Solar Pool Covers- A wise investment!

All of us like having fun in the swimming pool but someone has to take the pain for it and to maintain, you need to buy a wide range of accessories like-chemicals, sanitizers, pumps and heaters. One thing you cannot go with while having a swimming pool is an, “in ground pool cover”. These covers are relatively less expensive than the other kinds.

Almost 90% of the heat of the pools water, which is lost, can be retained with the help of a solar pool cover. These pool covers are alternatives to vinyl and insulated vinyl pool covers which are more costlier and heavier. Solar pool covers,  uses the Sun’s heat energy to keep the water warm and hence cut electricity cost. They are also called as “Bubble Covers”.

They are made up of heavier grade plastic sheets, with a bubble pattern, which is resistant to ultra violet radiations. The pools water is kept warm with the help of these bubbles, which absorb and retain heat. The plastic sheet hot only helps keeping water warm but also keeps the dust particles and other unwanted things out of water. A debris free pool means less money spent on chemicals and cleaning. The pools water heater also works more efficiently with less energy consumption. With this type of cover, eveporation losses are also low.

These solar covers for pools are made to last longer, while one thing needs to be checked. The excessive chlorine level in the pools water can turn the bubbles of the cover milky white which turns brittle and its life comes to an end.

Following a normal swimming pool maintenance routine, getting the pools water tested regularly, say, every four to six weeks, can avoid the unwanted chlorine level rise. As the cover is fitted for the first time, get your water tested in the first week itself, because this bring down the loss of chemicals by evaporation and then you can follow the normal routine afterwards.

Solar pool cover reel is designed to help an individual to move the solar cover over the pool as and when necessary. Normal solar covers are bulky and are difficult to use. With the help of this reel, solar swimming pool covers are easier to operate and over-all pool maintenance cost is lowered.

The bubbles on the cover allows the cover to float while the darker color material, captures and directs the Sun’s heat into the pool. A side wheel is provided to undone the solar reel ultimately moving the solar cover into its place. Using a solar reel is advantageous because it prevent wear and tear of the cover when moved roughly to its place.

Mesh pool covers are also available, but you need water bags to hold them down. With this kind you can keep the debris on top while the water goes down through the mesh.

You can also contact the pool store or the dealer to ascertain that you have the right accessory. Do some online research and find a suitable option for your need..
photo credit: Simon Welsh

The Joy of Saving Money with Solar Pool Covers

If you want to learn about saving money using solar pool covers, then you’ll want to read this article. Specifically we’ll discuss how to save money on heating your pool, keeping the pool clean and how to care for your solar pool cover. After reading this article, you should be able to cut expenses of owning above ground swimming pools.

Saving Money on Heating

If you ever shut down your pool for the winter because the pool just gets too cold, then at some point before that, you’re probably using a swimming pool heater to keep the pool warmer for a little longer. Let’s face it. No one wants the swimming season to come to an end. Using a solar pool cover in addition to your pool heater is a smart way to save some money. Solar covers for pools can raise the temperature of your swimming pool by as much as 10 degrees. This means that you can use your heater less, or can use your pool longer into the cold season without having to pay more for the cost of heating the pool.

Saving Money on Swimming Pool Chemicals

Another way that solar swimming pool covers will save you money is that by keeping your pool covered when you’re not using it, fewer leaves and less debris will get into the pool. This means that your swimming pool chemicals will last longer, and that you’ll need to less of them. There’s nothing better than not having to pay for extra chemicals that just aren’t needed.

Caring for Your Solar Pool Cover

The best way to care for solar pool covers is to make sure that when they’re not covering the pool, they are not heaped in a pile on the ground. This means using some sort of storage mechanism such as a solar pool cover reel or a solar cover saddle. The reel is a very elegant solution since it can be worked by just one person fairly easily. This will eliminate a lot of the struggle of dealing with pool covers by oneself.

Conclusion

So now that you know how you’ll be saving money by using a solar pool cover on heating your pool and keeping it clean, you can see that adding one to your wish list of things to get for your above ground swimming pool will ensure that you can use your pool longer and save money too.

photo credit: adotjdotsmith

The Top Three Pool Accessories That Everyone Needs

Overview
Now that you have your above ground swimming pool, it’s time to think about the swimming pool accessories that you need to complete the package and make your pool into the center of relaxation and enjoyment that you dreamed about.

This article will review the top three pool accessories that everyone should have, and will also take a look at a number of additional accessories that are very nice to have.

Top Three Pool Accessories
There are several categories that the top three pool accessories come from – cleaning products, swimming pool floats and toys, and safety devices.

The most important of all pool accessories that everyone should have is a pool alarm system. These alarms vary, but all will tell you when your pool has been accessed when you weren’t expecting it to be. Even if you aren’t a parent and don’t have any pets, it still makes sense to have one in case of neighbor kids or rodents.

The second important cleaning accessory that you will add to your above ground pool accessories list is an accessory that removes leaves and debris that land in your pool. The best type of debris removers run off the suction of your pool pump so that the water is filtered through them. They range in style from ones that sit in the pool to ones that attach to the filter line before the water reaches the filter.

The third swimming pool accessory that you should make part of your set is some favorite pool floats. Whether it is a lounger for one for you to lounge on after work, or a bar set for four adults to hold a cold beverage, or a nice inflatable animal for the kids to play on, you should have a selection of pool floats to choose from for any occasion.

Other Accessories That Are Useful Too
There are a number of additional pool accessories that are very nice to have as well. These include a variety of intex pool accessories such as outdoor solar showers and safety rings, to
and floating lights.

Conclusion
Now that you’ve taken the time to investigate the particular pool accessories that you need to add to your list, you should be prepared when you find the right ones for you when you go looking for them next time online or at your local pool store.

photo credit: twoshortplanks