Yes, it really does. However, the extra warmth resulting from covering your pool will depend on several factors such as the size of the pool, how hot and cold the weather gets, how windy the area you live in is, if the pool is fully or partially hit by the sun, how often you use your pool cover and whether or not you have heating.
Do thermal pool covers keep water warm?
Thermal pool covers, on the other hand, are opaque (don’t allow light to pass through), and therefore don’t capture the energy of the sun. One other way pool covers keep your pool water warm is by insulating the warmed water. Air bubbles in the pool cover act as an insulator in a similar way that your thermos would keep water warm.
Do solar pool covers work?
They are the most common method for heating swimming pools, but do solar pool covers work? The answer is YES. I have had tremendous success with them and believe them to be the best way to heat your pool if you think about the low cost. And besides their ability to heat your pool, they also reduce evaporation greatly and keep it clean.
Does the pool water heat up faster with the cover on?
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.
Does a thermal blanket save money on a pool cover?
While the thermal blanket helps with radiant heat loss from the surface of the pool that savings are likely balanced by the solar cover with its ability to allow solar energy into the pool…as long as the sun shines anyway.
Do pool covers make the pool warmer?
The short answer is YES. Many pool owners say that their pools are warmer after installing a solar pool cover.
How long do thermal pool covers last?
Most solar covers last for up to three years, though many people replace them more frequently. Utilizing a solar cover and taking advantage of the return lines in your pool is another way of prevent evaporation as well as distributing the warm water throughout all your pool and quick more efficiently.
How much does a pool cover Increase temperature?
Solar covers work to raise the temperature by the pool up to 12 degrees because the tiny air pockets capture heat from the sun and transfer it to the pool water while also acting as insulators to prevent heat from escaping off of the surface of the water.
Does pool heat up better with or without solar cover on it?
Surface Coverage The more the solar cover covers, the better it will be at heating and at heat retention. Even if you couple your solar cover with a pool heater, your pool will only lose the precious heat by heat-robbing winds and cool air temperatures if it is not effectively covered.
Should I cover my pool every night?
So, should you cover your pool every night? Yes, you should cover your pool every night for several reasons. First off, a pool cover saves energy and conserves water by decreasing the amount of make-up water and evaporation.
Does leaving a pool cover on cause algae?
Covering the pool is a good way to prevent algae growth. The right cover keeps algae from entering the pool, but it also keeps leaves, bugs, bacteria, and dirt from decomposing in the pool, providing algae with food.
How can I heat my pool cheaply?
Here are the seven cheapest ways to heat your pool this off-season.Use a Solar Cover. ... Invest in Solar Sun Rings. ... Try Out a Liquid Solar Pool Cover. ... Build a Windproof Pool Enclosure. ... Use the Black Hose Trick. ... Snag a Pool Heat Pump. ... Combine a Solar Cover and Pool Heat Pump.
How can I heat my pool fast?
The fastest way to heat your pool is to use a gas pool heater and a solar cover. It's like heating up your coffee in the microwave and putting a lid on it. No matter how you plan to heat your pool, you should at least have a solar cover (or liquid solar cover) to help you retain the heat.
Should I leave my pool cover on during the day?
Solar pool covers should be left off during the day to allow for even heating of the water. Pool covers should be taken off at least once a week to allow collected carbon dioxide to escape; too much carbon dioxide can make the water acidic. Unless the pool is in use, pool covers should always be used at night.
How long does it take for solar cover to heat pool?
How many degrees will a solar cover heat a pool? On average, a fully covered pool can gain between 10-15 degrees on a sunny day within about 6 hours.
What is the best pool cover to retain heat?
After testing, we found that any solar pool cover between 12-mil and 16-mil performed best for heat retention. Higher mil solar covers absorbed more heat and were found to be more durable against the sun damage, chemical resistance, and ripping.
How can I keep my pool warm at night?
Solar heaters and pump heaters are economical and effective ways to heat your pool water....How to Reduce Pool Heating CostUse a Liquid Solar Cover to Reduce Pool Heating Cost: ... Solar Blanket: ... Solar Sun Rings: ... Install Wind Blocks: ... Install a Pool Cover:
Do automatic pool covers retain heat?
An automatic pool cover can keep heat in your pool, which can help regulate the water temperature. This is especially useful at the beginning or end of a pool season when it's not as hot. It's also a good option for colder climates to help reduce heating costs.
Are automatic pool covers worth the money?
Automatic pool covers offer outstanding cost savings benefits. When closed over the swimming pool an automatic pool cover will save you on chemicals, water loss from evaporation, and energy costs by not having to constantly reheat the pool.
Should I leave my solar cover on during the day?
Solar Cover Use Generally speaking, you should have the solar cover on the pool whenever the pool is not being used. During the day, having the cover on the pool helps to prevent water and chemical evaporation in the hot sun and also warms the pool.
Is a pool solar cover worth it?
The short answer is yes. It has been scientifically proven by at least 3 studies that solar blankets help to warm swimming pools. They also help to retain pool heat at night, help to reduce humidity and help to save on energy costs.
How Do Solar Pool Covers Work?
Solar pool covers look like giant sheets of bubble wrap that go over your pool. The bubbles trap the sun’s heat and keep it in the pool, leading to a pool that stays warm for a longer time. Other than heating pools during the day, solar blankets also help the pool retain heat by protecting the water from cool night winds and air. How many degrees will a solar cover heat a pool? On average, a fully covered pool can gain between 10-15 degrees on a sunny day within about 6 hours.
How Effective Are Solar Pool Covers?
They also help to retain pool heat at night, help to reduce humidity and help to save on energy costs. But they are very cumbersome to handle and maintain. So the gains made on energy savings could be balanced off by the annoyance of handling them.
What is solar pool cover?
Solar pool covers otherwise known as solar blankets are swimming pool covers that use the sun’s energy to keep swimming pools warm. But how effective are solar pool covers?
How much does a solar blanket reduce heat loss?
A 2016 study by Cal Poly found that solar blankets can reduce heat loss and evaporation of pool water by as much as 95%. Solar Pool Covers can also heat water to an average of at least 10 degrees. A 2014 research by collage found that pool covers can cut energy costs by as much as 30%.
How many degrees does a pool get on a sunny day?
On average, a fully covered pool can gain between 10-15 degrees on a sunny day within about 6 hours. Does a solar cover have to cover the whole pool? For optimum results it is best to get a blanket that covers your whole pool.
Do you have to clean a solar cover?
Additionally, you must clean the solar cover often as part of your pool cleaning routine . This can be an annoying task. So, is all this hustle worth it? If you love swimming in warm water but can’t afford a heated pool then having a solar blanket is a worthy investment of time, money, and effort.
Can you take solar covers off a pool?
Solar pool covers can be extremely cumbersome. Spreading them over your swimming pool as well as taking them off the pool is time-consuming and awkward exercises that often needs an extra pair of hands. Additionally, you must clean the solar cover often as part of your pool cleaning routine. This can be an annoying task.
How do pool covers keep water warm?
One other way pool covers keep your pool water warm is by insulating the warmed water. Air bubbles in the pool cover act as an insulator in a similar way that your thermos would keep water warm. A pool cover will, therefore, keep your pool water warmer for longer.
Why do solar pool covers warm water?
Solar pool covers generally allow light to pass through them (translucent). As a result, the sun’s rays can naturally warm the water.
Why do water bodies lose heat?
According to research findings, a majority of the heat losses in water bodies occur due to evaporation. The loss of heat occurs much like the way our bodies cool down when hot. Sweat will form on your body, and when it evaporates, the body cools down.
Does covering a pool help with heat loss?
So, if you can prevent evaporation, then you can significantly reduce the amount of heat loss. As such, covering your pool will help to warm the water up.
Can you warm a pool with solar panels?
The short answer is YES. Many pool owners say that their pools are warmer after installing a solar pool cover. However, it’s important to learn how they are designed so you can get a better idea of how they can warm your pool.
How do pool covers work?
Some pool covers fit into tracks along the sides of the pool. This prevents anything or anybody from getting into the pool. They even support the weight of several people. If liability is a concern, these are a good option to explore. They can be run manually, semi-automatically, or automatically.
Why do pool covers need ventilation?
They even require room ventilation to control indoor humidity caused by the large amount of evaporation. The ventilated air also must be conditioned, which adds to the energy costs. Pool covers minimize evaporation from both outdoor and indoor pools.
Why do you need a bubble cover on a pool?
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 energy does a swimming pool lose?
It only takes 1 Btu (British thermal unit) to raise 1 pound of water 1 degree, but each pound of 80ºF water that evaporates takes a whopping 1,048 Btu of heat out of the pool.
How much solar energy does a pool absorb?
Outdoor pools gain heat from the sun, absorbing 75%–85% of the solar energy striking the pool surface. This is an important contribution to the pool's heating needs. A pool cover will decrease the solar gain contribution to some extent, depending on what type you use. A transparent bubble cover may reduce pool solar energy absorption by 5%–15%. A completely opaque cover will reduce it by 20%–40%. You need to consider this when selecting a pool cover.
How do pool covers save water?
Besides offering energy savings, pool covers also do the following: 1 Conserve water by reducing the amount of make-up water needed by 30%–50% 2 Reduce the pool's chemical consumption by 35%–60% 3 Reduce cleaning time by keeping dirt and other debris out of the pool.
What is the difference between bubble covers and vinyl?
Bubble covers are similar to bubble packing material except they use a thicker grade of plastic and have UV inhibitors. Vinyl covers consist of a heavier material and have a longer life expectancy than bubble covers.
Why do you need a roller for thermal cover?
A roller is surely needed for a thermal cover due to weight.
What is solar cover?
A solar cover, also referred to as a solar blanket, is a large sheet of plastic that looks like bubble wrap and lies on top of your swimming pool. You have many options when purchasing a solar cover, as many colors, thicknesses, and sizes are available.
What is the difference between a thermal blanket and a solar blanket?
Key differences are that a solar blanket allows solar energy to enter the pool and then assists in retaining that heat. A thermal blanket does not allow for that “free” energy to enter the pool but does assist in keeping heat in the pool.
How to prevent pool from evaporating?
Utilizing a solar cover and taking advantage of the return lines in your pool is another way of prevent evaporation as well as distributing the warm water throughout all your pool and quick more efficiently.
How much does a solar cover cost?
Most solar covers are available for between $50 and $300.
How to match the shape of a solar cover?
Match the dimensions of your solar cover with the widest and longest points of your swimming pool. Lay the solar cover onto the surface of the swimming pool and simply trim the edges of it with a pair of scissors to match the shape of your swimming pool.
How much heat loss does a solar cover reduce?
Specifically, you can reduce your swimming pool heating costs by up to 70% by using a solar cover.
How much energy is saved by a pool cover?
2014 research produced a study by Colgate University on the use of a pool cover for 7 hours each night with the result of energy cost savings of over 30%, for the Lineberry pool on campus. And in 2012, A Michigan Energy Office case study on Chesaning Union Middle School pool showed a 50% reduction in energy use, with the unexpected benefit of reducing humidity inside the indoor pool structure. A study in Australia as early as 1963, showed that ‘clear plastic film’ could be used to both halt evaporative heat loss, and for sunny outdoor pools, would also absorb solar radiation to warm the water.
How much heat does a solar blanket add to a pool?
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.
How Effective Are Solar Covers?
To a poolman, solar blankets are the biggest pain in the neck imaginable. You show up to clean the pool – but have to first clean the solar cover, and carefully roll it up or fold it on deck, before even getting to the pool water .
Why do we need solar blankets?
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.
Do solar covers really work?
Conclusion: Solar Covers do really work! Both to retain heat and reduce humidity , and when used on outdoor pools, they also add heat to the pool (Liquid Solar does not add heat). There seems to be a bit of a trade-off in convenience for effectiveness within this product category.
Does Cal Poly measure heat gain?
Discussion: The recent Cal Poly study did not measure heat gain or energy savings, although evaporative heat loss could be used as a proxy for energy costs.
What is a solar pool cover?
A solar pool cover is basically a large solar blanket. It is similar to 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 6 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.
Why do you need a solar cover for a pool?
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 and reduce the amount of money you spend on chemicals.
How fast does a solar pool 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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
How does a pool cover work?
The liquid pool cover works because its molecules disperse and then come back together to form one cohesive invisible layer. So, if you live in areas of high winds or heavy rainfall, the cover will be constantly moved around and become less effective.
Why do you put a pool cover on?
This is to prevent debris and leaves from getting in the pool and causing issues.
How well do liquid solar covers work?
Liquid covers are not proven to be quite as proficient as solid covers, but here’s the thing: if you have a hard time making yourself use a plastic cover, a liquid cover is certainly better than nothing.
How much water does a solar pool cover save?
Conserves water. The average pool loses about ¼ inch of water every single day due to evaporation (source). That can amount to up to 20,000 gallons per year! Liquid solar covers reduce evaporation by about 30-50%, which means that you won’t have to refill your pool as often or use as much water. Retains heat.
What is a liquid solar pool cover?
A liquid solar pool cover is an invisible pool cover that can take the place of those bulky bubble wrap covers that can be cumbersome to use. Those plastic solar covers work great, but because they can be a hassle, a lot of pool owners don’t use them like they should. That’s where liquid covers come in, which brings us to ...
Why do you need a liquid pool cover?
Reduces energy costs. Since a liquid pool cover helps to retain heat, you won’t have to run your pool heater quite as often, which can save you tons of money on electricity or gas. You can swim with it. Unlike vinyl or plastic covers, you don’t have to remove a liquid cover while you swim.
Why don't people use pool covers?
Lots of people don’t use their pool covers like they should because, quite frankly, they're a pain to unroll and place on the pool surface every time it is not in use. A liquid pool cover is simply poured on and it is working around the clock.
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Cost
Effects
- Indoor pools aren't subjected to the environment, but they still can lose a lot of energy from evaporation. They even require room ventilation to control indoor humidity caused by the large amount of evaporation. The ventilated air also must be conditioned, which adds to the energy costs.
Advantages
- Pool covers minimize evaporation from both outdoor and indoor pools. Covering a pool when it is not in use is the single most effective means of reducing pool heating costs. Savings of 50%70% are possible.
Benefits
- Pool covers on indoor pools not only can reduce evaporation but also the need to ventilate indoor air and replace it with unconditioned outdoor air. You can also shut off exhaust fans when an indoor pool is covered, which saves even more energy.
Appearance
- It's best to use a cover designed specifically for swimming pools. They're made of special materials, such as UV-stabilized polyethylene, polypropylene, or vinyl. They can be transparent or opaque. Covers can even be light or dark colored.
Durability
- Vinyl covers consist of a heavier material and have a longer life expectancy than bubble covers. Insulated vinyl covers are also available with a thin layer of flexible insulation sandwiched between two layers of vinyl.
Design
- Semi-automatic covers use a motor-driven reel system. They use electrical power to roll and unroll the cover, but usually require someone to pull on the cover when unrolling, or guide the cover onto the reel when rolling up the cover. Semi-automatic covers can be built into the pool deck surrounding the pool, or can use reels on carts.
Use
- Automatic covers have permanently mounted reels that automatically cover and uncover the pool at the push of a button. They're the most expensive option, but they're also the most convenient.
Safety
- Some pool covers fit into tracks along the sides of the pool. This prevents anything or anybody from getting into the pool. They even support the weight of several people. If liability is a concern, these are a good option to explore. They can be run manually, semi-automatically, or automatically. Safety covers are recommended for public pools, and may be required by inspect…