Do Solar Pool Covers Work? 19 Things to Know Before You Buy

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Are you thinking of buying a solar cover for your pool? Solar pool covers, also known as solar pool blankets, involve quite a large investment so it is important to ensure that the expenditure will be worth it for you.

Generally having a solar pool cover will save money in the long run, particularly if you heat your pool using electricity or gas. They will also extend your swimming season if you do not heat the pool and reduce the amount of money you spend on chemicals.

Are pool covers worth it? To help you decide whether to buy a solar pool cover for your inground or above-ground pool I try to answer all of the questions you may have so you can make an informed decision.

Pros and cons of solar pool covers
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What is a solar pool cover?

A solar pool cover is basically a large solar blanket. It is similar to a very strong bubble wrap that floats on the surface of the pool. It doesn’t need to be attached to the pool as the surface tension, and its weight holds it onto the pool surface. In 8 years of having a solar pool cover mine has never been blown out of the pool or even been lifted – and we get some pretty strong winds here.

It has bubbles on one side and a strong flat layer on the other. The bubbles help to act as an insulator to stop heat transfer out of the pool.

A solar pool cover is different from a “pool cover”. A pool cover is intended to cover the entire pool to protect it during the winter and/or to prevent children or pets from falling in.

How do solar pool covers work?

A pool cover works in three ways:

  1. It floats on the surface of the pool and allows the sun’s rays to enter the pool to heat up the water.
  2. It acts as a giant blanket and insulates the pool which greatly reduces heat loss, particularly at night and during windy weather.
  3. As no water is exposed to the air, evaporation is greatly reduced. The process of evaporation is one of the largest ways heat is lost from the pool.

Obviously using the sun to heat a pool is very eco-friendly and can save you money if you use a pool heater.

Pros and cons of solar pool covers

Pros:

  • A solar pool cover allows the sun’s rays to heat up the water in the pool.
  • A solar pool cover helps to retain the heat in the pool by insulating the pool water from the air above.
  • You will save on water as there will be less water evaporation as it covers the entire surface of the pool so it will prevent water loss into the air.
  • Using a solar cover will extend the period that you can swim in your pool by heating it up earlier in spring and longer into the autumn.
  • In some ways, it is eco-friendly (and therefore electricity bill friendly) as you will need to use your pool heater less. But of course, it is made of plastic so this benefit may be offset in its manufacture.
  • You should use fewer chemicals as the pool being covered helps block UV rays which break down chlorine.

Cons:

  • The initial cost is quite high for the cover and a roller. But the roller will last many years so that isn’t such an issue.
  • There is extra work involved in removing the cover to swim, but not very much!
  • The covers do not last forever so need replacing from time to time
do solar pool covers work

How fast does a solar cover heat a pool?

This obviously depends on many factors such as the weather (is it warm and sunny or cool and cloudy), the air temperature, the wind, the cover thickness and color and even the depth of the pool. See the sections below.

Its ability to heat the pool up is as much a factor in retaining the heat overnight as it is in heating the pool up during the day.

In good sunny weather you can see daily gains of as much as 1-2ºF.

Weather

This is hardly rocket science but if the weather is hot and sunny then the pool will heat up much quicker than if it is cool and cloudy. This is the same whether you have a solar cover or not.

Air temperature

If the ambient air temperature is high then the pool will generally heat up quicker and lose heat at night slower.

Wind

The wind has quite a large effect on the temperature of the pool as pool water evaporates much quicker in windy weather (and loses heat as a function of evaporation in the same way as you cool down when you sweat and your sweat evaporates). With a pool cover, this loss of heat is kept to a minimum.

Cover thickness and color

Solar pool covers vary in thickness and it should be no surprise to hear that when it comes to the best pool solar cover thickness, the thicker it is the overall heat increase is likely to be higher. The lighter the color of the cover, or the clarity, will also result in more heat entering the pool (again no surprise I am sure).

Depth of pool

If you have a shallow pool it will heat up quicker than if you have a deep one. Without a solar pool cover, to retain heat at night, a shallow pool will also lose heat quicker.

Solar cover bubbles up or down?

solar pool cover bubbles up or down
Solar pool cover bubbles up or down? Always down!

Believe it or not, the question of whether you put solar pool cover bubbles up or down is one of the most frequently asked questions on many pool forums. It is a good question as it is not really obvious.

However, the answer to do the bubbles go up or down on a solar cover is – always bubbles down into the water.

The bubbles side has a larger surface area than the flat side so heat is transferred into the water more efficiently than if the pool blanket was the other way around.

The bubbles contain air and this is heated up by the sun and the heat is then transferred by the process of conduction. The flat side is the tough side whereas the bubble side is generally the least tough side. So having the bubbles facing down on the pool’s surface means they are protected from anything which may drop in the pool.

The smooth side, therefore, faces upwards. The additional advantage of it being smooth is that it makes it easier to clean. You can run the hose over it before you remove it from the pool.

My experience of using a solar cover

We live in the Canary Islands, which are off the coast of North Africa, so the climate here is pretty warm generally. We have solar heating panels on the roof which obviously heats the water up quite well, but without a solar cover, much of that heat is lost overnight.

We are not masochists and don’t want to die of shock when we get in the pool, so we want the temperature to be at least 82ºF/28ºC before we put a toe in.

Before we bought the solar cover we usually managed to swim comfortably from mid-April until mid-October. With the solar cover, we are often in the pool by early March and swim until mid-November at least.

My pool normally loses 1.5-2ºF overnight without the cover on but hardly loses anything overnight when it is on.

In the summer, on a sunny day (which most are here), without our solar heating on, I often see an increase of 2-3ºF during the day when I have the solar cover on.

Interestingly, we had a power outage for just over 24 hours last summer and I had the pool cover on. My wife and I wanted to swim late afternoon so I rolled the cover back and in we went. The water temperature in the top foot was much higher than the water below by at least 10ºF.

Of course, the pool pump had not been running so the water had been undisturbed which is why this was so noticeable. But that does show what a good job the cover does to warm up the water.

As an aside, it was amazing how the warmer water had such a defined edge to the cooler water below. It was not a gradual transition from hot to cool as I would have expected but a sudden change.

do pool solar covers work
Me winding the pool cover onto the roller

Does a pool warm up faster with the cover on or off?

On a hot, windless day it may be that the pool water will heat up quicker with the pool cover off as more of the sun’s energy will reach the water.

However, the pool cover also helps stop heat loss and evaporation, and this loss happens quicker in windy conditions, so it may heat up quicker with the cover on.

In my experience it makes very little difference so leaving it on is rather easier than having to keep putting the cover on and taking it off.

Should I leave solar pool cover on during the day?

If the weather is warm and sunny, with little wind, then you may see a slightly higher increase in the temperature of the pool if you remove the cover during the day. This would probably only be true if you took it off for just the hottest hours of the day.

Once the sun starts to go lower then you may begin to lose as much, if not more, heat due to evaporation than you gain from the sun.

What color solar cover works best?

Pool cover colors can make a difference to the amount of heat that enters the pool and the amount of heat retained in the pool.

Dark blue covers tend to be better at retaining heat than allowing heat to enter the pool.

Clear pool covers will allow heat into the pool the best but will not retain it as well as a dark color.

Light blue covers are a happy medium between letting heat in and retaining heat. That is probably why it is the most common color usually.

There are a few different colors available now (even gold) and some two color covers, with one color one side and another on the other.

What is the best pool solar cover thickness?

There are a few things to consider when it comes to choosing the thickness of your pool cover.

Thin covers ( 8 mils)Thick covers (16 mils)
ProsPros
– cheaper– more durable
– lighter so easier to cover and uncover the pool – longer lasting
– let more heat directly into the pool – retain heat better
ConsCons
– tear easier– heavier so harder to cover and uncover the pool
– do not last so long– more expensive

The normal range of solar cover thicknesses runs from 8 mils to 16 mils. In case you are not aware a mil is one-thousandth of an inch (0.001 inches).

12 mil solar covers are the most popular thickness as they do a good all-round job, are easy to handle and last quite a few years.

You really get what you pay for when it comes to solar blankets. Buying cheap can be a false economy.

Some of the best solar pool covers are available from Sun2Solar. They produce them in all shapes, sizes and colors.

Sun2Solar Rectangularfrom 10ft x 16ft to 30ft x 60ft
Sun2Solar Roundfrom 12ft to 33ft diameter
Sun2Solar Ovalfrom 10ft x 15ft to 21ft x 41ft

How does a solar cover go on or off?

How does a solar cover go on?

Manual roller or reel: This is the most popular method of removing and putting on the cover. The solar cover is attached to the roller so that when it is wound up the cover rolls up around it until it is off of the pool completely. Most rollers have wheels at one end so that you can wheel them out of the way when swimming if required.

To put the cover on, most will have a rope attached to the free end which you can pull from the other end of the pool so that the cover unwinds as you pull. You can also just unwind the roller slowly and the cover will float on the top of the pool until it is fully unwound.

Electric roller: These are similar to the manual roller but are operated electronically at the press of a button.

Manually: In theory, it would be possible to pull a solar cover on and off and fold or roll it up manually when not being used. But that would be very difficult and impractical, particularly if it is a big pool. Doing it this way you are much more likely to tear it or damage it in some way so it wouldn’t last very long. It would also be such a pain to put on and take off that you probably wouldn’t bother with it at all after a while.

One of the best solar cover reels is the VINGLI Pool Cover Reel Set which comes with all fittings to attach to a solar blanket and is easy to assemble. It fits all pool shapes/covers.

Pool Care Handbook and Video Course

When I bought my house with a swimming pool, I knew absolutely nothing about pool care. I just winged it for a while, making many mistakes along the way.

Fortunately, I was recommended Swim University’s Pool Care Handbook and Video Course. I bought it and it was an absolute game-changer.

It was the best money I spent that year. I learned everything from basic cleaning to advanced troubleshooting. Swim University offers a no-quibble refund policy too so what do you have to lose?

Can you use a solar cover in the winter?

Well to a large extent, this depends on what the climate you live in is like and whether you want to use the pool year-round.

Cold winter climates

If you live somewhere with very cold winters, perhaps with heavy snowfall and hard frosts then the answer is most definitely no. Your solar cover will need replacing much quicker in a climate like this. If your weather is so cold that the water freezes then there is a good chance that the solar cover would be damaged beyond saving by becoming frozen.

If money is no object so you keep your pool heated throughout the winter in such a cold climate, and swim in it, then it may be worth using a solar cover in the winter too. You are unlikely to gain much heat from the sun by keeping it on but the thermal qualities of the cover would help to retain heat.

You may just find that the money you save in heating costs covers the cost of renewing the cover should it need it.

Warm winter climates

If you live somewhere like Arizona, Florida or parts of Australia then it may be possible to use the cover in winter to enable year-round swimming by keeping the pool warm. Without the extremes of weather, the cover is less likely to become damaged.

What do I do?

The climate is great here in the Canary Islands, with the lowest temperatures rarely dropping below 50ºF at night and 68ºF during the day in winter. But there is insufficient sunshine to keep the pool at a temperature that we are prepared to swim in (we hate the cold), even with our solar heating and the solar cover.

So from around mid-November until late February or early March, I take the cover off and store it. See the next section for tips on storing.

How to store a solar cover in winter

Apart from UV light (more of that in a moment) another thing that makes your solar cover degrade quicker is 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. Afterward, 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.

how fast does a solar cover heat a pool

Once dry and rolled up you need to protect it from not only the winter weather but also from UV (Ultra-violet) 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.

Can you use a solar cover on an above ground pool?

Solar pool covers work just as effectively on above ground pools as they do on in-ground pools so there is no reason not to have one.

You can even use a roller to wind them in and out as rollers can be purchased which attach to the side of the pool.

Does a solar cover stop the pool getting dirty?

Although some seem to suggest that solar covers do at least help in keeping the pool clean, in my experience, this is not one of their benefits. You always have a small gap between the pool sides and the cover so dirt and debris often get blown towards the edges and then enter the pool.

Also, to keep the cover in good order it is good practice to hose any dirt off the cover before you roll it up so this ends up in the pool anyway while you are using the hose or when you roll it up.

Do solar pool covers cause algae?

Solar pool covers do not cause algae to grow. It may be argued that as they increase the water temperature, and algae grow faster in warmer water, then algae growth can be accelerated by using a solar cover.

But the counter argument might be that algae grow best in full sunlight so as most solar pool covers, particularly the darker ones, reduce the amount of sunlight that reaches the water, they can prevent algae growth.

In practice I think it makes little, or no, difference. At least I have never had algae growth in my pool since using one for the past 6 years.

Can you run pool pump with solar cover on?

Absolutely, and you should run it too. Your pool pump should run for the same amount of time each day when the solar cover is on as it does when it is off.

The water still needs to be filtered and the chemicals circulated whether on or off and no harm will come to the solar cover when the pump is running.

Does a solar cover have to cover the whole pool?

Ideally, a solar pool cover should cover the whole pool – well all but an inch or so around the edges to allow any gases to escape.

having said that, even a solar pool cover that only covers half of a pool will go some way to retaining heat in the water.

How long do solar covers last?

Generally the thicker the cover the longer it will last. If you store the solar cover under cover or away from UV rays over winter and take care of it during the summer you may get 5 years out of it but it could be as little as 3 years.

how long do solar pool covers last
A rotting solar pool cover

I have to say this is my one bugbear with solar pool covers. Their one function in life is to be in full sunshine and float on water containing strong chemicals so why can’t they be made to withstand that better? Why can’t the manufacturers solve this problem? But that’s just me I guess.

Over time the UV light starts to rot the plastic and it starts to disintegrate. Individual bubbles start to come away (and end up all over your yard). You just have to bite the bullet and replace it at that point.

Other types of solar pool cover

Liquid solar covers

This is a relatively new phenomenon and is basically a form of alcohol that floats on top of the water and prevents evaporation of the water (which is where most heat loss occurs). It sounds rather bizarre but it has been shown to work.

It is very easy to use as every so often you just pour in some more to maintain its effectiveness. Although you cannot swim with a plastic solar pool cover still on the pool (obviously), you can with a liquid solar cover, so there is less work involved. It has been approved as safe to use and swim with by the FDA.

Liquid solar covers are not recommended for use in very windy areas though.

It does not damage the filtration system in any way. In fact, as it forms just a thin layer on top of the water, very little of it will actually be pulled through the filtration system.

4) Natural Chemistry 07100 Spa Swimming Pool COVERfree Barrier Layer - 32oz Each

The most popular liquid solar cover on Amazon is the Natural Chemistry Swimming Pool COVERfree Barrier Layer

Solar sun rings

These are rings of solar blanket, normally with a floatation ring around the outside, which are thrown onto the surface of the pool and act in the same way as a full solar pool cover. It can take quite a few to cover a large pool.

They are easier to remove and replace and also to store over winter since they can just be stacked up.

They do have some drawbacks. They leave areas of the pool surface exposed. Because of that, they are less effective than a conventional solar pool cover at stopping evaporation and heat loss.

Solar Sun Rings Solar Pool Heater (6) SSR-SB-02

These are available on Amazon – Solar Sun Rings

Bubble wrap

Many people ask if you can use bubble wrap as a solar pool cover. Laying bubble wrap over the surface of a pool may work to some extent, mainly because it will reduce the evaporation of the pool water (which is a major cause of heat loss). However, it will not be very effective at increasing the heat that enters your pool.

One major drawback is likely to be that as bubble wrap is so light any breeze may lift it and send it flying across your yard.

Solar Pool Cover FAQs

Do solar covers really heat the pool?

Solar pool covers definitely help to heat the water in a pool. They do this by not only trapping the suns rays but also in almost completely eliminating evaporation, which is one of the main ways a pool loses heat.

Are solar pool covers worth the money?

In most cases, a solar pool cover is worthwhile the spend as it can extend the length of the swimming season by as much as two months (a month in the spring and another in the autumn).

How quickly will a solar cover heat a pool?

Solar covers can increase the temperature on warm sunny days by as much as 2ºF. In a period of good weather this could equate to 10-15ºF per week.

Should I take my solar cover off during the day?

Taking a pool cover off during the day will mean the pool is not likely to heat as quickly as leaving it on. However, if you put it back on at night it will at least retain the heat overnight.

Also read: If you have the opposite problem and want to cool your pool then our post How to cool pool water in summer may help.

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