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Unless you are very adventurous, it is not pleasant to jump into your pool for an evening swim after the sun goes down; the water will be too cold for such a venture. This is where solar pool rings come in. These rings offer a green way to keep your pool heated at all times and prevent water from evaporation due to strong sun.
There are so many solar pool cover brands in the market today. This may, therefore, pose a challenge to first-time buyers. However, this guide plus review is designed to help you make the best choice when buying.
Top Recommendation
One of the best rings is the Solar Sun Rings. They are simple solar pool covers designed to fit in every pool design and size. Solar Sun Rings are offered at great prices, sport a beautiful design and heat and insulate pools efficiently.
Upgrade Option
The Thermo Spring solar rings sport an attractive oval design that fits on different shapes and sizes of pools. These rings can heat your pool up to 75 degrees and are good at insulation.
Value Option
SwimWays 17400 is created almost the same as the Thermo Springs solar rings above but it is a little bigger and a little cheaper. It functions efficiently to keep your pool water warm.
When shopping for them, there are a number of factors to consider and these include:
Solar rings for pool heating are designed from two sheets of heavy-duty vinyl. They trap sunlight energy, warming the water in your pool and, at night, they offer an insulation layer ensuring that heat is not lost from the pool. Due to their constant exposure to sunlight, solar rings tend to crack and chip off from the edges with time.
To ensure your solar rings can last long, choose solar rings with thick vinyl layers. Again, ensure that the vinyl is UV resistant so it does not get destroyed by the sun.
A good solar cover can last up to 4 years but most last three years or below.
Unlike other pool covers that cover the entire pool, solar pool rings cover small sections of the pool. This means that you have to buy many rings depending on the size of your pool. If you have a small pool, you can buy small sized rings to cover about 80 percent of your pool connected edge to edge by the fitted magnets. If your pool is large, shop for larger rings to ensure you do not buy so many.
Most solar pool rings sport a blue layer that absorbs sunlight to heat water. The units are created in different shapes and sizes with most being circular or elliptical while others are triangular. On their top are different decorations; some have bubbles and others have palm trees while others are plain only with the brand name. When shopping, pick according to your likes and preferences.
Most solar run rings are able to absorb up top 50 percent of the sun’s energy to heat water in your pool. The rings are able to provide up to 21,000BTUs of heat to keep your pool warm at all times. When shopping, look at product specifications to see the heating power of the solar sun ring.
You can buy solar rings individually or you can buy them as a set. When you buy them as a set, they are less expensive making them affordable. However, the number of rings you buy will depend on the size of your pool.
When shopping, consider the warranty offered as it shows the trust the manufacturer places on their products.
Solar rings have to be inflated to make them buoyant before they are placed on the surface of the pool. All you have to do is inflate the outer surface until it is firm and then inflate the inner portion just slightly. Place them on the surface of the pool and they will start heating your water.
Most solar pool rings are fitted with magnets on their edges making it easy for them to stay connected and cover more area on your pool. The magnets also keep your water clear and ensure the rings do not overlap. Rings or squares will not cover every part of your pool and as such, you can still run your pump. This is an advantage as it allows sunlight to pass through thereby reducing the growth of algae. It can also be a disadvantage as leaves and other particles still find their way into your pool.
Unlike other pool covers, solar pool covers can be removed easily; all you need is to detach the magnets and pull them out of the water.
Solar rings are small elliptical or square pool covers; this makes them easy to store. When you are swimming, you can stack them somewhere on the deck of your pool, away from the wind.
Most solar covers feature a loop from which you can hang them when they are not in use.
If you want to store the rings for a long time, get them out of the water and spray them off. Use a soft brush to clean off debris when the rings are still inflated to ensure that no dirt is trapped in the wrinkles.
Next, dry the rings by hand. If you decide to dry them with a leaf blower, hold them so they do not fly all over your compound. Deflate the rings, flatten them and store them in their bag. If the rings did not come with a bag, store them in a lidded container. Rings should be stored away from sunlight and from abrasive surfaces.
Solar rings are easy to use and they do not need a lot of maintenance. Unlike other pool covers that may need special tools to install, rings only need to be inflated and placed on top of the pool. They are designed to reduce the rate of evaporation, retain the heat of your pool after the sun goes down, keep debris and bugs out of the pool and have lower cost of pool chemicals.
Based on the factors above, high quality, pricing, past buyers’ review, and other credible factors, here are our best solar rings recommendations.
Quick Take: OUR RECOMMENDATIONS FOR Solar Pool Rings
Top RecommendationSolar Sun Rings Pool Heater
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Upgrade OptionThermo Spring Solar Mat
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Value OptionSwimWays 17400 Pool Heater
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The Solar Sun Rings are designed to keep your pool water warm for an evening swim. These sun rings are designed circular with blue surfaces on which a palm tree and orange sun are printed. However, according to the manufacturer, the design keeps changing and you may buy a solar cover with a different print.
The Solar Sun rings are created with a double layer of strong UV resistant vinyl to make them highly durable. The two layers of the solar sun rings allow some sun rays to filter through to ensure that your swimming pool is not completely dark so algae cannot grow. Their top layers allow sunlight to pass through while the bottom layers of the sun rings trap the sun’s light energy to warm your pool.
You should not over-inflate the solar sun rings. Blowing them just a few times will get them up and working. The trapped air lets the solar sun rings insulate your pool easily to retain heat at night. The manufacturer warns against using the solar sun rings as a flotation device as they are not strong enough. The manufacturer of these solar sun rings offers a two-year defect-free guarantee. On the edges, this unit is fitted with a strong ring that keeps it in shape and ensures it is not blown off the pool by the wind.
The Thermo Spring solar mat is designed to heat the water in your pool fast, up to 75 degrees and later insulate the pool against heat loss. Each unit measures 65.5 inches long and 37.5 inches wide. This means that you only need a couple of them for large pools coverage.
The oval styling of these sun rings makes them attractive and their deep blue color with bubble patterns makes them more appealing. Each solar cover is made of a double layer that ensures its durability and enhances the weight of the solar cover to reduce instances of being blown away by the wind easily. To make them more functional, they are fitted with a ring on the edges that not only maintains their shape but also ensures the rings stay together to cover a large section of your pool surface.
The twist and fold spring technology used to create these rings make it easier for you to store them or carry them around. The units are easy to inflate as they only need to take in a small volume of air to function. When not in use, the twist-and-fold technology ensures they occupy the least possible space.
If you are looking for a solar cover or ring that fits into different shapes of pools, the SwimWays 17400 might be a good option. It sports an oval shape that allows you to stack many rings side by side to cover a large percentage of your pool. This way, you will have less evaporation, more insulation and less debris getting into your pool.
The two-layered solar cover is fitted with a sun-absorbing layer to convert up to 50 percent of the solar energy that hits it into heat. The unit is able to produce up to 21,000 BTUs of heat to keep your pool water warm.
Its twist-and-fold spring technology makes it easy to install, easy to remove and easy to store. When you are not using the rings, you only need to deflate them then twist and fold the unit to occupy less space in storage. The manufacturer advises that, for the solar cover to function optimally, it needs to cover between 70 and 80 percent of your pool’s outer surface.
Solar pool rings are great when you need a quick solution to heating your pool and keep debris off. You need to ensure that the rings are not too light to be blown off by the wind and they are not too heavy to sink and soak on water. Take your time when shopping and you will pick solar rings that meet your needs.
Our top recommendation, from the above review, is the Solar Sun Rings. The unit is designed lightweight enough for easy installation and easy removal but heavy enough to stay on your pool when the wind blows by. They are also designed to fit a wide range of pool sizes and shapes. If you need a pool cover that adds to the beauty of your outdoor living space, this solar cover sport an attractive design. On a day when the sun is hot, the solar sun rings can warm your water up to 75 degrees Celsius. They are also thick enough to insulate your pool for a long time.
Take your time shopping to pick the best pool rings.