Are you looking for pool covers guide? You’re in the right place! Owning a pool is great. Everyone could relate to that, right? However, it’s pretty certain that all pool owners can also relate to the struggles related to the maintenance and the high upkeep costs of their swimming pool.
Keeping your pool in a clean and ready to use condition is challenging. There is a lot of work involved, and the expenses can begin to add up pretty quickly.
Maintaining the sound and healthy condition of your pool is imperative yet tedious. You would likely have to vacuum the floor at least two times a week and collect dirt and debris from the surface every day.
Luckily, the best above ground pool covers are designed to help you in reducing your maintenance efforts significantly. However, going through the abundance of models on the market is overwhelming. To the unfamiliar eye, they may all seem very similar.
Looks can be deceiving, though, so that’s why we’ve taken the time to provide you with some useful information on what you need to look for in a solar cover. At the same time, we will also list the best pool covers on the market and point out their specifications so you can make a more well-informed choice.
Table of Contents
Types of Pool Covers
There are several different types of pool covers to choose from, and each has its own unique set of features that may make it more appealing. Many are also made to fit a variety of shapes despite the type of pool.
Solar Pool Covers
These are also often referred to as bubble covers and are the most affordable pool covers when you begin to compare them with the other pool cover types. During the day, solar covers effectively absorb the heat from the sun, and this can help prevent any heat from escaping the pool overnight.
Solar pool covers can help you save on your heating bills because they are the only pool cover type to provide heating for your pool. They also reduce evaporation up to 99 percent, which allows you to save on your water bills. Additionally, they do as other covers do they keep dirt and debris out of the pool. Finally, they are incredibly easy to use and lightweight, so you won’t be fighting to get the cover on.
Automatic Pool Covers
This kind of pool cover helps with safety and is also easy to use. It will open and close with the press of a button. They can prevent kids and pets from falling into the pool, helps to reduce water evaporation, and are easy to install and uninstall. However, they are one of the more expensive pool covers.
Thermal Pool Covers
Also known as swimming pool blankets, thermal covers help keep the sun out of the pool, and this ultimately helps reduce the growth of algae. With thermal covers, evaporation can be reduced up to 98 percent; you can keep the dirt and debris out and it offers UV protection.
Why Purchase a Solar Blanket?
Well, the question should be – why not? Right off the bat, regular pool covers are certainly useful in protecting the pool from rainwater as well as debris. They make the pool a lot easier to maintain; there’s no doubt about it.
But do you know what? All of the above are easily handled by a solar blanket as well. However, on top of these, it’s also going to increase the temperature of the water, and it will almost eliminate evaporation rate, hence cutting the expenses of maintaining the pool by up to 70%.
How can a simple cover achieve all that? It’s an interesting question. First of all, solar blankets are covered by hundreds of thousands of air bubbles. In fact, some people would even refer to them as bubble covers because of that. These bubbles that you want to pop so much are designed to diffuse the heat generated by the sun’s rays throughout the entire surface of the pool.
Additionally, if you keep it on for a while longer, the heat is going to disperse in-depth, increasing the temperature in the entire pool, not just on the surface.
What is more, the blanket is also going to reduce the evaporation rate by up to 99%. This means that your pool won’t lose energy, which has to be compensated for later again. This is what’s going to cut down the electricity bill substantially.
The fact that they keep out debris and dirt means that you have to spend less on chemical cleaning solutions. As you can see, the perks are quite extensive, and they don’t even stop here.
Now, to get the best above ground pool cover with solar capabilities, there are a few things that you might want to take into account.
So, as you can see, solar pool covers when compared to the other types really do offer pool owners a significant advantage overall.
What to Look for in Solar Swimming Pool Blankets
The best-rated solar pool covers have clear polyethylene cells that usually resemble tiny air bubbles on the surface of the blanket. As we already explained their first designation, it’s critical to make sure that they are tiny, small and numerous.
When you select a solar blanket, if you want to extend the swimsuit season, there are a few things that you would want to take into account. Some of them include:
Thickness
Typically, solar blankets are far from being as thick as regular pool covers, which are intended to keep pets as well as young children out of pools. In fact, their strongest disadvantage is that they won’t hold up against high winds and heavier debris. However, they are still high quality enough to protect your pool from the rubble, dirt, and dust, which are the most commonly known pool pollutants.
The thickness of the solar cover is going to have a significant impact on your energy savings. Typically, it’s going to vary between 8 mils and 16 mils (that’s 800 to 1,600 gauge). The thing to consider about the thickness is that the thicker the blanket is, the more reliable it gets. They are much more efficient in providing the necessary insulation, and they also retain heat a lot better.
However, there is a slight disadvantage as well – the thicker the blanket is, the harder it is to maintain and store. It’s quite challenging to roll it up, and you might want to consider getting it accessorized with a manual roller. It’s going to save you quite a lot of hassle.
Color and UV Resistance
Does the color matter, or is it just for aesthetics? Well, the truth is that the color is of particular importance regarding both efficiency and aesthetics. While pool covers which come in dark or aquamarine colors look quite good when they rest on the surface of your pool, they aren’t as useful as thin blankets. The latter allow sun rays to pass through quickly and hence generate a lot more energy in return.
A black blanket might heat up quicker because of the absorption properties of the color, but it’s not as useful as you may think. The reason is that it blocks the sun rays, and you will end up with a pool that is warm on the surface and cold down below.
Additionally, it’s important to make sure that you get a cover that has enhanced UV resistance. After all, these are products that get regularly exposed to sun rays, and you want them to last longer.
Size and Fitting
Before you go ahead and start looking for a solar pool cover, the first thing you need to do is to measure your pool. This is one of the most important factors when it comes to shopping for a product of this kind. It’s best to get a cover that fits the entire pool, end to end, instead of one which covers just a portion of it.
Also, most of the covers are either for round pools or a rectangular pool. Therefore, if your pool doesn’t fit this description, it’s best if you go ahead and get one, which is tailor-made for it.
There are also two different types of pools, those that are above ground as well as in-ground swimming pools. In-ground pool covers typically attach to anchors while above ground pool covers can attach to the pool around the rim.
As you can see, there are quite a few things that you would have to take into account when you go ahead and shop for the best above ground pool cover. All of the above are going to have a direct impact on the price of the solution, and you need to be aware of it. This brings us to our next point.
Budget
We’ve taken the liberty of providing you with the best-rated pool covers tailored to fit any budget. Our solar covers reviews include cheaper options and ones which are higher up on the price range. When you set out to purchase a quality pool cover, determining your budget is a critical step to ensure you end up content with what you get.
Setting a budget and feature balance is not only going to prevent you from overspending, but it’s also going to help you navigate through the abundance of products on the market, taking off those who are over the allocated budget.
Our Top 5 Recommendations For Pool Covers
With all this in mind, let’s go ahead and have a look at some of the best pool covers for sale.
Sun2Solar 18-feet x 36-feet Rectangle Blue Swimming Pool Solar Cover
Specifications:
- 18×36 feet
- 6-years Limited Warranty
- 2-years Full Warranty
- Prevents up to 95% water evaporation
- Increases the water temperature by about 5-10 degrees Fahrenheit
- Micro air bubbles
Overview
This particular unit is brought to you by Sun2Solar, which is a company specializing in the production of environmentally-cautious products. The cover is designed to fit 18×36 feet pools.
The main advantage of this solar cover is that it will allow you to benefit from the free heat, so to speak, which is delivered by the sun.
You can easily achieve up to 15 degrees of increase in the water temperature if you use it for a couple of weeks regularly. What is more, it’s going to prevent up to 95% of the water evaporation, hence ensuring ultimate heat retention.
The solar cover is made out of durable resin material that can withstand wear and tear. It is also guaranteed in both durability and longevity. This is also emphasized by the 6-year limited warranty, which attests to the confidence of the manufacturer in this product.
Furthermore, the product is also going to keep your pool free from different lightweight debris and dirt. While it’s not going to stop heavy wind blows and solid particles from getting in the pool, this has never been its purpose.
The solar cover will, however, cut back the maintenance and heating expenses for your pool by up to 70%. Given the fact that it costs a little less than $100 on Amazon, this is most definitely a return worth taking into account.
In The Swim Swimming Pool Solar Blanket Cover
Specifications:
- 12-mil thickness
- UV-stabilized resin
- 7-year Limited Warranty by the manufacturer
- Easy to cut or trim to fit many pool shapes
- Micro air bubbles
Overview
The product is manufactured by one of the leaders on the market when it comes to swimming pool accessories. In The Swim is known for being reliable and boasting years of professional experience in the field. It’s also worth noting that they have splendid customer support, which is always a beautiful thing.
The solar cover has a thickness of 12-mils. If you’ve been paying attention to what we wrote earlier, you’d know that the thickness varies between 8 and 16 mils, which places this one conveniently in the golden middle ground.
The blanket is thick enough to provide excellent thermal insulation and heat retention but not enough to become a burden to roll up. This is, without a doubt one of its strongest advantages.
As it is with almost all of the solar swimming pool blankets, this one is also covered by hundreds of thousands of microbubbles.
Their primary purpose is to ensure that the heat is going to be properly dispersed throughout the entire surface area and the depth of the pool. You can easily expect an increase in the temperature of about 5-10 degrees within the first week and up to 15 degrees (F) within the first couple of weeks.
Usually, solar blankets come in a pre-designated shape. This one, however, arrives in a boxy fit, but it’s designed to be easily cut and trimmed to fit the exact shape of your pool. Some people find that convenient while others prefer the done deal. It’s a matter of personal choice.
The blanket will also reduce chemical loss thanks to the enhanced prevention of water evaporation and protection against common pool pollutants. Priced at a little less than $120 on Amazon, it’s one of the best-rated pool covers.
Intex Solar Cover For 12ft Diameter Easy Set Pool Solar Cover
Specifications:
- 12-foot in diameter
- 95% reduced water evaporation
- Heat retention
- Drain holes
- Comes with a reusable carry bag
Overview
Intex is a public pool and spa accessory manufacturer with years’ worth of professional experience in the international market. The products brought to you by this company are durable and will surely last you for a few seasons. Interestingly enough, they are also quite affordable.
In any case, the 12-foot round solar pool cover brings quite a lot of convenience. Right off the bat, you should know that it’s originally designed as one of the best above ground pool covers. These are the commonly used pools that have a steel frame construction and are installed above the ground.
Of course, there is absolutely no reason for which you shouldn’t use it for an in-ground pool with the same dimensions.
One more piece of advice – as this is a solar blanket and it’s quite affordable, you can easily use a few ones of these to cover a larger surface area. This will work perfectly well.
Now, the main characteristic of this solar blanket is that it’s going to prevent about 95% of the water evaporation. This will ensure high heat and energy retention, which is otherwise lost.
So, with this being said, you can expect statistically significant reductions in your monthly recurring utility bill. It’s also going to keep lightweight dirt and debris out, ensuring that you don’t spend as much on chemical cleaning solutions.
The blanket is very easy to store, and it comes with a reusable carry bag, which is pretty convenient. It has drain holes around the center, which are designed to prevent any potential water accumulation.
This is far more valuable than a lot of people tend to believe. The accumulated water on the surface of your solar blanket is going to attribute to the disintegration of the sheet. This is because water accelerates the harmful UV rays of the sun, hence damaging the cover even more.
It comes for the modest price of less than $30, and it’s surely amongst the best buys on the market if you are looking for something convenient.
Blue Wave Bronze 8-Year 20-ft x 40-ft Rectangular In-Ground Pool Winter Cover
Specifications:
- 25×45 feet size of cover
- Designed for 20×40 feet pool
- 5 feet excess for folding
- Durable fabric
- Protects against ice, wind, sun, and snow
Overview
This particular unit is not intended for everyday usage. Now, before we get into the specifics, keep in mind that it’s manufactured by Blue Wave Products. This is a company that sells a lot of pool and spa accessories and uses different internet market channels. It’s well accepted on the market, and it’s perceived as a reliable and reputable provider.
Now, the cover is designed to be a suitable winter cover, which will keep your pool immaculate and protected throughout the colder seasons when you’re not using the facility. It is intended to save you a significant amount of time, money as well as effort that you’d have to spend otherwise if you drained the pool instead.
The product itself is 25×45 feet, as listed in the specifications. However, it’s not recommended that you use it with its entire size. There are 5 feet of overlap designated to ensure that there is no ripping or stretching of the cover. This is critical, and it’s certainly something that you should consider if you want to get maximum value out of the product.
The cover is made out of rugged polyethylene, and as such, it’s bound to guarantee both strength and durability. It’s not going to let any water through, hence preventing any frost damage to its surface. What is more, it’s colored in black which is going to prevent the growth of algae underneath.
It’s also UV resistant, which brings and ensures the necessary longevity.
A quick piece of advice here: you can use the overlap to place water bags or some other type of stabilizer on top of it to set the cover. This will prevent any stretching and potential damage.
Splash Pools Oval Solar Cover, 24-Feet by 12-Feet
Specifications:
- Guaranteed 15 degrees (F) temperature rise
- 24×12 feet
- Micro air bubbles on the surface
- 95% of water evaporation prevention
- Prevents significant heat loss
Overview
Splash Pools is undoubtedly amongst the most reliable pool accessory providers on the market, and they also sell quite a few different chemical cleaning solutions. This particular product has a size of 24×12 feet, but you can choose between other size specs as well, such as 24×15, 30×15, 33×18, and 45×18. All of their covers are oval even though they also manufacture custom covers upon request.
The first thing that you need to know about the current product is that its primary intention is to capture as well as to thoroughly transmit the solar heat throughout the entire pool, not just on the surface. The micro air bubbles are responsible for this as they magnify the heat transported by the rays and transfer it to the water underneath.
The cover will also reduce the necessity of using chemical cleaning solutions as it’s going to protect your pool from a lot of the primary and shared pollutants such as dust, micro-debris, bugs, and UV-light. In case you are wondering about the latter – it’s one of the leading causes of algae growth in your pool.
You will be able to enjoy statistically significant drops in the monthly utility bill as the cover will prevent a lot of heat and energy loss. On top of that, it also promises to increase the temperature of the water by as much as 15 degrees (F), given that you use it regularly. It comes with a price tag of less than $60, which is surely affordable.
A quick tip: you should place the cover on your pool whenever you aren’t using it. It’s incredibly lightweight and easy to put on as well as to take off, so there is nothing for you to worry about.
Conclusion
The truth is that the current state of the market when it comes to pool covers is pretty dynamic. Brand new products are hitting the shelves every day, and it’s getting harder to scout out those who are worth it.
With so many weak solutions which disintegrate in a few months of usage, choosing the best rated solar cover is a challenge.
All of the products listed above are tested and proven to be durable and practical. Hopefully, this will make the buying process a lot easier.
Should you have any further questions regarding the products or anything else in relation, do not hesitate to leave a comment down below. We’d be happy to answer them!
