pool blankets (backyard pools)

[easyas123]

Solar pool blankets - anyone have any experience w/ them?


Hi all - we put a pool in last year (in ground, small just about 10K gallons) and at that time decided against the heater. Well we have since changed our minds, and have already researched/explored and decided on adding a heater at the end of this season* BUT in the meantime I'm looking for a simple, easy way to warm up the pool because one of our pups loves a swim and if we are going to have the pool opened earlier in the season we might as well enjoy it ourselves! Pool is currently about 61 degrees (we are in MD) It was 55 when we uncovered it a few weeks ago. Thinking about getting one of those solar pool blankets, but I wanted to solicit any opinions from anyone who has used them as to if they help retain heat.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B003TQMCNK?tag=track-ect-usa-1892396-20&linkCode=osi&th=1

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0C158X599?tag=track-ect-usa-1892396-20&linkCode=osi&th=1

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B003TQMCNK?tag=track-ect5-usa-653192-20&linkCode=osi&th=1


Thanks for any recommendations anyone might have.


*no the dog isn't swimming unattended
*yes we are aware of all that goes into pool heaters, installation & costs associated
*opened the pool so early because we wanted to make see how it fared over the cold winter/we had some (unfounded) concerns over some of the coping

 

[Tatebeck]

Yeah they do help but I find they are a bit cumbersome to put in and take out all the time. There is a liquid version that you add to your pool and it adds a thin film to the top to stop evaporation that can help.

There are also ways to use a small pump and coils of black hose laid in the yard to heat it up without the cover as well.

 

[_19disnA]

Friends of ours have a pool and use one of those solar blankets. I do recall they have some sort of device to roll up the cover when it is removed. Makes putting it on/off easier. Also helps to keep debris like leaves out of the pool when not in use. Can't recall how much it helped in retaining the water temp, they have never mentioned that. I do know they also have a pool heater which tends to be a rather pricey way to warm the water early in the season.

 

[Tatebeck]

Friends of ours have a pool and use one of those solar blankets. I do recall they have some sort of device to roll up the cover when it is removed. Makes putting it on/off easier. Also helps to keep debris like leaves out of the pool when not in use. Can't recall how much it helped in retaining the water temp, they have never mentioned that. I do know they also have a pool heater which tends to be a rather pricey way to warm the water early in the season.

That sounds like an auto cover, which does help with heat, but is mainly for safety. And it is also very expensive and usually doen when you first install the pool, and is much harder to do afterwards. I think the option was around $20k when we did our pool. Not worth it

 

[_19disnA]

I would assume there are several types of these devices. I know for a fact our friends did NOT spend thousands of dollars on theirs.

 

[Tatebeck]

I would assume there are several types of these devices. I know for a fact our friends did NOT spend thousands of dollars on theirs.

Hmm it must just be a roll up solar sheet or something and not a safety device then. The safety ones are very sturdy and allow you to walk on them and keeps children from falling in. If it's just a solar blanket on a roll then it would definitely be cheaper

 

[PrincessShmoo]

There are also ways to use a small pump and coils of black hose laid in the yard to heat it up without the cover as well.

That's what we did with our above ground pool. We used a water pump (like you'd use to pump water out of a flooded basement), with a large coil of black pvc pipe. Ours we placed on top of the pergola cover, but putting it on the ground nearby the pool would also work.

 

[easyas123]

not a safety device then

I'm not looking for a safety device, rather just the solar cover. We've already got the heavy-duty-hold-a-elephant type cover for off season ... no where NEAR $20K, and ours was custom made cause our pool has a odd shape. No, I'm just looking for thoughts on the solar type blankets that just float on the surface of a open pool.

That's what we did with our above ground pool. We used a water pump (like you'd use to pump water out of a flooded basement), with a large coil of black pvc pipe. Ours we placed on top of the pergola cover, but putting in on the ground nearby the pool would also work.

interesting idea, thanks. I'm mention it to Himself and see if he wants to try that since we've got the pumps & hoses already.

 

[easyas123]

. There is a liquid version that you add to your pool and it adds a thin film to the top to stop evaporation that can help.

I've seen that type of product, I was hesitant to introduce anything else chemically into the pool and foul up my clear water, but maybe I'll do a bit more research on that stuff.

Thanks everyone -

 

[citruscurtis]

The cheap blankets we purchase only heat the top 4 inches of water.. October is when we use them in Yuma and I swirl the inches around


But I think it is more psychological and by then acclimated... what I tell folks is put on a shirt..soak with a hose and stand around until I'm cold...then into the warm pool

 

[BrianLa]

I use the Solar Sun Rings with water anchors. I have a Mountain Lake shaped pool (35,000 Gallons) and I have used them for over 15 years. I usually have 25-28 of the on my pool. They last about 2-3 seasons before they need to be replaced. If you have full sun they work well to heat the pool and prevent the heat from escaping at night. Also, unlike a solar blanket, there is no entrapment risk with these.

 

[slo]

We use a solar cover and love it - it very much helps heat up the water and to keep the heat in the water. Our cover is on the water 100% of the time when not in use. We don’t take it all the way off when using the pool - we just push it to one side (it’s easier to put back on when done with the pool). If we had guests coming over, then we would take the cover completely off. Have fun with your pool

 

[HeatherC]

We use a solar panel with ours. We gave up on the covers because our pool is 27’ round and it was just too hard to maneuver. We bought our panel off Amazon and you just have the pool hose connect to it. It circulates the water through it and sends it back to the pool,warm. We notice a huge difference with it and have used it for years. Could work well with a cover.