How to Use a Solar Blanket for a Swimming Pool
Using a solar blanket on your pool can help extend the swimming season and enhance your pool experience. These blankets not only keep the pool water warm, they absorb heat from the sun and help heat the water as well. Solar blankets also reduce the amount of evaporation than can occur, while reducing the amount of leaves and other debris that can enter the pool. In turn, the protection they provide should help reduce the amount of chemicals needed to keep your pool clean and sanitized. Does this Spark an idea?
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Instructions
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Measure your pool to determine the correct blanket to purchase. Solar blankets or covers are available in different sizes and shapes, and can be trimmed to improve the fit. Prices vary according to size and quality of the blanket materials, so obtaining an accurate measurement can save you money.
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Unpack the blanket and unroll it onto the pool, with the bubbles facing the pool floor. Check the fit to see that there are no gaps that would allow heat to exit the pool.
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Leave the solar blanket on the pool no one is using it. The blanket will continue to heat the water as long as the sun is shining, and will help to keep the pool clean.
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Remove the cover to swim or when adding pool chemicals. Ideally, two people should work together by pulling the cover a section at a time and folding the sections accordion-style at the edge of the pool or on a deck. When removing the cover, avoid dragging it across anything sharp, as that will damage the material and shorten its lifespan. Many pool owners choose to invest in a solar reel to help with removing, moving and storing the blanket.
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Clean the blanket several times during the pool season with a soft brush and a cleaner recommended by the manufacturer. This will help prevent algae and other debris from blocking the sun exposure and reducing the blanket's effectiveness.
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Replace the blanket if it begins to break apart. Loose pieces of material can clog the skimmer or damage your pump and filter system. Since solar blankets vary in thickness and quality, you may wish to invest in one that will last through more than one season.
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Replace your blanket with a winter cover when you close the pool at the end of the season. Putting the blanket away clean and dry will prevent mildew damage from occurring during storage.
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Tips & Warnings
If you are using chlorine to sanitize the pool water, remove the solar blanket before shocking the pool. The higher levels of chlorine can damage the material and shorten its lifespan.
Do not try to swim with the blanket in the pool, even if it is only partially covering the water. It is possible to become trapped under the material and drown.
