What Is The Best Pool Cover To Buy
The “best” pool cover is the one that fits your needs and is not necessarily the most expensive one. An entry level cover that won’t retain much heat is the Daisy Pool Cover 250B.
On the other hand of the spectrum, we have the top of the line Daisy 525TB Pool cover. This is a superior model with a 10-year warranty and will retain up to 8 degrees of heat within your pool water, perfect for those colder climates and customers that want a long term return on their cover.
Summary
Make sure you do your research into the warranty terms and conditions. As explained above, the warranty and material can vary from supplier to supplier. A cheap pool cover can end up costing you more in the long run.
If you take all of these things into consideration when you purchase your next pool cover, youll make a much smarter choice and youll have a cover that hopefully lasts.
There is no doubt that once people use a cover, they suddenly realise how valuable they are. If youre trying to heat a pool or stop water evaporation, it all happens on the surface of the water. Up to 90% of the heat goes straight out of the top of the swimming pool. Its not the filter its not the pumps its not this its not that. Its just exposed water and if you put a cover over that, you basically stop it dead.
Do you have any questions about this topic or the featured products? No worries, we’re here to help! Drop us a question down below and we’ll get back to you ASAP.
Happy swimming 🙂
How To Properly Store Your Solar Cover
At the end of pool season, itll be time to break out the safety cover, and store the solar blanket. But before you do that, you must make sure the solar blanket is clean and completely dry so you dont get a nasty, moldy surprise when you open it up next season.
To clean your solar blanket, remove it from the pool, and lay it on a soft surface like grass. Concrete can damage the bubbles, making the blanket less able to float and do its job.
Once you have it spread out flat, use a soft push broom or soft scrub brush and clean water to scrub away dirt, algae or buildup, then rinse. Dry the blanket well by hand, using a leaf blower, or hanging it up to dry.
Tip: Dont ever leave your solar cover out to dry on your lawn. It can burn your grass.
After you wash and dry your solar blanket, reel it up. Some pool cover reels come with a weather- and UV-resistant storage cover so you can store it outside if you dont have any indoor space for it. If your reel didnt come with a cover, you can always pick one up.
If youre folding your blanket up, place it in a container with a sturdy lid to keep pests out. Then store the container somewhere cool and out of direct sunlight to prevent the cover from shrinking, and the plastic container from deteriorating.
Evaluating Your Site’s Solar Resource
Before you buy and install a solar pool heating system, you first need to consider your site’s solar resource. The efficiency and design of a solar pool heater depends on how much of the sun’s energy reaches your building site.
Solar pool heating systems use both direct and diffuse solar radiation. Therefore, even if you don’t live in a climate that’s warm and sunny most of the time — like the southwestern United States — your site still might have an adequate solar resource. Basically, if your building site has unshaded areas and generally faces south, it’s a good candidate for a solar pool heating system.
Your local solar system supplier or installer can perform a solar site analysis.
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How To Use A Pool Cover
If you use your pool during the daytime, take off the cover just before swimming and replace the cover as soon as you’re done using the pool.
If you use your pool only at night, the effectiveness of a pool cover will depend on whether the evaporation and other losses prevented by the cover exceed the solar gain reduction caused by the cover. The type of cover and the climate affects this balance. In dry and/or windy conditions, the evaporation rate of the pool increases. Therefore, it is generally beneficial to have a transparent or bubble cover on during daylight hours. In warm, humid conditions the evaporation rate decreases. In this case, it may be more beneficial to leave the cover off during the daytime.
How Much Does It Cost To Open Or Close A Pool
The average costs to open a pool is around $400, and for pool closing expect to spend $300. These services include taking the cover off, cleaning the water of any debris, checking for leaks, and getting the chemicals to the right balance. At the end of the season, they can also take the water level down, drain pumps and the filter system, and place the cover to protect the pool for the winter.
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Solar Pool Covers Or Bubble Covers Cost
These are the most common kinds of pool covers on the market. Also known as bubble blankets or bubble covers, because they look like a large piece of bubble wrap. Theyre economical and give your many of the benefits of their more expensive relative, the thermal pool cover.
One major benefit over a thermal cover, aside from the cost, is that these covers will actually heat the water and not just retain it. Being translucent, the suns rays can penetrate these covers to warm the water, where a thermal pool cover can only keep the heat that is already in the water.
Solar pool blankets cost from $150 to $700 for a domestic or residential swimming pool.
We recommend this cover here and this roller here.
Why Install Solar Pool Heating
Studies have shown that homes with pools cost about 49% more for electricity than homes without pools. While some of the cost is due to the fact that homes with pools have more energy consuming appliances and tend to have more occupants, maintaining a swimming pool still costs approximately $23 per week, and that doesn’t include the cost of heating the pool.
With heating, the cost can be as high as $100 per week for gas heating, or even more for electric heating. This works out at $5200 per year or more, and that’s under optimum conditions. Add in evaporation which accounts for up to 70% of energy loss and your energy bill can be much higher.
Whatever your budget is, a gas or electricity heated pool will consume energy and cost more than solar pool heating in the long term. These systems generate their own power and the payback period can be as little as two years. Purchase a system with a long warranty and you’ll enjoy free pool heating for many years after the payback period expires.
Beyond the financial benefits, another advantage of having solar pool heating is that it can extend your pool swimming season. In cooler areas, you have an extra month on both sides of the swimming season, giving you two extra months to swim. If you live in a warmer climate, a solar pool heater can double the swimming season.
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Solar Pool Cover Technology
75% of swimming pool heat loss is due to heat evaporation. This is due to the fact that even when your swimming pool is heated by the sun without a cover it can lose the heat. The hot water eventually converts to a gas and is free to evaporate and leave without any barrier. In comes the solar pool cover, who acts as that barrier between your pool water and the sun.The bubble-wrap appearance of this cover allows the sun to peak through the cover and heat the water. The semi-transparent surface easily allows sun rays to peak through without any problems. These covers also keeps your water and the warmth it generates where it belongs in your pool! This is especially useful in areas that experience dry and windy climates. These covers counteract the excessive evaporation that happens due to these climates and saves you money on heating costs.
The Type Of Cover And Materials Used
Different solar covers are made of different materials. The most common ones, namely the bubble covers and solar rings, are made of polyethylene or polypropylene with different thickness ranges from 8 to 16 gauge.
Make sure you choose a cover that is easy to remove and put on the pool with or without a reel, especially if you are planning on using the pool on a daily basis.
Bubble covers are lightweight and efficient for heating the pool and insulating the heat inside it. They are usually UV resistant, but they are not as durable as other types of materials.
See also 5 Pool Cover Reels 2021 Reviews & Buying Guide
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The Full Cost Of A Solar Pool Heater
Do you want a heated pool without the high utility bills? Are you looking for affordable alternatives to keeping your pool water steaming? Well, solar energy is probably the answer for you.
In this post well cover the solar pool heater cost, and well walk you through everything you need to know about solar pool heating. Keep reading to find out the cost of your average solar pool heater, how it works, the pros, cons and whether its the right option for you.
Important note: The heaters you use for your pool are not the same as the solar panels you use for your home electricity. They’re very different and serve different purposes.
Maintain Water Temperature For Free
Unlike other types of pool heaters, a solar cover helps to maintain heat in your pool for free. Other than the cost of the solar blanket, there are no associated costs to operate your blanket . Proper use of a solar blanket can retain up to 10 degrees of additional heat in your pool, depending on the amount of sun your pool gets throughout the day, and the duration it is exposed to the sunlight.
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Solid Security Cover Cost
A solid security cover might cost you between $650 and $1,200 or more on average, depending on the manufacturer and size. If you shop for a solid security cover at a typical pool supply store, you might be able to get one for less than $650, depending on the type and manufacturer. Like mesh security covers, you can expect to pay closer to $1,200 and up for a solid security cover if you have an inground pool. Solid security covers differ from mesh covers and offer a few important benefits, including:
- Keeps leaves and debris out and does not allow water to pass through
- Keeps water clearer than a mesh security cover
- Effective at keeping unwanted guests out of the pool
- Can last around 6-10 years
Winter Safety Pool Covers: Costs Vs Benefits
Not sure if youve noticed, but the sun is setting earlier. Pretty soon, the leaves will start to change and it will be time to close the pool for winter.
Safety Covers for in ground pools and for some above ground pools that have decks are they worth the extra cost?
In todays blog, well compare some Costs vs. Benefits of safety covers.
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Inground Pool Heater Cost
An inground pool heater costs $550 to over $10,000, with another $400 to $500 for installation. The difference in prices for inground pool heaters is primarily how much water you need to heat, and what the rise in temperature is from the average coldest temperature to the desired water temperature.
- Electric tankless water heaters generally start between $500 and $600.
- Larger and more powerful electric pool water heaters average between $1,500 and $3,500.
- Similar gas-powered pool water heaters fall between $800 and $2,500.
On the high-end, you will see solar pool heaters or electric pump water heaters for anywhere from $2,500 to $10,000. These work in hotter climates and transfer the heat in the air to the water in the pool, and they do so very economically.
Why Use Safety Covers
The number one reason pool owners invest in safety covers is to provide safety and prevent accidental intrusion by children, pets, or other animals. According to the CDC, nearly 60% of all drowning deaths for children under 15, occurred at a private in-ground pool.
A common problem that we hear talking to our customers is that they have algae growth when they open the pool for the first time during the spring. Solid safety covers help eliminate algae growth over winter. Algae can potentially stain the pool and will cause more headaches come spring time.
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Should You Buy A Solar Pool Cover
We at Pool Calculator believe that a solar pool cover is a good investment for most pool owners. If you can overlook the higher price tag, we see the pros as heavily outweighing the cons. Actually, if used properly and with safety, these covers will save you money in the long run. They will also add convenience to your pool days with faster heating and cut down on total electricity and water costs for your house.
Solar Pool Cover Costs
Not every new invention brought to the market has to break the bank. This is true in the case of solar pool covers. In fact, solar pool covers are relatively inexpensive, ranging from $75-225. This might be more than your run-of-the-mill pool cover, but it could save you hundreds of dollars in heating costs. This means that you get to use less way total electricity to heat your pool. This is all possible with a slightly higher initial price for these covers, a price that likely ends up paying for itself when it is all said and done.
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Should You Invest In A Solar Pool Heater
A solar pool heater is a cost effective option if you live in an area with a warm climate and plenty of sunshine. However, you should also consider how long your winters are and whether or not you have the space on your roof before going with a solar pool heater.
Solar heaters might cost slightly more up front by way of unit price and installation. However, the benefits in terms of long term cost effectiveness are worth it. Your pool heating costs will be minimal when compared to a gas pool heater and theyll stay that way for the life of your solar system.
Reference Links:
How Well Do Solar Pool Heaters Work
Energy Convervation GAWhat is a solar pool heater?How solar pool heaters work:
- Pool pump sends water through the pipes to a diverter valve
- Diverter valve sends water up the pipe leading to the solar panels
- Solar panels are usually positioned on top of a roof, on fence,or a ground-level platform facing the south
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How To Properly Store Solar Rings
For temporary storage, such as when youre swimming but youll be putting the rings back on the pool later, you can simply stack them near the pool. Keep them out of the wind, though, or they may end up all over the pool deck and yard.
Some rings and squares have loops on the outer portion so you can hang them up while you swim.
When the swimming season is over, long-term storage is easy, too. Once you have the rings out of the water, spray them off and, if necessary, use a soft push broom or brush to clear any debris from them. Do this before you deflate them to make sure nothing gets trapped in any folds or wrinkles.
Next, dry them completely. It will be easiest to do this by hand. Taking a leaf blower to solar rings may just blow them right back into the pool, or into the neighbors yard. While that might be entertaining, it wont be efficient.
Once theyre dry, deflate them, flatten them, and store them in their storage bag , or in a container with a lid. Keep the bag or container in a cool, dry place.
Regardless of how and where you store them, just be sure to keep them out of direct sunlight, and away from abrasive surfaces.
Safety Net Pool Covers Cost
Pool safety nets are just like their name suggests, a net that goes over your pool and makes it safe. The net is made from chemically resistant material and is fitted over the top of a pool. A thermal or solar cover can be used at the same time and will fit underneath the net.
With many small children drowning each year in Australia, this product will give you peace of mind.
Safety pool net covers cost from $1,450 to $4,300.
I hope this gives you a good idea of the costings of pool covers in Australia. You can see it varies a lot depending on what you choose.
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About Our Solar Covers
With a solar cover you can keep the heat in your pool for FREE! We carry a variety of solar cover styles that can help to maintain the temperature in your pool. Whether your pool is too cold to enjoy consistently throughout the summer or you’re currently spending a fortune heating it, you’ll be able to extend your swimming season and save money with a solar cover. Solar covers are designed for inground, semi inground and above ground pools. The bubbles should face down into the water when you put your solar cover on.
