. As nights turn cooler, and the differential between water temp and air temp increases, it becomes less effective at reducing heat loss, but still is the best way to do it!
What Solar Pool Cover Color Is Best
Does it make a difference? Yes, it does. A solar pool cover is available in many shades of blues, grays, yellows, and even transparent. The colors make a difference to the amount of heat that is transferred to the pool water as well as the amount that is retained in the same. Dark blue covers are generally better at keeping heat than allowing heat to enter the pool, whereas transparent pool covers allow the heat to enter the pool the best but not retain it well enough. You can read more about how good transparent covers are in our article Clear Vs Blue Solar Pool Covers
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Save Energy Costs And Water By Reducing Evaporation
A solar cover uses nothing but the suns natural energy to keep your pool at a warm temperature. Even if you already have an additional heating element such as a pool heater, a solar cover can help prevent the heat from escaping.
In turn, it can save you on heating costs. You can save even more if you have enough steady sunlight to not even require another heating element. Another thing you can save with a quality solar cover is water. The cover can help reduce the evaporation that naturally occurs. In turn, you wont have to replace the water as frequently.
How Effective Are Solar Pool Covers
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Solar pool covers otherwise known as solar blankets are swimming pool covers that use the suns energy to keep swimming pools warm. But how effective are solar pool covers? Many pool owners are skeptical about the usefulness of covering their pools to retain heat or protect it. Read on for information on pool solar cover effectiveness.
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What Size Solar Cover Do I Need
You want to get a solar blanket that covers the entire pool so theres no room for heat to escape. To figure out the right size, measure your swimming pool from the longest and widest points. If you look at your pool like a clock face, generally youll measure from 12 to 6 and 9 to 3. When in doubt, bigger is better. Solar covers can generally be cut to fit.
What Are The Different Solar Pool Covers
There is a wide variety of solar pool covers available on the marketfrom premade, inexpensive solar covers available through online retailers, to custom solar pool covers that can be sourced through local swimming pool companies. Understanding the types of solar pool covers available will help you determine which is best for your needs.
Solar Blankets: Also known as bubble solar covers, solar blankets are made with small thermal bubbles that help capture heat and retain pool moisture. Available in different thicknesses, solar blankets can increase the pool water temperature by up to 15 degrees Fahrenheit, depending on the amount and intensity of sunlight. To fit a solar blanket to your pool shape, get a blanket larger than the surface area. After unfolding and placing the blanket over the water, you can trim the edges to conform the solar blanket to your pool shape.
Solar Rings: Like a floating disc with a solar bubble lining, solar rings are less bulky than full solar blankets. However, they may leave some water space exposedwhich doesnt make them as great at filtering debris from the pool. With different shapes and sizes available, you can mix and match solar rings to cover your pool for a relatively inexpensive cost.
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How To Use Liquid Pool Cover
- Purchase the right amount of liquid pool cover for a swimming season. The “right amount” will depend on the size of your pool.
- With circulation running, add liquid pool cover product to the skimmer . If you want, you can also pour the right amount of liquid pool cover directly into the pool. You may have to manually circulate the water so that the liquid cover properly covers the surface
- Create a schedule to add more liquid pool cover, at least one time a month. Keep and sticking to a schedule will make sure that the liquid pool cover is effective.
- If desired, use a physical solar blanket and liquid solar blanket at the same time for double the protection
Now you’ve got the low-down on solar covers, get some helpful tips for maintaining your pool!
Can You Use The Solar Pool Cover In The Winter
When the weather is warm and sunny, you may witness a slight increase in the pool water temperature when you remove the cover during the day. However, this could only work if you took it off for just the hottest hours of the day. Once the sun starts to go lower, you may not find it effective since the heat starts to lose due to evaporation. Thus, remember to never leave your solar pool cover on your pool after swimming or in winter in general. They are not cold-resistant and, therefore, may end up being severely damaged.
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The 7 Best Solar Pool Covers For Free And Sustainable Pool Heating
Investing in the best solar pool cover for your swimming pool at home is something that brings with it many benefits.
Firstly, and perhaps most obviously, you can take advantage of the suns rays transformed into solar energy to heat your pool water using one of these covers.
Youll also cut down by pool water evaporation by as much as 95%. This saves you from needing to top up your pool as often, and youll also use fewer pool chemicals, saving you money on an ongoing basis.
An inbuilt advantage of these solar pool covers is the way they also stop debris from tumbling into your pool when its not in use. From leaves, twigs, and branches through to algae, bugs, and insects, keep everything unwanted out of your pool.
Now, if youve never considered this type of pool accessory before, you may have absolutely no idea what to look for in a solar cover. Double down on the following pointers and you should have no problems.
OK, with those simple pointers in place, you should have all you need to know so you can confidently compare the best solar pool covers on the market to see which, if any, makes the right fit for you.
Dive in!
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How To Store A Solar Cover In Winter
Apart from UV light another thing which makes your solar cover degrade quicker are the chemicals in the pool. So if you just remove the cover and store it then it will have these chemicals, and dirt, still on it. These will continue to act upon the cover while it is stored. So before you store the cover you should wash it with soapy water.
Ideally you should do this in an area large enough to lay it out flat, such as a terrace or a driveway. Lay it out and then hose it down. Afterwards, using a bucket of soapy water wash it with a soft broom to remove as much as you can. Then hose it down again. You should do this on both sides and then leave it to dry completely before rolling it up.
Once dry and rolled up you need to protect it from not only the winter weather but also from UV light. Even the winter sun can produce enough UV to degrade the cover. If you have somewhere inside you can store it, such as a large garage, then that is ideal. If you cannot store it inside then you can buy a cover to protect it quite cheaply in a size to fit yours.
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Benefit Three: A Reliable Investment
Many homeowners shy away from the initial cost of a solar pool coverthinking its an unnecessary purchase which wont enhance their pool experience much. This isnt the case, however, as the upfront cost of a solar pool cover makes up for itself in long-term cost savings.
Plus, solar pool covers are durable. Crafted from polymer material with many sealed air bubbles, these pool covers are designed to capture, and transmit, heat into your pool. Theyre tough productsand their heavy duty design requires little maintenance. If you invest in a solar pool cover, youll have a reliable addition for many, many years.
Our Summary On The Best Solar Covers For Inground Pools
We hope you enjoyed this guide on how to choose the absolute best solar pool cover for your inground swimming pool!
There are many benefits to having a quality solar swimming pool cover from maintaining your pool temperature to balancing out your pools chemicals. You can use the above reviews to decide which product is the best solar cover for your inground pool, our teams personal top pick is the Sun2Solar Clear Rectangle Solar Cover.
Let us know what you think about our top inground pool solar cover choices in the comment section below!
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Benefit One: Easier Pool Cleaning
Solar covers act as a barrier between your pool and the outside elements. As such, they protect your crystal-clear waters from dirt, leaves and debris around the deck. Theyll directly lessen the number of cleaning sessions youll need to makeas they prevent debris contamination before it becomes an issue.
If you clean your pool manually, this is a great thing. Why spend extra time scooping out twigs and grass when you can shield your pool from unwanted materials in the first place? If you use a robotic pool cleaner: Why not save a little more money by reducing its runtime?
What Is The Best Thickness For A Solar Pool Cover
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Do you want to get the most out of your pool and reduce chemical costs? Did you know that the type of pool cover you choose plays a big role in your pools upkeep? Just the thickness alone can make all the difference in the world. So, what is the best thickness?
To answer that, lets look at some facts about pool covers. Well also dive into some frequently asked questions to determine what kind of solar pool cover is best for your needs.
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Put The Power Of The Sun To Work
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Our editors independently research, test, and recommend the bestproducts youcan learn more about ourreview process here.We may receive commissions on purchases made from our chosen links.
The Spruce / Chloe Jeong
While it may look like a big piece of plastic, solar pool covers are specifically designed for use on above-ground and inground pools, along with hot tubs. A solar pool cover provides a number of benefits, making it an essential part of pool care and maintenance for most homeowners.
Choose a pool cover based on the size of your pool, and your priorities for a pool cover, which could include raising water temperature using solar energy, preventing heat loss through evaporation, or reducing UV exposure which impacts chlorine levels. Also, consider the type of material for your pool cover and the thickness these factors impact durability and function.
Ahead, the best solar pool covers for your swimming pool or hot tub.
Size: 15 x 30 feet | Shape: Rectangle | Thickness: not listed | Material: Plastic | Weight: Approx. 30 pounds
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Minimizes changes in water chemistry
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Easy to roll
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Not available in round or oval shape
This blue solar pool cover provides the essential functions you need and is available in a variety of sizes to fit your pool. Made of a flexible resin, it strikes the balance between being thick enough to be durable and thin enough to transmit heat from the sun.
What Is The Best Color To Choose When It Comes To A Solar Cover For Your Inground Pool
As covered above, Solar pool covers are available in several degrees of thickness. In general blue solar covers are lighter and less think than clear or non-colored solar pool covers, this makes them more durable and usually better at heating your inground swimming pool.
Blue solar covers often measure 4 mils and 8 mils . Clear solar covers can measure 12 mils and 16 mils .
Thicker pool covers can be more on the pricey end compared to their thinner blue counterparts. We recommend picking one of our top 3 options we tested and reviewed in detail above based on your budget and how long you want your solar pool cover to last.
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The Good The Bad And The Windy
Replacing your bulky bubble-wrap pool cover with a sleek, invisible, futuristic liquid sounds great. If youre thinking of ditching the hassle of big, awkward covers that can get easily damaged and need their own reels and cleaning equipment read on.
Youll never have to worry about finding the perfect-size cover for your pool ever again. A liquid solar blanket will fit any pool of any size or shape. You can even swim with a liquid cover on your pool. The splashing and swirling water will separate momentarily and then rejoin when the water settles.
Liquid solar covers are completely safe , biodegradable, and pretty easy on the wallet. Making the switch comes with some serious benefits but there are some drawbacks to be aware of before taking the plunge.
- The wind: Pool owners that live in regularly windy areas should avoid using liquid solar blankets as the constant movement of the liquid will prevent it from doing its job.
- Less effective: Traditional solar pool covers are always going to be more effective than their liquid counterparts. Regular covers dont move around, are thicker, and will actually keep debris out of your pool.
