Best solar pool covers

Swimming pools might have their initial costs but maintaining them doesn’t necessarily mean you have to spend money. The main maintenance money is spent on heating and pool cleaning. Fortunately, we have solar pool covers. These are eco-friendly and cost-effective pool covers that not only keep the pool water clean and safe from debris, but also keep it warm when the nights are long, and winds are cold.

This article is all about reviewing the best solar pool covers on the market. Considering the vast market solar pool covers have, there is no denying that there is a possibility you will be searching for hours but will come back empty-handed.

Keeping your pools protected from the outdoor environment is very important. solar pool covers are a one-time investment that will reward you for many years ahead.

We have searched the market thoroughly and compiled a list of the 5 best solar pool covers. All of them have ideal functionality, quality, and pricing. Moreover, we don’t have a single type of pool cover, rather the compilation consists of different types of pool covers that will be explained later on in the article.

Without further ado, let’s get into the details.

Solar pool cover reviews

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Sun2Solar – Best solar pool cover for in-ground and above-ground swimming pools

This solar pool cover is from a British company called Sun2Sun. The firm is keen on producing eco-friendly installations and products that reduce the use of conventional fuels. This solar pool heater is a simple to use accessory for a large pool that can easily warm up your pool even if the sun is not directly over-head. It is made from a thousand tiny bubbles that are made with the sole purpose of retaining the head when the weather is chilly. It has a blue color which is pretty appealing and looks like blue water from afar.

Temperature increase

This solar pool heater helps in increasing the water temperature by 10 degrees, it can go higher in some cases. However, the increase in temperature also depends on the retention power and conservative figure of your pool. This cover reduces water evaporation by 95 percent. When not in use, keep the pool covered with Sun2Solar cover. It keeps a large amount of your pool water from evaporating, hence, the pool will require less filling every now and then.

Heat retention

The bubbles on the pool cover retain heat to a great extent. When not on the water, they keep on dissipating the heat into the environment. Although this solar blanket for the pool has high heat retention, it is advised to keep it on the water when not in use. The free heat is given to water via UV rays transmission. UV rays are nothing but pockets of energy using which the solar pool cover captures heat in the bubbles and also send it out to the water. Hence, for better results, the bubbles should face down towards the water.

Warranty

This solar pool cover comes with 6 years of warranty out of which full warranty for two years is offered. In case you get any tears or damages on the pool cover due to children jumping over it or any other reason. You can send back the pool cover within the first two years of purchase and get a full replacement.

Sun2Solar – Best for above-ground pools

This is another eco-friendly solar pool cover from Sun2Sun. Like its previously reviewed product, this product was also constructed to provide users with unconventional pool heating methods without using customary fuels. It is in round shape and is the best solar heater for above ground pool. It comes in 11 different sizes as well. The pool cover has great heat retention and protection abilities. It is a well-designed product which is an ideal choice for keeping your pool warm and protected from debris.

Bubble technology

This best solar heater for above ground pool comes with bubble technology. Which means, the pool cover has thousand of bubbles which have a vacuum in them. These bubbles are constructed such that they can not only retain heat but also transmit UV waves to the water. All the heat energy from those UV waves is absorbed in water. The risen water temperature is then retained with the help of the pool cover. Since the vacuum in the bubbles doesn’t let the heat out, neither it lets the water evaporate. Only these two mechanisms cause loss of heat energy.

Heat retention

The solar pool cover is made to retain heat in the swimming pool. During a normal summer day, the water absorbs all the energy it can from the sun all day long and the energy is dissipated all night long. You wake up to a cold-water pool especially in out ground pools. However, if you put this solar pool heater on your pool when not in use, you will see a clear difference in the temperature of the water. The pool cover reduces evaporation by 95 percent and keeps the heat in. It keeps the water temperature at least 10 degrees F higher than what it usually is.

Warranty

Like all Sun2Sun products, this solar pool cover comes with 6 years of warranty out of which you get a full warranty for 2 years. If you have any tears in the pool cover and claim the warranty within the first 2 years, you will get a product replacement.

Blue Wave NS520 – 14 mil solar blanket for pool

The Blue Wave is a well-known company when it comes to pool accessories as well as the pools themselves. They have pool installation as well as home spas and other leisure items. They are known for their high-quality and reasonable products.

This thin and transparent solar blanket for the pool promises 15 degrees F-raise in the temperature of pool water naturally with only sun rays. It is specifically made for in-ground pools. It is pretty thin but that does not mean it is not durable. the size of this pool cover is huge and is aimed at permanent pools, not portable ones.

Size

The size of this solar pool cover is, without a doubt, its plus point. It comes in a variety of sizes and is suitable for all kinds of outdoor pools. The larger size of the pool cover has no effect on its weight. The pool is equipped with a mesh-like design that keeps the pool cover over the water. It is easy to pull over the water surface and easy to remove as well. Usually, larger size solar pool blankets are hard to handle due to their heavy size. It is the opposite of this pool cover. Due to its lightweight, it does not feel like a chore and hardly takes any time to remove and put over the water.

Energy conservation

This solar pool heater has 14 mil thickness which is why its heat retention power and energy conservation are pretty high. Like all other solar pool covers, it employs sun-energy to heat up the water and always keeps the energy conserved. The pool cover is loaded with thermal vacuum bubbles and innovative cells. The thermal vacuum bubbles ensure warm water throughout the summers and the innovative cells make sure the water keeps warm during stormy, rainy, and cold nights. The water temperature is always kept 15 degrees higher than what it usually is.

Warranty

Blue Wave solar blanket comes with 6 years of the manufacturer’s warranty. In case of any damage or any tears, the company will replace the cover for you.

In the Swim – Swimming pool solar blanket

This is an affordable swimming accessories brand. It is an all under one roof kind of store and is famous for its highly effective and durable solar pool covers. Furthermore, it is a renowned manufacturer of the best solar pool covers. Not only that, but it uses conventional bubble technology for heat retention in its pool covers. The pool cover is available in a very large size which can be a plus point for some but an inconvenience for people who have a smaller pool. Cutting it can be an option, but it always causes issues. The pool cover is made for above-ground pools and is the best solar cover for an above-ground pool.

Functionality

This solar pool cover is available for a very good bargain price and has ideal functionality. It is 8 mils thick and has thousands of tiny air bubbles. These bubbles trap the energy from the sun and heat up your pool up to 20 degrees F from the normal temperature. The latent heat of water is higher than the latent heat of air. Hence, the air bubbles can trap energy faster as compared to the water in the pool. This way, the trapped energy is slowly released into the water where it is absorbed, and the temperature rises. This solar pool heater is constructed using reinforced flat seams which help the cover in floating even when it rains.

Less evaporation

The pool cover is designed such that it keeps all the heat inside the pool and also keeps on adding new heat to the water. The pool reduced evaporation by 95 percent. This not only stands true for water but also for chemicals added to the water. Chemical loss through evaporation only requires adding more chemicals which are not very cost-effective. Hence, with minimized evaporation, this solar pool cover also saves you a lot of money.

Warranty

The pool cover comes with 3 years of the manufacturer’s warranty. In case there is any damage or if you receive a defective product, the quick customer service helps you replace it within days.

Intex – 15 ft diameter solar cover

Intex is basically a lifestyle brand and pool accessories are just a part of its arena. It mainly deals with inflated beds, spas, and other products. It brought solar pool covers into the picture at a reasonable price and with some high-end features. This Intex solar pool cover is a lightweight and easy to handle product that can fit over a round pool with 15 feet diameter. It is ideal for people who don’t have much time to heat their pool before going for a swim. It is a low maintenance product, during winter months when you have to store it, just fold it and place it away in the garage. You don’t have to pack it in airtight plastic and other shenanigans.

Functionality and convenience

The pool cover maximizes convenience and functionality. It is lightweight, durable, sturdy, and easy to use. All you have to do is pop it up on the pool and wait for the sun to do its job. It is quite durable and has exceptional heat retention abilities. Moreover, the solar pool cover also reduces evaporation by 95 percent which reduces the loss of heat as well as added chemicals. The rays of the sun can heat your pool over time, but during the night, heat loss is at its maximum and you will wake up to a cold pool in the morning. This solar pool heater prevents loss of heat during the night as well.

Heat retention

This Intex solar pool cover has the best solar heat retention. It can increase the temperature of the water up to 20 degrees F higher than the surroundings. This with the help of multiple tiny bubbles created on the surface of the pool cover. The bubbled side is facing downwards and the flat side faces upwards. This way, the air in the bubbles can trap the maximum amount of heat and then send it in the water. It also helps in keeping the bugs out. The pool cover can also be lent to a friend or acquaintance since it is very easy to use and handle.

Warranty

The product does not come with a proper warranty. It does have a limited warranty, the terms of which you can find at the time of purchase.

Solar pool cover reel reviews

Sometimes, for larger pools, getting a solar pool cover reel is very important. Manually putting and removing the solar pool cover is very inconvenient especially when you have a large-sized pool.

VINGLI – Best solar pool cover reel for in-ground pool

This solar pool cover reel from VINGLI will make your life 100 times easier if you have a large pool. It is 40 feet long and 18 feet wide while also being one of the easiest pools cover reels to use and assemble. The product looks like it would be heavy and not easy to handle but it is the complete opposite. All in all, this pool cover reel is an all in one kind of product. It is reasonable, durable and sturdy at the same time. All you have to do is pull the pool cover via the handle and then put it out using the same handle.

Construction and design

The solar pool cover reel includes a durable and rust-resistant aluminum rod. Furthermore, the rod has three lockable sections. As a result, these sections help the rod from dropping from holding the heavy pool cover. For stability, the reel has rubber tires as well as huge steel legs. In addition, the rod has tiny grooves all over. Consequently, these groves keep the embedded straps in place. These straps help in pulling while keeping the whole system stable. It is at a height from the pool surface which makes the functionality better than other reels. Also, it has the right balance and is large enough to have a good moment arm. As a result, the user has to apply less force.

Telescopic rod

The center rod of the reel is telescopic. This means you can adjust the length of the rod according to the size of the pool and the size of the pool cover. You can adjust the size of the reel rod anywhere between 6 feet and 18 feet. The rod is rust and resistance-free and does not require any kind of maintenance. It also reduces shaking when in use. In long length rods, the shaking can result in breaking due to resonance.

Intex – Best for above-ground pool

Applying and removing a solar pool covering is a daunting task. Especially in above-ground pools. This solar pool cover reel is specifically for above-ground pools. It attaches to the wall of the pool and is very easy to assemble. The reel consists of only three pieces. All you have to do is attach the sides to the wall of the pool and then fix the rod inside it. Intex is very keen on producing safe to use products and this reel is no less. It is completely safe and accident-proof.

Construction

Most of the pool cover reels come with a lot of screws which makes assembling difficult. Moreover, if the screws are of bad quality, the whole reel is at risk of breakage and accidents can occur because of that. This reel has no screws. All you have to do is fix the three parts together and voila! The sides of the reel include plastic while the rod includes an Aluminum construction. Since the rod will have constant interaction with water, it includes a chrome coating for rust resistance.

Telescopic rod

The rod that attaches the sides and holds the pool cover is a telescopic rod specifically for rectangular swimming pools. It is for heavy-duty use and the construction ensures that the resonance and shaking while use is minimal. This is very necessary to keep the rod from breaking. The plastic hank and cock on which the rod lies are also non-corrosive and highly durable.

Important factors you need to consider

Types of solar pool covers

There are three main types of solar pool covers. Each one has its own plusses and minuses. You can choose the one you want based on your needs.

• Solar blanket: this is the type of solar pool cover that was present throughout the article. It basically looks like a large bubble wrap; however, it is a pool cover that retains heat and keeps the temperature of water higher than it normally is. They are available on the market in different thicknesses, sizes, and colors as well.

• Solar ring: this is basically an inflatable ring that you can add over the pool to keep it warm and to keep the evaporation minimum. It is for people who find handling a solar blanket difficult due to its large size. Solar rings come in varying manageable sizes and also come in different colors and designs. The number of rings needed depends on the size of the pool.

• Liquid solar cover: this is the newest innovative solar cover available on the market. This is a liquid that you can add over the pool water. It makes a monolayer on the surface keeping the water from evaporating and helping the heat stay inside the water.

Size

Solar blankets come in varying sizes. Every type and brand has at least three or four sizes available. However, if you find a large-sized blanket and you have a smaller pool, you can always cut it according to the size. Consider it like a large bubble wrap that you can cut and use without damage.

Warranty

The warranty of a solar pool cover is pretty important considering it will stay on the water all the time and can deteriorate with time. Where the solar pool covers come with a period of deterioration, it is necessary to have a warranty in case of tears or material deterioration beforehand.

The bottom line

This article is all about helping you find the right solar pool cover since summers are approaching and the swimming season is right around the corner. Hopefully, you will have a better understanding of solar pool covers when you go out to buy one for your home pool.

They are available in different colors, sizes, and qualities. You can trim our top choices according to your pool size as well.