The Benefits of the
Solar Pool Cover

Solar Pool Cover works in more than one way

A cover on a swimming pool serves more than one purpose.

• The cover reduces water evaporation from the pool surface

• It keeps away falling leaves, water insects and other debris from dropping onto the water
• It reduces heat losses by evaporation and by radiation, to keep the pool warmer
• If made from the right material it adds heat to the pool using the direct Sun radiation

Evaporation

Evaporation from the oceans’ surface is the generator of rain clouds and eventually the rain enriches the fresh water reservoirs, lakes and rivers. Evaporation from water reservoirs, lakes and aqueducts causes the loss of good drinkable water. Evaporation from the swimming pool surface had 2 bad effects:

• Loss of water; a typical swimming pool can easily loose 10,000 gallons in one season through evaporation
• Loss of heat, more than 50% of heat losses are through the evaporation of water

Heat Gain

Covers made of transparent to sun light materials allows the Sun radiation photons in the visible wavelengths to warm up the water. Warm water emits heat waves in the invisible infrared wavelengths and if the pool blanket is opaque to infrared than the heat is trapped in the pool’s water (greenhouse effect). Most materials transparent to visible light are opaque to infrared, such as many plastic sheets and glass.

Pay a bit more

A solar pool blanket cost less than a solar pool heater, it can be a complementary to the heater or in lieu of it. Pay a little bit more for quality and warranty and buy the retracting mechanism to roll the blanket in and out. To be retractable, the cover must be rectangular, might be a bit tricky for a pool with exotic shape

I recommend shopping for pool cover and other pool products here. Get Eco-Friendly Products for Pool, Spa & Home, at Specialty Pool Products!

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