Why You Should Leave Solar Pool Cover On, Like many things of quality, the overall benefit associated with owning a solid solar pool cover is more than the drawbacks of not owning one.
If you’re unsure of whether or not you should leave your pool open or closed this summer, don’t worry. We are going to look at the many things you should consider before leaving your pool open. Besides, we’ll look at how to use solar pool covers and how to make your solar cover.
Should I Leave Solar Pool Cover On?
Though the decision of leaving the pool open depends on different people or different circumstances leaving your solar pool covers on is a better decision to make.
For example, at the onset of summer if you own a pool you can expect to clean leaves and debris that fall inside your pool. This is unwanted labor and for some, this may be the only reason they need to close their pool in summer.
If you decide to keep your pool open, you might have to maintain your pool throughout the summer.
Maintaining the pool includes; testing and balancing the water, cleaning your filter, and maintaining your pool equipment.
Let’s take a closer look at these four maintenance responsibilities.
Test and Balancing the Water
If you’ve ever experienced algae at the beginning of spring, you understand the amount of time and money spent testing and balancing the pool.
However, with Pool covers of solid material, it’ll block sunlight to diminish the event of algae and minimize debris from growing in the pool.
Cleaning the filter
Another maintenance headache is cleaning the filters. When the filters get clogged by too much dirt and debris, it’s time to clean the filters.
The method you use depends on the type of filter you have. There are four kinds of filters i.e. sand filters, cartridge filters, and DE filters.
Sand filters
To clean the filter set the multiport to waste mode you have to backwash your filter which is running it in reverse and dumping the wastewater.
Cartridge filters
The cartridge filter doesn’t have a multiport valve unlike the sand filter and DE. To clean them, you only remove the cartridges from the tank and hose them down with a hose.
DE filters
After setting the multiport valve to waste, drain the dirty water, then rinse the grinds with a hose.
So it’s recommended to use a solid solar cover to prevent leaves and dirt from falling into the pool. As a result, you might consider reducing your pump’s runtime because the level of dirt in the pool will reduce.
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Maintaining the Pool Equipment
Without an automatic cleaner, you will need cleaning equipment.
For pools with lots of surrounding trees and debris, you will need leaf traps, leaf bagger vacuuming heads, vacuuming hose, and skimmer nets.
These are maintenance equipment that you will need to get rid of the dirt that falls into the pool whenever the solar cover is not on.
Cost of Maintaining Your Pool
Depending on the quality, grade, and type of solar cover you purchase, it can easily outweigh the cost of chemicals.
Yes, you will purchase chemicals; however, keeping your pool closed also forfeits you from purchasing a safety or winter cover.
A solar cover also prevents the rate of evaporation of water from the pool thus preserving the chemicals in your water.
So, keep on reading for more information about solar covers.
How to Use Solar Blanket Cover For Above Ground Pools
Solar covers come in solid fabrics of various strengths and durability. The fabrics are of quality material to match the needs of each pool owner. They are available in round, oval, and rectangular shapes and different colors to choose from.
Best Pick + Editor’s
Budget Pick.
Blue Wave Rectangular NS525 Solar Blanke14-mil for In-Ground Pools.
- 18-ft x 36-ft 14-mil.
- Insulating thermal.
- Reduction of evaporatio.
- Withstand deterioration
Solar pool covers come in 8 mm, 12 mm, and 16 mm.
8 mm solar covers
- Lowest price
- Lightweight
- Increases temp to 10 degrees ( F)
- 3-year warranty
12 mm solar covers
- Moderate price
- Medium thickness
- Increases temp to 15 degrees(F)
- 7-year warranty
16 mm solar covers
- Highest but reasonably priced
- Thickest cover
- Increases temp to 18 degrees (F)
- 8-year warranty
When it comes to bubbles, size does matter. The smaller the better. The bubbles on the solar cover work by capturing heat from sunlight inside thousands of tiny sealed air bubbles and transferring that energy to the pool water.
The covers also have UV protection. Without UV protection, the cover will not only break down due to the sun’s rays but it will also be limited in its heating ability.
The darker the pools cover, the more heat they attract and the faster they transfer the heat. They also last the longest.
Depending on the size of the material you can trim it to fit the pool as needed or ordered to fit.
To install the solar cover on the above ground pool, you can read these five simple steps.
Step 1
Having a reel will make it effortless to put the solar pool cover on and take it off. Measure the pool with a tape measure by starting with the longest and widest points of the pool. This is to ensure you have the right size of cover for your pool.
Step 2
Lay the cover on the pool with the bubble side looking down whiles the smooth side is looking up. The reason for this is to allow the surface tension to make the bubbles act like miniature suction cups and keep the cover in place even on the windiest of days.
The smooth top of the cover also makes it easy to remove any airborne debris that lands on your solar cover.
Step 3
Stretch the Cover out taut over the pool to pull out the packing wrinkles all around until you have completely sealed the water surface so no gap is between the cover and the pool wall.
Step 4
Once you have the cover on, carefully cut two sides of the solar cover around the pool up against the edge using a sharp object, knife, or razor.
When half of the cover is cut, use your pool brush to push the cut sides up against the edge of the pool, and to smooth out the blanket, removing air bubbles beneath.
Step 5
If you intend to use the pool you can completely remove the solar pool cover off and place it aside for storage.
Alternatively, you can use an automatic pool cover. It uses an electric motor to open and close the cover faster. The cover rides on a track system that is built into the top of the above ground pool wall.
An automatic pool cover serves as the pool solar cover, winter cover, and safety cover that can last for years.
How to Make a Solar Blanket Cover For Above Ground Pool
If you have a large pool or your pool is irregularly shaped, you can custom design your solar pool cover using the following D-I-Y steps. You will need the following items first.
- 40 PVC pipe and fittings
- Hack Saw
- Screwdriver
- marker
Step 1
The first step is measuring the pipe. Since you are making a pool cover for a large pool, the most appropriate measure is a one-foot pipe. It will ensure the pipe is tougher and stronger.
Step 2
Take the pool cover out on open space and lay the pipe at the center then attach an end cap on one end and a handle on the opposite end. This will easily roll up the solar cover.
Step 3
Now, it’s time to attach the pipe to the pool cover. Cut the one-foot pipe with a hacksaw into several lengths to attach the pipe to the solar cover. Smooth the edges with sandpaper.
Step 4
Drill holes on the clips from each end. Take the long PVC pipe and place it under the solar cover with the bubble side facing down. Run screws into the clips to make them firm.
Step 5
Take it to the pool and reverse the rolling direction to cover your pool. When you roll over the pipe the cover will open up to the length of your pool.
When you want to use the pool, a solar pool cover holder can store your cover. Just hook the end of the cover to the pipe and turn the handle.
Conclusion
Solar pool covers pay for themselves in terms of energy conservation and help reduce heat loss and pool water evaporation.
If you’re looking forward to relief from pool duties or just want less responsibility for a couple of months, then closing your pool is perhaps the simplest option for you.
Can You Leave A Solar Cover On During The Winter?
To prevent heat loss during winter you might also consider using a solar cover. Besides conserving heat in your pool you will avoid the requirement to refill the pool, and you end up saving water and spending less money on chemicals due to minimized evaporation.
Do I Need To Cover My Pool Every Night?
The air bubbles on the pool cover help magnify the light from the sun during the day and act as an insulator once night falls.
These “bubbles” actually help you keep the heat you built up during the day from evaporating out of your pool each night.
By keeping the cover during the night you will expect the pool to stay warm every time you use it.
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