Everyone wants to dive into a pool that always has the perfect water temperature. But unless you have a state-of-the-art pool heat management system maintaining desired water temperature levels can be harder than you think.
Traditional electric and gas heaters can not only be expensive to buy but also expensive to run. A more efficient and affordable solution would be to use solar pool covers instead.
What Are Solar Pool Covers? And How Do You Put One On A Pool?
Solar pool covers are like other types of traditional pool covers that prevent debris and dirt from finding its way into your pristine pool water but with a few major advantages.
Apart from keeping nature out of your pool, solar pool covers also help retain solar energy thereby heating up your pool water and minimizing temperature loss due to evaporation.
Solar pool covers are not as effective at heating water up as gas or electric pool heaters but then again they are not as expensive or as costly to run either. Also, if you live in a region that enjoys mild winters a solar panel cover may be more than enough to keep your pool water nice and pleasant all-year-round.
Installing a solar pool cover is not so different from installing any other traditional pool cover except for one very important factor; which way does a solar cover go on a pool?
This question stems from the fact that one side of a solar pool cover is completely flat while the other side has hundreds if not thousands of tiny bubbles.
Solar Pool Cover Bubble Up or Down
Do solar covers for above ground pools bubble or down? What about in-ground pools?
It is highly recommended that the bubbles be facing down when placing the cover on any type of pool. Also, ensure that the pool water itself is free of any algae.
It is within these bubbles that heat is trapped so, therefore, it is vital that those bubbles are submerged in the pool water. Thereby, heat can then be effectively transferred from within the bubbles into your pool water.
The solar pool cover will warm up your pool water on warmer sunnier days and then use that saved-up-warmth on chillier days to keep the water temperature nice and toasty.
The simple mechanism makes it easy for the pool cover to be taken on and off. It is a one-man job and shouldn’t take more than five minutes.
What Happens If Bubbles Are Up?
If for someone reason you decide to put the cover on with the bubbles facing upwards you are essentially making the solar pool cover ineffective.
The pool water will no longer heat up as it should and you are likely going to damage the bubbles as a result of overheating.
Even when a solar pool cover is not in use it has to be stored in an area that is sheltered from direct sunlight or have a reflector wrapped around it.
This is because the bubbles can easily overheat from direct sunlight and with no way to transmit that heat they are likely to “cook” and therefore become ineffective when used next.
If you don’t take these precautions when setting up a solar pool cover you can seriously diminish its useful life.
So, which way does a solar cover go on a pool?
That’s right, with the bubbles facing down! As long as the bubbles are facing down rest assured that your pool water is steadily heating up. So, the next time you want to take a dip in your pool (even if it is a chilly day) you will be greeted with warm and temperate pool water making the experience that much more enjoyable.
The advantage of a solar cover as compared to other covers is that it helps not only retain existing heat in pool water by eliminating evaporation it also then further heat up pool water using bubbles that act as a magnifying glass in order to amplify the sun’s warming rays.
And the best thing is that it requires no power! No ongoing electricity or gas bills to worry about. By harnessing the power of the sun these solar covers are able to keep your pool water at a comfortable temperature all-year-round in many states across the U.S.
To Conclude
If you live in a region that doesn’t experience harsh and cold winters investing in a solar pool cover may be a much more affordable and efficient solution as compared to traditional pool heating systems.
Not only will the cover protect your pool from outside dirt and debris (thereby reducing the need for excessive chemicals) it will also help keep your pool water nice and warm whenever you fancy a swim; as long as you have the bubbles facing down!
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