It is not easy finding a solar cover that is designed to fit your kidney-shaped swimming pool. Most of them come in more traditional shapes, like an oval or rectangle. However, solar covers are available, and today we’re going to show you the best models for heating your pool.
The Best Overall Option
The Upgrade Option
The Value Option
The Alternative Option
The typical measurements of kidney shaped pools are 16 x 32, 18 x 36, and 20 x 40 (all in feet). Many pool owners buy a large cover and simply trim it to the correct size. Fortunately, solar pool covers are a breeze to cut. With a little work, you can soon be enjoying all of the benefits that come with them.
Depending on your wants and needs, you may find a thicker material to be more beneficial. If you want to get the most protection against chemical loss and evaporation, a 16 mil solar cover is your best option. Those valuing comfort over chemicals will find a 12 or 14 mil cover to be most effective.
Solar pool covers reduce how often you need to buy chemicals. Certain models do this better than others. Where one thickness might decrease evaporation, another might heat up your swimming pool better. If neither is more important than the other, consider getting a medium thickness.
You also want to look at the color of the solar cover. A blue one will work to reduce evaporation and chemical degradation better than a clear cover. Conversely, a clear cover will allow more sunlight to pass through into your swimming pool, thereby warming it up faster than a blue cover.
When fitting any cover to the size of your kidney-shaped pool, it is important to factor in any excess material around the perimeter. Some pool owners choose to trim it bigger than their pool so that weights can be set on top of the cover to prevent it from being blown off.
Absolutely. There is nothing about solar pool covers that cause them to interfere with your pool pump’s operation and vice versa. With this in mind, you may need to cut the solar cover around your pump, depending on its location.
This ties back to how you choose to install the solar cover. Do you want it to be flush with your swimming pool perimeter, or would you prefer it to be weighed down? Both methods should yield the same results, so you must get the proper measurements of your kidney-shaped pool. This will ensure that the cover in question can adequately heat and protect your swimming pool.
Solar pool covers are shown to increase your pool’s temperature by up to 15 degrees. But you must follow proper procedures to ensure that it is installed correctly. If you trim it too small, for example, gaps between the cover and pool will allow heat to escape. This will result in subpar performance, thereby reducing the quality of heating and evaporation prevention.
Blue Wave’s NS430 18 x 36 is designed to fit standard kidney shaped pool sizes. If your swimming pool is smaller or larger, Blue Wave has other sizes available that will fit your needs. It’s important to get measurements to make sure you have plenty of material to work with.
The NS430 is a blue solar cover with 12 mil thickness. These two features work together to deliver faster heating and less evaporation. If you’re trying to cut down on the amount of chemicals you are regularly buying for your swimming pool, the NS430 is an excellent investment.
You can look forward to raising your swimming pool temperature by up to 15 degrees, effectively extending the swimming season. This rectangle solar cover can easily be trimmed to fit your pool’s exact shape. We found the 12 mil material to be very easy to work with.
This rectangle solar cover is ideal for a larger kidney-shaped swimming pool. The 25 x 50-foot measurement provides plenty of coverage, allowing you to trim it to the exact size of your pool easily.
The 1200 Series Solar Cover is one of your best solar options, as it delivers exceptional heating without a lot of waiting. The 12 mil thickness allows sunlight to pass through better than 16 mil solar pool covers.
Sure, the 12 mil thickness also means less protection against UV rays, but it provides a fine balance nonetheless. You will be able to enjoy a warmer swimming pool a lot faster, and it’s easy to trim to the shape you need. The 1200 Series 25 x 50 is pretty pricey compared to other entries. But you’re also getting some of the best performance around.
If you’re trying to reduce your pool’s costly upkeep, consider giving Sun2Solar’s 800 Series Solar Cover a look. It allows you to cover kidney-shaped pools of various sizes without breaking the bank.
There is, however, a trade-off to the lower cost of this solar cover. It’s a lot thinner than other models we reviewed, measuring at just 8 mils. While this means your water will warm up a lot faster than the others, it also won’t trap in the heat for very long.
Some will value its quick heating abilities over its chemical degradation prevention. But for those looking to cut back on chemical costs, a thicker cover will be needed.
Pool Basics’ Heat Trapper is an affordable solution for those who don’t want to invest in a solar cover for their pool. Solar energy is harnessed the same as a solar cover. Heat Trapper works by pouring it onto the surface of your swimming pool. Once it is applied, the formula helps keep heat trapped in.
Whereas solar pool covers have to be cut to size, Heat Trapper is simply added as needed. It is by far the easiest solution to heating your water that we reviewed, although it isn’t nearly as effective as solar pool covers.
But if you’re looking for an affordable, short-term option for heating your pool, Heat Trapper is your best solar pool solution. While pool covers can be a bit costly, liquid solar covers are much more manageable.
Solar pool covers provide a variety of benefits, making them an excellent investment for pool owners. So, what is the best solar pool cover for heating a kidney-shaped pool? Our pick goes to Blue Wave’s NS430. This 12 mil pool cover heats up quickly, reduces evaporation, and its cost is reasonable.
However, if you have a pool larger than 24 x 40 feet, you’ll want to look into Sun2Solar’s 1200 Series Solar Pool Cover. It’s a bit pricey, but it provides the coverage and protection your pool needs. It warms up quickly and does a fine job of keeping heat trapped in. If you’re not concerned with chemical loss, Sun2Solar’s 800 Series Solar Pool Cover is a solid investment, as well. Its 8 mil thickness delivers the fastest heating times, although it doesn’t offer the protection you find with thicker solar covers. Those on a budget who don’t want to invest in a solar cover will appreciate Pool Basic’s Heat Trapper. It’s an affordable solution that delivers instant results, albeit not very lasting ones.