As soon as any pool owner gets the slightest inkling that summer is coming, the first thing they think about is how fast they can heat their pool in the most affordable way possible. Solar covers have been popular for years, so we have to ask ourselves, “How fast does a solar cover heat a pool?” This question has multiple layers to it, and the answer will vary depending on the pool. Solar covers can be beneficial, but by no means are they going to heat your pool overnight.
If you are using a solar cover as the only means to heat your pool, be warned, it is not likely that your pool is going to gain as much heat as you are expecting. Solar covers help MAINTAIN heat that is provided by an external pool heater, they are not meant to be used as the main source of heating power. Evaporation is the main cause of heat loss in a pool, therefore having a solar cover is going to act as a barrier between the water and the air. A solar cover will help prevent evaporation throughout the night when temperatures drop, it will not however heat the pool overnight. Solar covers will help a pool warm up faster in the spring and help maintain warmth in a pool a little longer in the fall but one misconception about them is that they will warm up a pool in the dead of winter, which simply is not the case. You need a heater for that! They will only keep the heat in a pool that is already being heated using a heater.
As far as solar covers go, they only work for smaller pools, specifically with a dark surface such as a dark pebble tech. If you own a deep pool, solar covers are not going to be that beneficial to you, especially if you choose to not use your pool heater to help in the heating process. If you are using a solar cover, they only work when your pool is actually covered with them, which can cause a few issues. If you are using your pool constantly throughout the warmer seasons, you most likely won’t want to re-cover your pool every night, and uncover it each day to utilize it. They are also not beneficial in terms of cleaning your pool. If you hire an outside pool company to maintain the cleanliness of your pool, they are likely to not remove the cover to clean the pool, therefore solar covers make for limited cleaning.
Let’s make it clear, solar covers do not heat pools, they are meant to retain heat in an already heated pool. Depending on the depth of your pool, using only the sun to heat your pool seems ridiculous; who knows how long that could take. But as pool owners we know how pricey it can be continuously heating a pool with a gas or electric heat pump, as well. So that brings us back to our question, “How fast does a solar cover heat a pool?” Well we know now that they don’t necessarily heat a pool but rather help to retain the heat brought on by an external pool heater. When considering the purchase of a solar cover for your pool take into consideration that using a solar cover can be tedious making it hard to clean your pool (or your hired pool service company to clean your pool) and by no means will it heat your pool in the dead of winter. Solar covers are more of a precautionary measure than means to heat your pool.
Looking for someone you can trust to clean your pool this winter? We work year round and we keep your pool BRIGHT and CLEAR. Give us a call.
