thinking of getting my first solar cover

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abfab

Gold Supporter
Nov 12, 2012
199
Ontario, Canada
I would like a solar cover but know little about them other than some initial online research.

I have a kidney shaped pool which is about 16x30 including the walk in steps. It is angled in the corner of the backyard with narrow deck so I don't think there is enough room for a reel. I tried a liquid solar cover but didn't notice a difference. I need it for spring/fall to extend our (short Canadian) swim season as there is a significant temp difference day vs night. I would likely use it in summer too to reduce use of the heater as we like to have the temp at 88-90.

Can a solar cover this size be easily put on/taken off by one person (or with the help of young kids) without a reel?
Would this size require one piece or multiple pieces?
Does cutting the blanket into sections usually void the warranty? I couldn't find any info on this on the manufacturer's website.
Is it worth spending more on a thicker one? I am looking at a couple from two different retailers. One is 14 mil the other is 12mil. The latter is currently on sale so it's 25% cheaper. I could also go with cheaper/thinner ones (8/11mil) that won't last as long and don't retain as much heat.
Both thicker ones have a 6 year warranty. The thinner ones are 4. Can I expect the cover to last that long?

TIA!
 
I have a 16 mil cover from SolarCovers.com. I have had it on my pool in central Florida all winter. I bought a 16'x40' and cut it into two to cover my "L" shaped pool. It works great and it's easier to manage the two smaller pieces than on big cover. I recommend the thicker mil covers. They will last longer and retain heat better. I pay no attention to the warranty. They aren't very expensive anyway and the warranties usually only cover manufacturing defects.
 
Another view -- I get the 8 mil cheapest, lightest solar cover you can get. It lasts two years, being on the pool two months in the spring and two months in the fall. It starts out as 14'x28' and cut to fit our freeform pool. I cut it into three pieces and can easily handle it by myself. When not using it, I clean it, dry it, and roll it back up and put in the sleeve it arrived in (for the summer and winter months I do not use it). Store in our garage.
The thickness of the cover does nothing for heat retention. It is all about evaporation prevention.
 
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mknauss said:
Another view -- I get the 8 mil cheapest, lightest solar cover you can get. It lasts two years, being on the pool two months in the spring and two months in the fall. It starts out as 14'x28' and cut to fit our freeform pool. I cut it into three pieces and can easily handle it by myself. When not using it, I clean it, dry it, and roll it back up and put in the sleeve it arrived in (for the summer and winter months I do not use it). Store in our garage.
The thickness of the cover does nothing for heat retention. It is all about evaporation prevention.
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the websites have ratings for longevity, heat retention and heat production. are you saying I should ignore some or all of these ratings? the price difference between the cheapest/thinnest (blue) and most expensive/thickest (clear) is about 25%
 
abfab said:
are you saying I should ignore some or all of these ratings?
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Real life information - and posts here on this forum, say all that is bunk. Might it last a bit longer? Maybe. But the hassle of handling the heavier covers is significant.
abfab said:
cheapest/thinnest (blue) and most expensive/thickest (clear) is about 25%
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Surprising. The site I use it is $110 for the cheapest and $180 for the most expensive/heaviest. Color does not matter.
 
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mknauss said:
Real life information - and posts here on this forum, say all that is bunk. Might it last a bit longer? Maybe. But the hassle of handling the heavier covers is significant.

Surprising. The site I use it is $110 for the cheapest and $180 for the most expensive/heaviest. Color does not matter.
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Thanks for the insight. It's very helpful.
Unfortunately everything pool related tends to be more expensive in Canada! :(
 
abfab said:
Thanks for the insight. It's very helpful.
Unfortunately everything pool related tends to be more expensive in Canada! :(
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This is why we highly recommend Canada become the 51st State, LOL!! A quick annex and we eliminate a lot of extra paperwork when traveling, etc.
 
mknauss said:
Real life information - and posts here on this forum, say all that is bunk. Might it last a bit longer? Maybe. But the hassle of handling the heavier covers is significant.

Surprising. The site I use it is $110 for the cheapest and $180 for the most expensive/heaviest. Color does not matter.
Click to expand...
Would you be so kind as to share the site you use for your cover, please? Thanks.
 
The key to solar cover longevity is winter storage above freezing temperatures. Also, blue covers (the only ones I’ve tested) absorb all the UVB, UVA radiation which tends to lengthen the chlorine residence time. But this reduces cc oxidation and if you have a significant organic load from surrounding vegetation, you will have more variable chlorine demand and possibly more frequent algal events.
 

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I found the key to solar cover longevity is to keep it protected from the sun when not on the pool. In the winter, there is no issue since the solar cover is not on the pool and is stored in a shaded area.
 
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