What Are Solar Pool Covers and How Do They Work?
Harness the power of the sun for a warm, comfortable pool
Highlights
Solar pool covers cost around $800–$1,000.
Solar covers lower evaporation by 95% on average.
Compared to other pool covers, solar covers are generally less solid but more effective at warming the pool.
Without a pool cover, your pool can lose 12,000–31,000 gallons of water every year.
There are three types of solar cover materials to choose from.
If you’ve ever wanted to swim some laps on a chilly day but don’t want to plunge into a cold pool, a solar pool cover might be just what you need. These multipurpose pool accessories not only protect your pool from debris but also use the sun to warm your pool water, keeping it comfortable even when there’s a nip in the air. Keep reading to learn what a solar pool cover is, how to use it, and why it might be just what your pool needs.
What Is a Solar Pool Cover?
A solar pool cover is a solar blanket that helps winterize your pool by keeping it heated in the cooler seasons, preventing debris from entering, and reducing water loss through evaporation.
Solar pool covers come in an assortment of shapes and sizes to fit any pool. They also come in three main types of materials: vinyl, polyethylene, and polypropylene.
How Do Solar Pool Covers Work?
These handy pool must-haves look like giant bubble wrap, but don’t let their appearance fool you. Despite their simple design and appearance, solar covers are an efficient and affordable way to heat pools on days that would otherwise be too cool.
When combined with a solar pool heater, your pool cover serves as an energy-saver for heating your pool when you’re ready to take a dip on a late autumn afternoon.
Solar covers also serve as protection from debris and prevent the chemicals in your pool, like chlorine, from evaporating. According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, an uncovered pool can lose anywhere from 12,000 to 31,000 gallons of water from evaporation annually.
How Effective Are Solar Pool Covers?
Solar pool covers can save you on the cost of replacing water and pool chemicals due to evaporation, which add up over time. This affordable option also keeps your pool warm and comfortable without the high energy costs associated with pool heaters.
A study conducted at the National Pool Industry Research Center by California Polytechnic State University shows that solar covers are 95% efficient at reducing evaporation, which helps conserve water and save you money on replacing all of that evaporated water.
Types of Solar Pool Covers
While all pool covers work by protecting your pool from leaves, dirt, and other debris, each type has pros and cons that can influence your decision as you shop for a pool cover. Most other types of pool covers are not designed to let in solar light to warm the pool, so you don’t get the benefit of going for a swim in the winter as you do with solar pool covers.
Here are the different types of pool covers on the market and how they compare in cost, features, and performance:
Automatic Pool Covers
$12,000–$22,000
Made of heavy vinyl
Durable and sturdy
Increase pool temperatures
Can be used with a heat pump
Costly to install and expensive to repair
May require a pool electrician for repairs
Mesh Pool Covers:
$1,500–$3,000
Made from polypropylene
Long-lasting with a 10–15-year life span
Doesn’t require a pump
Porous, allowing snow, ice, and rain to seep through the cover
Solid Vinyl Pool Covers
$1,200–$3,000
Made of solid vinyl
Sturdy and able to bear weight for safety
6–10-year life span
Must also have a pump
Excellent at maintaining your pool
Costly and must be replaced more frequently
Solar Pool Covers
$75–$300
Made of vinyl, polyethylene, or polypropylene
3-year life span
Lightweight to allow sunlight in
Not sturdy enough for pool safety benefits
Winter Pool Covers
$75–$225
Made of tarp-like material
1–3-year life span
Usually heavier and more secure than solar pool covers
Less effective than more costly pool cover options
Pros and Cons of Solar Pool Covers
With that brief overview aside, solar pool covers alone offer many benefits with only a few disadvantages.
Benefits of Solar Pool Covers
There are many pros to choosing a solar pool cover for your pool this year. Solar pool covers:
Conserve water by around 30%–50%
Reduce the use of chemicals in your pool by 35%–60%
Save money by keeping heating costs and make-up water low
Keep debris out of your pool
Inexpensive compared to most other pool cover costs
Heat your pool anywhere from 5–15 degrees Fahrenheit
Make it possible to swim on cooler days
Disadvantages of Solar Pool Covers
On the other hand, solar pool covers do come with a few cons that are worth considering as you make your decision. For the most part, solar pool covers:
Have a short life span of only three years
Are too lightweight to provide security features for children and the elderly or to keep animals out of the pool
How Much Do Solar Pool Covers Cost?
A solar pool cover costs around $75 to $300 on average. Price factors include the thickness of the material, type of materials, and the size of your pool. For example, a large pool with a thick cover made from vinyl is going to cost more than a small pool that uses a thin, polyethylene material.
Things to Consider When Choosing a Solar Pool Cover
When it comes to picking a solar pool cover, it can feel a little like going into a hectic grocery store and having to choose between too many options! This is because there are several variables that can affect your decision.
You have to take the material, the shape, and the thickness of the solar pool cover into account to pick a cover that works for your pool.
Types of Solar Pool Cover Material
Again, there are three types of materials used for solar pool covers—vinyl, polyethylene, and polypropylene—and the type you choose makes a difference in the performance of the solar cover. Here’s what you need to know about the different types of material available for a solar pool cover:
Vinyl solar pool covers: Durable but heavy and less likely for light to pass through and warm your pool
Polyethylene solar pool covers: Lightweight, flexible, and capable of slight stretching
Polypropylene solar pool covers: Similar to polyethylene but stiff and less durable than the other options and more resistant to the chemicals in your pool than polyethylene
Types of Solar Pool Cover Shapes
Most solar pool covers are not customized to perfectly fit your pool. However, there are a variety of shapes to choose from to help you pick a cover that most accurately covers the pool’s surface. These shapes include round, oval, or rectangular ones.
Solar Pool Cover Thickness
In addition to all of the factors above, you also have to consider the thickness of the pool cover. Most solar covers come in three different thicknesses, including 8 mm, 12 mm, and 16 mm. The thicker the cover, the heavier and less transparent the material.
A thicker cover is more durable than a flimsier one, but if you choose a material that is too thick, the amount of sunlight that your cover absorbs, also known as solar gain, will decrease. This means less heat will enter the pool to warm it. At the same time, a thicker cover is sturdier, less likely to blow away, and better at preventing UV damage to your pool and the chemicals inside it.
For maximum heat in your pool, opt for a transparent bubble cover, which will only reduce your pool’s solar energy absorption by around 5% to 15% compared to a more opaque and nontransparent cover, which will reduce the energy absorption by 20% to 40%, according to Energy Saver.
The Dos and Don’ts of Solar Pool Covers
After choosing the best solar pool cover for your pool, it’s time to look at a few basic tips on what to do and what not to do with your solar pool cover.
Do:
Choose the correct thickness for your pool cover.
Pick the right size for your pool.
Decide on which material is best for your pool.
Consult with a trained professional for questions, advice, and installation help.
Don’t:
Hold your pool cover in place using cinder blocks, bricks, or any other heavy material not designed for holding the cover in place. It can damage your cover or pool and give way under the weight of a pet or child.
DIY the installation if you’re not experienced in accurately measuring and cutting the material. Doing the installation yourself could lead to the material falling short and not offering you the same benefits as an accurately measured pool cover
Installing a Solar Pool Cover
While solar pool covers are relatively straightforward to install compared with other kinds of covers, you’ll want to ensure you cut it to the right size. To install a solar pool cover, lay the cover over your pool, bubble side down, for a few hours to let it settle. Once it’s settled, cut the cover so that it extends 4 to 6 inches over the pool edge. Let it settle for two to three weeks and then trim it further, leaving 2 to 3 inches of material around the edge,
If you aren’t confident in your DIY abilities and don’t want to risk improperly trimming your new cover, call a local pool cover repair or installation pro. They can get your cover trimmed and installed quickly and correctly, so you can start reaping the benefits right away without having to do any of the measuring and cutting.
Allie Ogletree contributed to this piece.
Frequently Asked Questions
For maximum effectiveness, you should keep your solar pool cover on whenever your pool isn’t in use. Covering the pool during the day allows the solar cover to use the sun’s rays to heat your pool, prevent evaporation and heat loss, and protect your pool from debris.
Yes, you can run your pool pump with the solar cover on—in fact, it’s recommended. The cover will not interfere with the function of the pump and may even help your pump run more efficiently by keeping debris out, extending the life of your pump, and lowering energy costs.
A solar cover can heat your pool anywhere from 5 to 15 degrees Fahrenheit over the course of 6 to 12 hours, depending on how much full sun your pool gets and how big it is. When used in conjunction with a solar pool heater, your pool will heat up even faster, all while using less energy than a traditional pool heater.