Solar blankets / covers: blue vs. aluminized silver back vs. black vs. clear
For years I have used a semi clear blue solar blanket on my 16x32 in-ground pool.
I usually take the cover off in the morning and put it back on when the sun goes down. My theory is that this allows the pool liner/etc to absorb sun rays during the day and retain radiant heat during the night. On cloudy days I leave the blanket on all day.
My current blue 12 ml blanket needs to be replaced and there are more options now than when I bought my last on 7 years ago. I plan on using my new blanket in the same way. Although I occasionally leave the blanket on all day if I don’t have time in the morning to remove it.
This website http://www.poolsupplies.com/covers/solar-covers.asp has five kinds available. I wrote my ideas after each one:
- Standard Blue Covers: would not let in much sun light during the day if left on, but maybe more than a sliver backed liner below.
- Blue/Silver(aluminized back) Covers: I think these may retain heat better at night, but if you happen to leave it on the pool on a sunny day will as much sun get into to pool and heat it?
- Transparent Black Covers; transparent black seems like conflicting terms, but will much sun get into the pool during the day? Will the fact that its black make the blanket itself absorb more sun heat and thus heat the top inch or so of water?
- Clear Covers: seems like this would allow more sun light to enter pool and heat liner in its left on during the day. I think clear would retain radiant heat just as well as a blue cove during the night, right?
- Diamond Covers: seems like bubbles being closer together would provide more insulation power.
On a sunny day which would heat a pool more of these 6 options:
1. Leaving the blanket off
2. Standard Blue Covers
3. Blue / Silver (aluminized) Covers
4. Transparent Black Covers
5. Clear Covers
6. Clear Diamond Covers
And out the above options which would retain heat better at night if any.
Can anyone share their thoughts, experiences and which type work best for you? Some people left bad review at InTheSwin for the silver backed blankets, but I am not sure if this might have been their first solar blanket and their expectations were too high, as other said they liked the sliver backed blankets.
For years I have used a semi clear blue solar blanket on my 16x32 in-ground pool.
I usually take the cover off in the morning and put it back on when the sun goes down. My theory is that this allows the pool liner/etc to absorb sun rays during the day and retain radiant heat during the night. On cloudy days I leave the blanket on all day.
My current blue 12 ml blanket needs to be replaced and there are more options now than when I bought my last on 7 years ago. I plan on using my new blanket in the same way. Although I occasionally leave the blanket on all day if I don’t have time in the morning to remove it.
This website http://www.poolsupplies.com/covers/solar-covers.asp has five kinds available. I wrote my ideas after each one:
- Standard Blue Covers: would not let in much sun light during the day if left on, but maybe more than a sliver backed liner below.
- Blue/Silver(aluminized back) Covers: I think these may retain heat better at night, but if you happen to leave it on the pool on a sunny day will as much sun get into to pool and heat it?
- Transparent Black Covers; transparent black seems like conflicting terms, but will much sun get into the pool during the day? Will the fact that its black make the blanket itself absorb more sun heat and thus heat the top inch or so of water?
- Clear Covers: seems like this would allow more sun light to enter pool and heat liner in its left on during the day. I think clear would retain radiant heat just as well as a blue cove during the night, right?
- Diamond Covers: seems like bubbles being closer together would provide more insulation power.
On a sunny day which would heat a pool more of these 6 options:
1. Leaving the blanket off
2. Standard Blue Covers
3. Blue / Silver (aluminized) Covers
4. Transparent Black Covers
5. Clear Covers
6. Clear Diamond Covers
And out the above options which would retain heat better at night if any.
Can anyone share their thoughts, experiences and which type work best for you? Some people left bad review at InTheSwin for the silver backed blankets, but I am not sure if this might have been their first solar blanket and their expectations were too high, as other said they liked the sliver backed blankets.
