Heating your swimming pool doesn’t have to be expensive. In fact, it can be quite affordable. Today, we’re going to share with you some of the best solar pool covers for inground pools. But before we get started, we’d like to talk about some things you want to look for to ensure you’re getting the right solar pool cover for your needs.
Before you buy your new solar pool cover, it’s important to consider a few key aspects. Are you going to be swimming a lot this season? How often do you buy chemicals, and would you like to cut down on them? Do you prefer a cover for pools that heats up your inground pool quickly? Let’s look at a couple more questions you should ask.
Our testing has shown that a thickness of around 12 or 14 mil works the best. If you choose something thicker, like a 16 mil, it can take longer to heat your inground pool. Slightly thinner covers work well to increase temperature, yet they also have good heat retention, as well.
A 16 mil solar cover retains heat longer, however. On the other end of the spectrum lies the 8 mils solar cover. These heat up water much faster, but they don’t retain heat as long. Nor do they prevent evaporation as well as the aforementioned solar covers.
If you plan on investing in a solar cover for its protective qualities, blue is going to be your best bet. They will help prolong the life of your chemicals by blocking out harmful UV rays. It will still heat up your pool, it just takes longer to do it.
If your main goal is to heat, you’re better off choosing clear. The sun will penetrate into your water a lot faster, but that also means UV rays will, too. You’ll likely be spending more on chemicals as a result.
By implementing a solar pool cover, you are effectively reducing the need for costly chemicals, while making your pool temperature much more comfortable. A good pool cover will also serve to keep out bugs and debris. The best solar covers fight off harmful UV rays, as well.
This is important if you wish to prolong the effectiveness of your pool chemicals. It will also serve to extend the life of your pool, as well as the pool cover itself.
You want to ensure that there are no gaps when you put your new solar cover on. Pool covers need to be flush with your pool’s perimeter. This is important, as it keeps out bugs and debris. But it also increases heat retention, which keeps your pool warmer for longer periods of time.
If you have excess material on all sides, you may want to leave it instead of trimming it off. Many pool owners do this so that they can set weights around the perimeter to keep the cover from blowing off.
Remember, the better the cover is in place, the less evaporation your pool will have. This also plays a big role in prolonging the life of your chemicals.
Sun2Solar’s 1600 Series Solar Pool Cover came out on top as the best overall option for inground pools. This heavy-duty solar cover performs admirably in keeping heat locked in once your pool has been sufficiently warmed up.
This is made possible by tiny bubbles that make up the design of the 1600 Series Solar Pool Cover. Solar energy is harnessed by these bubbles and then directly transferred into your water.
You can look forward to getting as much as 95% evaporation prevention with this solar cover. This will greatly reduce your need for chemicals.
The thick material is highly durable and stays in place much better than a thinner solar cover. It’s important to note, however, that this blue cover takes a bit longer to heat up water.
Although it’s a bit more pricey, Blue Wave’s NS445 Solar Cover is one of the best solar options available. We like this 12 mil cover because it heats up your pool water quickly and efficiently.
The NS445’s design works to allow sufficient sunlight penetration into your water, leaving you with comfortable swimming conditions. It’s not quite as durable as thicker pool covers, but its blue color makes up for it.
Harmful UV rays are fought back, helping to preserve the effectiveness of your chemicals. Solar pool covers from Blue Wave use innovative cells that trap in the heat for warmer water throughout the swimming season.
A 5-year warranty is included with the NS445, giving you the assurance that you’re getting one of the best solar covers in the industry.
Looking to save some money? Sun2Solar’s 1200 Series Solar Pool Cover is an excellent option for the budget-minded. As solar pool covers go, we were quite pleased with its performance. You’re getting a solid solar cover that heats your water quickly.
This blue cover features a slightly thinner material, but it works well in retaining heat in your pool. Solar energy is held within tiny bubbles that lie face down in your pool water. These serve to give you a more comfortable swimming pool during the swimming season.
The 1200 Series Solar Cover is easy to use, too. The 12 mil material is a breeze to cut to size if you’re trying to get an exact fit on your inground pool.
Perhaps best of all, you can look forward to the commendable prevention of evaporation. While it won’t last as long as a 16 mil cover, the 1200 Series Solar Cover does a respectable job of reducing it.
If you’re not looking to spring for a solar pool cover, perhaps this ingenious solution will provide for your needs. It costs a fraction of what you would spend on solar pool covers. Yet it delivers many of the same features.
Liquid Solar Blanket in a Bottle is applied onto your swimming pool either daily or weekly. The results give you a thin cover that fights off harmful UV rays from entering your swimming pool. Solar heat is trapped in, allowing you to swim in warmer water longer.
While this isn’t the best solar heating option, it is an affordable way to raise your pool temperature. Best of all, it is ideal for pool shapes of all types and sizes. It’s the perfect solution for a freeform pool. If you’ve had trouble finding a cover that is adequately sized, Liquid Solar Blanket in a Bottle is right up your alley.
Liquid Solar Blanket in a Bottle can’t compete with the best solar pool covers, but it’s a great alternative for those on a tight budget.
When it came down to it, Sun2Solar’s 1200 Series Solar Pool Cover impressed us the most. It’s a well-rounded pool cover that is perfectly balanced in both heating and reducing evaporation. Sure, it’s not as effective as a 16 mil cover, but the difference is certainly noticeable.
And while the 1200 Series Solar Cover doesn’t retain heat as long as thicker models, it does heat up faster. We like to get the most out of the swimming season. And Sun2Solar’s 1200 Series Cover is the perfect solution to our needs.
You may prefer to prolong the chemicals in your pool more so than heating it. For that, you’d be better off investing in the 1600 Series Solar Cover, also by Sun2Solar.
We felt Blue Wave’s NS445 was a bit too pricey considering we can get the same results from Sun2Solar’s 12 mil cover. Still, Blue Wave crafts a fine solar cover. It comes with an excellent warranty and does exactly what it is designed to do.
If you can’t see yourself investing in a pool cover of any kind, consider the Liquid Solar Blanket in a Bottle. You’re getting an easy and quick cover that provides instant protection to your pool. It’s highly-affordable and makes a great option for beginners. If you’re a first-time pool owner, you might want to give it a try.