Keeping your swimming pool heated can cost a pretty penny. These days we are all looking to cut our energy costs and leave less of a carbon footprint. This guide will explain how affordable solar pool covers can help you do both.

Introduction to Solar Swimming Pool Covers

Also referred to as solar blankets, solar swimming pool covers are an economical and effective way to use the sun’s energy to heat your pool.

Generally resembling bubble wrap, solar pool covers are usually clear, silver or blue in color. They have thousands of tiny air pockets that transfer heat from the sun into your pool and also help keep the existing heat in the water. This means that more heat is added to your swimming pool while less heat is lost through evaporation. Enabling you to heat your pool for a fraction of the cost. Reduced evaporation means less chemical loss as well, saving you money all around.

Often, a temperature increase of 10 to 15 degrees Fahrenheit can be achieved by using a solar pool cover.

The Different Types of Swimming Pool Solar Covers

While all pool solar covers do the job in providing savings on your heating system and reducing evaporation as described above, not all solar blankets are the same in design or effectiveness.

Swimming pool covers come in different thicknesses. Choosing a thicker one will cost you more, but it will offer more energy savings. The thicker covers insulate better and transfer a greater amount of heat to the pool. As an added bonus to savings, they are more durable and last longer too. Common pool cover thicknesses are 8mm, 12mm, and 16mm.

Color is also an important factor in the effectiveness of solar pool covers for swimming pools because while all covers prevent more or less the same amount of water and chemical evaporation, they do not all offer equal heat transfer in terms of capturing the sun’s solar energy. Blue colored covers tend to be the most popular choice, however, a clear cover that blocks the least amount of sun offers the most amount of solar heating. Blue covers normally block about 20 to 40 percent of the sun’s energy while clear solar blankets block only between 5 and 15 percent of the sun’s energy. For the most enhanced heating ability, a solar pool cover with a silver coating that reflects added heat back into the pool is best choice.

Choosing the Right Cover for Your Swimming Pool

The type of pool you own also will determine the type of solar cover that will best suit your needs. The type of cover you should use depends on the shape and size of your swimming pool. If your pool is a standard rectangular or round shape, finding the right size cover is usually pretty easy. However, if you have a kidney-shaped, oval or custom-shaped pool, you will probably have to have a cover designed to fit its unusual measurements. The good news is that this can be done easily. Most covers can simply be cut with scissors to fit your pool, so you will merely need to buy a cover that is big enough to cover the entire pool and then shape it yourself to snugly fit the pool’s shape.

Swimming pool covers bring the benefits of reduced heating and chemical costs, lowered water evaporation rates plus an extended swimming season. Since they are also very affordable, they’re highly recommended as an effective energy saver for all pool owners.

Many homes are equipped with heat pumps as their heating and cooling system. Heat pumps work well at most temperatures; however, in extreme temperatures they may not provide the comfort level you expect. The following are some operating and maintenance tips to help you set realistic expectations about heat pumps and to maintain the system at peak energy efficiency and operating effectiveness.

Heat pumps absorb heat from one place and transfer it to another. In air conditioning mode, they absorb heat from inside the home and transfer it outside. In heating mode, they absorb heat from outside and transfer it inside. This process works when the outside temperature is between about 40 and 95 degrees F. It is more difficult for the system to maintain comfortable interior temperatures when the outside temperature is beyond this range. Older systems and systems that are poorly maintained may have a narrower outside temperature range within which they can maintain comfortable interior temperatures.

Heat pumps, like any heating and cooling system, should be correctly sized for the home. A common misconception about heat pumps is that a larger system is always better; in fact too large is bad. A heat pump that is too large may not run long enough in air conditioning mode to effectively remove humidity from the air. This can create moisture control problems that can contribute to mold growth. A heat pump is less energy efficient when it begins operating and does not reach full energy efficiency for several minutes. A heat pump that runs for short periods costs more to run and may have a shorter useful life.

Heat pumps are less effective in cold weather. This is why they are less common in northern areas. When the outside temperature falls below about 40 degrees F., a heat pump may not be able to raise the internal temperature to a comfortable level. Heat pumps in cooler climates are equipped with auxiliary heating elements. These elements look and act much like the wires that glow red in a toaster. Like their cousins in a toaster, these elements provide additional heat to help bring the inside temperature to a normal level. Because it is difficult to know if these elements are operating properly, you should have them tested as part of normal system maintenance.

A heat pump should maintain a comfortable indoor temperature. The International Residential Code (IRC) heating performance standard requires that the system maintain a temperature in the home of at least 68 degrees F. The IRC has no performance standard for cooling. The National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) heating performance standard is 70 degrees F. and the cooling standard is 78 degrees F. or 15 degrees C. below an outside air temperature of 95 degrees F. States and cities may have different standards. The performance standard temperature is often measured near the center of the room and about five feet above the floor.

The IRC and NAHB standards are not clear about temperature variances between areas in the home, but it is reasonable to expect that the temperature in each area be near the temperature at the thermostat. Some temperature variation between areas is normal and unavoidable. It is reasonable to allow one or two degrees temperature variance between areas.

Operating a heat pump is similar to operating any forced air HVAC system. In most cases, the recommended thermostat settings for heat pumps are 68 degrees F. in winter and 78 in summer. These settings provide energy efficient operation at reasonable comfort levels.

Use of setback thermostats is generally not recommended with heat pumps, particularly in heat mode. Heat pumps are often designed so that in heating mode, if there is a difference of about 3 or more degrees between the thermostat setting and inside air temperature, the auxiliary heating elements will be activated. The heating elements are far more expensive to run than the heat pump itself, so use of the heat strips should be avoided.

Heat pump maintenance starts with regular filter replacement. If you choose disposable filters, use the inexpensive blue or white fiberglass mesh type. The more expensive pleated paper filters can restrict the air flow in the system making it work longer. Change these filter every month.

If you have an access tube in the condensate drain line at the air handler, pour about ½ cup of bleach into the line when you change the filter. This will help keep the line clean and reduce the chance that it will clog and force water into your home. If you do not have an access tube, consider having one installed at the next service call.

Use a garden hose to wash the fins on the condenser (the outside unit) about once per month. Keep walls and plants at least 1 foot from the sides and 10 feet from the top of the condenser. Keep the condenser shaded from direct sunlight to the extent practical.

Finally, have preventative maintenance service performed on the system at least once per year.

Like all mechanical components, heat pumps wear out. Condensers typically last between about 5 and 15 years. Air handlers typically last between 15 and 20 years.

Heat pumps are a good choice for heating and cooling in warm climates where gas service is not available. A gas furnace is usually a more cost-effective choice where gas service is available. Heat pumps can provide energy efficient service for many years when properly installed, operated, and maintained.