And if you couple a gas or electric pool heater with a solar blanket, the heater wont need to run as long to keep your pool temperature steady. And they act as a magnifying glass to amplify the suns warming effect on your pool water. Perfect for both inground and above ground swimming pools. Outer edges of the rings often require some inflation before use. Whether using a solar cover or solar rings, its important that they are stored in a shaded area or covered in order to prevent UV degradation. Keep the bag or container in a cool, dry place. Solar rings have had reputation for being tossed around a bit more in the wind. For inground pools of custom shape, you would order a rectangle size that fits over the entire pool, and then cut the blanket to fit inside and hug the tile line around the pool. "name": "Matt Spencer", Particularly when nights are cool, diligent use of them is necessary in keeping the pool warm. Weve got a few extra tips to help you save even more money. However, keeping it on through the night prevents water and heat loss via evaporation. Obviously, youre not going to want to swim with a solar blanket on the pool, so before you get in, youll need to remove it. "author": { Offgrid -- thanks for the suggestion. The number you need to cover your pools surface will depend on the sizes of both your pool and the rings. Click here right now and purchase our Pool Care Video Course today! But it doesnt have to be a one or the other choice. Regardless of which solution you choose, you should probably prepare to replace them every couple years any additional time you can squeeze out of them is a bonus! Once theyre dry, deflate them, flatten them, and store them in their storage bag (if they came with one), or in a container with a lid. Vinyl is typically limited to covers that wont be taken on/off as frequently, as they are more heavy-duty and difficult to move around. But remember, it works constantly without your having to remember to cover the pool at night. Frequently adding water can also require more effort in keeping the pool chemistry in balance. Strength can often correlate to durability and longevity. Several factors work together to determine the evaporation rate of your pool. Fortunately, solar reels can help provide a more manageable way to handle the cover. After testing, we found that any solar pool cover between 12-mil and 16-mil performed best for heat retention. The reason is simple: TFPC (Trouble Free Pool Care) is a methodology, not a product that you must purchase. Its just a matter of detaching the magnets, scooping the rings from the water, and youre done! Tip: Running your pump while your solar blanket is on is completely safe. "url": "https://x1.adis.ws/v1/media/graphics/i/lesl/its-logo-wide" "@type": "ImageObject", However, other shapes such as diamond are also marketed as providing unique heating characteristics. You had your pool up to 83 F on April 30 ???? Based on data from the U.S. Department of Energy, it costs about $3,200 on average to keep a pool in New York at 82F all season long using a gas heater without a pool cover. The dark color will absorb the suns heat and will transfer that heat to the water theyre touching. Ideally, youll put your solar blanket on whenever the pool is not in use. There will be gaps, even when theyre connected by their magnets. Solar rings can reduce heating costs by about 35%. Both solar rings and a solar cover are only effective if they are actually being used. A light-colored, clear cover will allow the suns UV rays to pass through to the water, thereby heating it. Regular use of a solar cover can help reduce heating costs by 70%. Its important to note that neither solar sun rings nor squares will cover every inch of your pool water. We have a mesh safety cover that we use for a winter cover -- that seems like tons of trouble to take on and off a lot. If it is cloudy or rainy I leave them on during the day also. Comes with a 6-year manufacturer warranty. The bubbles keep your cover afloat while, depending on the color and type of cover, acting as little magnifying glasses to heat up your pool. You must log in or register to reply here. CONS:That you need to use a solar reel mechanism, in most cases (with exception to small pools). Today, you just order by pool size. I usually leave them on over night and take off around 10:00 am if full sun. Anytime your pool is left uncovered will result in some amount of evaporation. Given that neither a solar cover or solar rings tend to last longer than one another, the solar cover will often be the cheapest although, keep in mind the cost of a solar reel! "thumbnailUrl": "https://x1.adis.ws/v1/media/graphics/i/lesl/its-logo-wide", If youre not already using stabilized chlorine, you may want to add cyanuric acid to the water to protect the chlorine. If a solar blanket seems like too much of a hassle to put on, take off, and store during the swimming season, you may prefer solar rings or squares. Now there are at least half a dozen brands of Liquid Solar. All the links are affiliate links which means if you click a link and make a purchase, we earn a commission at no additional cost to you. If you laid a sheet of plain bubble wrap on top of your pool water, all the little bubbles would act as magnifying glasses and would transfer some (not a lot of) heat to the water. First, unfold it next to the pool. And each year, he continues to help more people with water chemistry, cleaning, and troubleshooting. Run your filter during the hottest part of the day. If you get a lot of sun during the day, but lose heat due to colder temperatures at night, then you can use a liquid solar cover. Clear solar covers heat the pool better than blue solar coversbecause they allow more of the suns heat to penetrate more efficiently. Preventing evaporation prevents heat loss, and voil! If the water level is not monitored regularly and gets too low, you could risk pump damage. When theyre on the water, if a child or pet (or anyone) happens to fall into the water, solar rings will break apart on impact, and will not form a solid barrier that can make it difficult to come to the surface. }, These can even be decorative because some of them have patterns and images such as palm trees printed on them, while others come in fun shapes such as flowers. Nope, were actually adding a chemical cost with this one. Vanishing edge swimming pools and waterfalls can double your water evaporation rate because they create more surface area by constantly moving the water. "address": "", Solar rings often allow enough visibility to spot growth in the water that can be dealt with quicker. A solar cover can be stored pretty easily when using a reel. Most importantly, conservation of water is crucial in drought-stricken areas. }, Always check the safety notes for the brand you choose before using it, and before letting your pets into the pool. There are three types of solar covers: blankets, rings, and liquid. When not in use, you wont want a solar cover or solar rings to be occupying your lounge area around the pool. Each of them have unique pros and cons that should be considered before jumping into a purchase. Do you leave the covers on all day and night when not swimming? Just pourLiquid Solar Blanketright amount in the pool, and it covers the surface with a microscopically thin nano-layer that blocks heat from escaping. Sometimes wrangling the cover can become enough of a nuisance where owners will decide its not worth their effort to put it on. The higher the wind speed above your water, the more water will evaporate. Even some of the thick covers (16 mil) may only last the same duration as a thinner cover (8 mil). That would definitely be cheaper than getting a big enough rectangular cover and cutting it into several pieces. While it wont heat your inground or above ground pool as much as a traditional electric or gas heater will, any type of solar pool cover will keep more heatand more waterin your pool. Cage Match between three popular methods of capturing the sun's heat and preventing surface heat loss. Take care to scoop debris out of them before removing the solar rings from the pool so the debris doesnt fall into the water during removal. Give a liquid solar cover a closer look to save yourself time and money. While solar rings can simply be stacked on top of each other, this could result in quite a large pile depending on how many rings there are. Their light weight can even allow for gusty winds to lift them out of the pool. Overall, when factoring both heat gain and heat loss, the cover will provide more heating capability due to better evaporation reduction than solar rings. And dont worry if you have a unique pool shapeyou can trim a solar blanket to perfectly customize it to your pool. Our Pool is also a irregular Shape it is like a kidney with an extra bump in the middle. Note: A solar cover option very similar to rings and squares is solar mats. Well look at a number of key categories to aid in this process. To clean your solar blanket, remove it from the pool, and lay it on a soft surface like grass. If you have a gas or electric heater, heating costs can be significantly reduced when using a solar cover or solar rings. Remove your solar blanket or rings before shocking your pool. However, the gaps have some benefit in that they allow direct heating from the sun into the water this can be more efficient than the sun having to go through a cover. One of the biggest gripes when it comes to solar covers is the hassle of taking it on and off. A minimum thickness of 8 mil is advised with many preferring at least 12 mil. By using a solar blanket, you can prevent 35 to 60 percent of your pool water chemicals from disappearing into thin air. Although we cant think of any reason why youd want to, the only way to remove liquid solar cover from your pool water would be to drain the pool and refill it, and no one wants to do that if it can be avoided. Finally, they may catch some bugs and debris here and there, but probably not enough to make a noticeable difference in your cleaning time. Its most common for covers that will be applied frequently. It helps us keep the lights on . Liquid solar cover ranges in price from about $10 to about $30 or more, depending on brand and whether you buy a single container or a pack of multiple containers. However, maybe you have concerns about safety aspects of a cover such as pets or kids being entrapped. "name": "In The Swim", Theres more! Walking on the surface poses a significant hazard for anyone, as it could cause entrapment and drowning. A solar cover will shield nearly the entire surface of the pool, which provides more effective heat retention than solar rings. Solar covers have a variety of styles with the most common being the type that resembles bubble-wrap, known as a bubble solar cover. Some solar rings are also designed with water anchors intended to prevent them from blowing away. If you click this link and make a purchase, we earn a commission at no additional cost to you. In addition to warming your pool water, solar blankets offer some money-saving benefits. This not only helps the rings stay connected to each other, thereby reducing gaps, it also keeps them from overlapping and leaving even more water exposed. The reels can be manual or automatic and simply just require cranking of a handle. This free printable cheat sheet helps keep your inground, above ground, or Intex pool clean and clear without messing with confusing water chemistry. It will be easiest to do this by hand. Some rings and squares have loops on the outer portion so you can hang them up while you swim. In either case, solar rings are a worthwhile alternative. Thanks for the comments. Solar covers generally provide more combined heating than solar rings. It can burn your grass. Pool supply prices have rapidly increased in recent years, in which solar covers and solar rings are not immune. Solar rings will provide some relief in chemical loss usually around 30% or so. Theyre flat and do not require inflation. Long lasting and easily storable for winter, these 5 diameter rings are easier to use than traditional solar blankets. Get the right solar cover reel, and make deploying and removing that cover easier on yourself. "caption": "In The Swim Blog" I tried the blanket and reel and we bought a big one and cut to our pool but it was a hassle and never fit right and hard to get on and off by myself and its basically my pool, I swim, I found this site, I keep it clean, etc. And it says I am new here because I forgot my user name and password and set up new one last summer. With proof of product, the business grew each year until it was being sold in thousands of retail outlets, to pool owners everywhere. It'll help you save $100 right away on pool care! I had the Solar blanket on last week while it was raining and when I took it off this morning the water was milky white - I learned that the salt chlorinator doesn't convert to chlorine when the water is below 57 F. So we had about 0 CL and low PH. so I had to shock today and add 3 bags of salt - the clarity is coming back slowly. Its important that after shocking the pool, these products remain off the water for at least a few hours. Solar covers are usually fairly inexpensive, but you can spend a little more for a higher-quality option. Is it really possible that you could pour something into your pool water that magically warms it up? Solar covers may also be more likely to create an out-of-sight / out-of-mind scenario when it comes to pool water. I went through the same process before deciding on the following. If experiencing algae troubles, you may need to double-check that youre running your pump long enough. Liquid solar covers are about 75 percent as effective as solar blankets at retaining heat. If youre trying to use the sun to provide additional heat, its recommended that you use a translucent cover. Are you heating yours with Natural Gas ? Neither should be stored on an abrasive surface, such as landscaping material or mulch in order to prevent punctures. With diligent care you may be able to garner a longer lifespan from them, but its not a guarantee (and likely not warrantied). For a 600 square foot pool with 1/4 daily evaporation, this could equate to about 750 gallons saved each month. - I have some safety concerns with a cover vs. discs since we have a child (who can swim but not well enough to escape from under a cover in case of an accidental fall-in). "keywords": "", When the sun sets and the night air cools, a lot of the heat your pool gained during the day is lost. Solar pool covers are available in several thicknesses. Most of them spring open and twist closed, just like a windshield sun shade. ", "@context": "https://schema.org/", All thicknesses will heat the pool at the same rate. Solar rings generally can provide up to 50% reduction in evaporation, but will vary based on how much of the pools surface is covered by them often 75% coverage is recommended. When water evaporates from your pool, you dont just lose wateryou also lose some of the chemicals you use to treat that water. Spread it out bubble-side down on top of the pool water. He did ours over in Orleans in August. NOTE: These solar pool covers are available to buy on either Amazon and InTheSwim.com. A solar cover can raise and hold the water temperature of your inground, above ground, or Intex pool. This category goes hand-in-hand with evaporation. In 1974, ayoung executiveworking for the Sealed Air corporation, maker of films and bubble wrap, put their air cell packing on his home pool, and found that it heated the pool and helped keep the heat in during cool nights. Its now typical to spend $150 or more for an 8 mil cover on a standard 18 x 36 pool. Prevent additional water evaporation due to wind by creating a windbreak around your pool. Much of this temperature reduction is due to evaporation. Easier than reading that sentence anyway. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. Again, less debris in the water can save pump and vacuuming time, which saves money. Typical solar covers are constructed of vinyl, polyethylene or polypropylene along with addition of UV-protective chemicals. Keeping them in the shade or covered when not in use is recommended in order to increase their longevity. This is largely due to the covers ability to reduce evaporation along with harnessing the suns energy. Really. We are a registered 501(c)3 non-profit that is funded by user donations. Direct sunlight on a pool can break down chlorine, requiring more frequent addition of the sanitizer in order to remain effective. If pH is too low or chlorine levels are too high, these could expedite degradation of the cover or rings. And new water takes energy to heat. Keep them out of the wind, though, or they may end up all over the pool deck and yard. A solar cover can reduce the amount of water being added to the pool by 50%. JavaScript is disabled. "wordCount": "707", A recentstudyshows that full solar blankets are the most effective method. This can help mitigate heat loss from evaporation. "mainEntityOfPage": "https://blog.intheswim.com/solar-covers-solar-squares-or-liquid-solar/", PROS:So. Solar covers are often offered in multiple thicknesses. Warranties aside, the longevity of a solar cover or solar rings will depend on several factors. With 15 of them, it would have been far less hassle to just have a blanket with no reel. I have a inground liner pool lagoon style so it is rounded on all sides and one side is longer. Even if someone tries walking onto a solar ring, the rings will give way without causing entrapment. "url": "https://intheswim.com/", Takes literally 10 minutes on and off. Wow - ours is still at around 60 degrees. This is where youll see an advantage over the solar blanket. The chemical naturally dissipates over a certain period of time, depending on how large your pool is and how much liquid solar cover you have to use. We like to add enough liquid solar cover to last for a month, but always follow the manufacturers instructions for optimal performance. Easy. Longevity of these solar products can be affected by the pools water chemistry. }, Nearly all of the cleaners are fine running under a cover. Solar rings are sold individually for around $25 to $35 each, or in sets for around $140 to $160 or more, depending on how many rings come in the set. }, A mil is equivalent to one-thousandth of an inch (or 0.0254 mm). Add a breezy day into the mix, and the pile could quickly become disheveled around the pool. Check both sites for availability. Subjecting the covers to high concentration of sanitants can cause damage. I could handle spending $80 and not feel bad if we ended up not using them much. If thats not enough choice for you, solarblanketsare now sold side by side with SolarRingsand Solar Squares, and also available isLiquidSolar Blanket, an evaporation and heat loss chemical that forms a micro-thin layer on the surface. Taking a leaf blower to solar rings may just blow them right back into the pool, or into the neighbors yard. "contentUrl": "https://x1.adis.ws/v1/media/graphics/i/lesl/its-logo-wide", In 1998, acollege PE teacherapplied for and received a patent for his unique HeatSavr and began marketing Solar Fish, which contained a months worth of the evaporation suppressant. But, there can be only one winner here: Solar Cover. Scientific studies performed at Cal Poly, in San Luis Obispo, Ca" Follow the instructions to be sure you add enough packets for your pool. LovemyPool - Great Post. These anchors are an important consideration if your pool is in a windy area. Disrupt the wind with a pool cage, plants, patio furniture, or privacy screens. When cool nights occur, its not uncommon for a pool that was in the mid 80s during the day to drop down into the 70s overnight. "image": { Storage is a key consideration. Solar rings often have two layers of UV resistant vinyl. Cutting the cover and using multiple reels may be necessary. The lower layer is typically dark colored to absorb heat from the sun and heat the water. While wind is a huge factor in evaporation for uncovered pools, it can also cause issues when using solar covers and solar rings. I love this site and live by it every summer!!!!!!!!! Of course, liquid solar cover isnt going to keep bugs, leaves, and other debris out of your pool. An entire solar cover, or smaller individual squares, or one of the many liquid solar chemicals? Higher mil solar covers absorbed more heat and were found to be more durable against the sun damage, chemical resistance, and ripping. Tired of the high electric bills to keep your pool warm? "url": "https://blog.intheswim.com/" While they don't attract the sun's heat to your pool water, they help reduce water evaporation at night to keep the heat in your water. Thats it. If using a solar cover, its recommended that you periodically remove the cover during the daytime. Partially removing it or folding it back isnt enough. Solar Rings vs Solar Cover Final Verdict, 9 Creative Ways to Heat Your Pool Without a Heater (for Nearly Free! Depending on the color, opacity, and type of solar blanket you use, you could very well get some actual heating benefit from it. Theres no doubt that solar covers provide better overall performance than solar rings. Thicker solar covers can run upwards of $200 $300 for this size pool. Since then, his mission is to make pool and hot tub care easy for everyone. This may be a tradeoff for never having to reel in, clean, and store liquid solar cover, though. Using a properly fit cover can reduce up to 95% of evaporation. Some solar blanket reels are available with wheels, so you can roll up your cover and then move the solar reel aside. This can make a pool using a solar cover more susceptible to algae growth than one with solar rings. And if you keep your filter system off at night, itll help reduce water evaporation helping you to retain the heat you gain during the day. For an above ground pool, hooks can be installed on the side of the pool to hold the cover when the pool is being used. "@type": "ImageObject", Important: Its very important that you always remove a solar blanket from the pool before allowing anyone to swim, especially small children and pets. Solar pool covers capture the energy of the sun and transfer it directly into your pool water to keep it warm. While theyre not as efficient as a solar blanket, they can still reduce pool water evaporation by about 50 percent, which can still save you money on water, chemicals, and heating. "primaryImageOfPage": { Save energy and money, and let the sun do the work with an solar pool heater. For an 18 x 36 pool, 13 rings are recommended to gain 70% coverage this could cost $300 $500. These are two options that nearly all pool owners can benefit from in trying to heat the pool without a heater. He thought it might work but recommended the more expensive solution. A white plaster pool averaging 4.5 feet in depth absorbs approximately 60% of the suns energy. Before we continue, are you tired of fighting with your pool? This homemade heater costs under $100 and all the supplies can be found at the hardware store. The single greatest benefit of using a traditional solar cover is its effectiveness at reducing evaporation. This will provide you opportunity for surfaces to be brushed and a visual lookover of water health. Youll inflate the inner portion only slightly, and the outer portion until its firm, the way youd blow up a balloon. For standard 5 rings you can use this chart to help determine how many you need for your pool. Every time you lose water, through splashing or evaporation, you have to replace it. 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. The upper layer is clear to trap insulating air which retains heat in the pool. Now you know how each type of solar cover works, a few benefits of using them, and the best way to do so. Undersized covers could be pushed by the wind towards one end of the pool, and may be more susceptible to bunching up this will reduce the covers effectiveness. Although its not one of their primary purposes, solar blankets do shield your pool from bugs and debris such as leaves and twigs. Then store the container somewhere cool and out of direct sunlight to prevent the cover from shrinking, and the plastic container from deteriorating. Tip: You can continue to run your pump while solar rings are on the pool. They're easy to take on and off your pool and help reduce water evaporation and chemical use. For those that have a traditional pool heater, you probably know how expensive the utility bills can get. Tip: Leave a flap 2 to 3 inches long where your skimmer is so you can tuck it under the edge of the skimmer. Solar rings can capture some dirt and debris. A common ring size is 5 feet, but other options are available as well. Your pool stays warmer than if you had no solar cover at all. This will allow sunlight to reach the water for better heating. Chemical loss can be caused by a combination of evaporation along with sunlight breaking down the chemicals. They didn't do much heating, possibly some heat retention, and they also dropped tons of **** into the pool everytime I removed them. 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. Its not uncommon for a cover to be left on for an extended period of time to then find algae growth when finally removed. Solar covers can give the illusion of being a solid surface so much, that animals and young children may think they can walk on top of it. Dry the blanket well by hand, using a leaf blower, or hanging it up to dry. Hey offgrid, I see you had your pool built by Bob as well last year? Manufacturers of solar rings and solar covers often market their warranties with 5 or more years dont get your hopes up though! Most of the warranties do not cover normal wear such as the bubbles gradually falling apart, a very common occurrence towards the end of useful life. The higher the evaporation rate, the more frequently youll need to add water. Warmer water temperatures will promote algae growth without appropriate chemical balance in the pool. Stop struggling with that solar cover, and don't cut it up. Liquid evaporation control chemicals are not new, in fact they have been used for over 100 yearsas a way to control water reservoir levels, especially during times of drought. You can use any kind of solar pool cover in tandem with an electric or gas heater, which will help you save money on utilities, water replacement, and pool chemicals. Even though they dont cover the entire surface of the inground or above ground swimming pool, they do still help the water retain some heat overnight as well. After you wash and dry your solar blanket, reel it up. But, which one is the best? Our comprehensive illustrated guide and video lessons will show you exactly what to do so you can get back in the water fast. For custom shaped pools, it may not be practical to keep a solar cover in a single piece. Which is best? Theyre measured in mil, which is the standard United States unit of measure for one-thousandth of an inch. Solar covers come in a range of thicknesses with the most common ones being offered in 8 mil, 12 mil and 16 mil. On the flipside, solar rings allow visibility of water around the edges that may deter someone from trying to walk on it. Whether using solar rings, a solar cover, or nothing at all, it is important to keep the pool area secured when not in use. To get the most heat transfer from a solar blanket, look for one that is white or clear on top, with dark or black bubbles. Pull about four feet out, then fold that section in half. Any evaporation that can be prevented in the pool will provide that much more water for more important matters. I slide them off the pool and then fold on the lawn. Here are our top picks for all three. If you have a lot of splashout, heavy rain, or extremely dry conditions you may need to add liquid solar cover more often. The bubbles on solar covers are often round-shaped. Most visitors online was 3404 , on Jan 24 2020, Solar pool cover & reel advice for in-ground pool, H2ot Sun Ballasted Flat Roof Solar Install, With over 300,000 members, TFP is the largest and most influential pool & spa website on the Internet. Next, dry them completely. 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. "dateModified": "6/27/2016", However, due to lesser coverage of the pool surface more of it is likely to end up in the water. Hi. Not very heavy. CONS:Not nearly as effective as the other types of solar covers above. Youll know its time to replace when small plastic fragments start appearing in the water. Solar rings do not cover as much surface as a traditional cover which will allow more heating loss. While the typical blue-tinted bubble cover will allow heating from the sunlight, a clear cover allows for slightly better heating. This solar blanket will increase the water temperature by about 15 degrees and prevent up to 95% of pool water and chemical evaporation. While 1/4 may not sound like a lot, it could actually be 100 or more gallons leaving your pool each day, depending on the size of your pool! A dark, opaque cover may still let some through if the material is thin, but not as many as the light, clear cover. Invisible, tasteless and non-toxic, youll never know its there, but youll notice the difference in heat retention. Send a pm to JasonLion and he can combine your accounts and fix the password. A solar blankets biggest advantage is that it covers the most surface area, which both heats the water more and controls heat loss better. But its (we think) an affordable one that offers a good return on that investment. "description": "Solar Covers, Solar Squares or Liquid Solar? Heating a pool without using a covering is similar to running your homes furnace or A/C with the windows wide open its going to cost you! (Actually, youll find a leaf blower can come in handy for a lot of pool-related cleaning tasks.).