My new inground pool has been up and running for a month now, but I haven't even opened my solar blanket until last night. I'm in Michigan, and it's getting into the 40's at night, so I figure it's time to keep the heat and water in. We do not like the looks of having a reel out on the pool deck so we opted out of that, but I don't want the hassle of the blanket prevent me from using in when I should be -- Is there anything that will make putting on and taking off and getting to my barn an easy chore? At this point I'm thinking we fold it up, bungee strap it to hold it together, and put it store it in our pole barn when it's not in use. Is there anything super slick out there that I should purchase like a reel with wheels? My pool is an L-shape, main rectangle is 18x43 and with an extra 10x18 on the shallow end.
Solar Blanket Without Reel Tips and Tricks?
- Thread starter spfulfill
- Start date
tucsontico
LifeTime Supporter
Have a look at this product. Solar Pool Cover SOLAR ROLLER ® for Kidney Pools - Solarfactory.com No matter how you do it, removing and replacing a solar cover is not easy with a larger pool. I am very happy with my Presto reel as I can easily wheel it off the pool deck and hide it behind a nearby hedge.
spfulfill:
Please add your signature for future reference. Personally, I would suggest you cut the solar blanket into 3 pieces. One being 10' * 18'. The other being 18' by 22' and 18' by 22'. You may want to overlap about 1' when placing on the pool. What I use is a 1" 10' schedule 30 PVC pipe. Roll up and put away. As you are rolling, you have to go and pull the cover on both sides not to wrinkle it. A few people will help, but can be done with one person. If you have room, you can pull back about 8-10 feet and then roll.
I pull mine on the red stones and carefully roll up. No stones get on the cover usually. If they do, I quickly knock them off. A couple of items. Each day, remove or pull back slightly the cover so the pool can breathe for a few hours. At night, always use the cover. Keep an eye on PH as I find after 2-3 days my PH drops.
My cover is in 2 large pieces and a real small pieces for the steps. Every time this cover is on the pool, I think about how the 2 can become 4. Personally, I use mine to speed up the heating process of the heat pump (which I just had installed) and this makes quite a difference.
Please add your signature for future reference. Personally, I would suggest you cut the solar blanket into 3 pieces. One being 10' * 18'. The other being 18' by 22' and 18' by 22'. You may want to overlap about 1' when placing on the pool. What I use is a 1" 10' schedule 30 PVC pipe. Roll up and put away. As you are rolling, you have to go and pull the cover on both sides not to wrinkle it. A few people will help, but can be done with one person. If you have room, you can pull back about 8-10 feet and then roll.
I pull mine on the red stones and carefully roll up. No stones get on the cover usually. If they do, I quickly knock them off. A couple of items. Each day, remove or pull back slightly the cover so the pool can breathe for a few hours. At night, always use the cover. Keep an eye on PH as I find after 2-3 days my PH drops.
My cover is in 2 large pieces and a real small pieces for the steps. Every time this cover is on the pool, I think about how the 2 can become 4. Personally, I use mine to speed up the heating process of the heat pump (which I just had installed) and this makes quite a difference.
We have an 18 x 36 kidney with an extra bump. Our SOP is to pull the cover onto the pool deck and fold like an accordion. This allows us to simply pull the cover back over the pool surface and unfold itself as we pull.
Absent a roller, this seems to be the thing that works best for us.
18000 IG, SWG, 1/2 HP Tri Star + Solar PV direct DC Lorentz pump, Sand filtrt
Absent a roller, this seems to be the thing that works best for us.
18000 IG, SWG, 1/2 HP Tri Star + Solar PV direct DC Lorentz pump, Sand filtrt
A lot of good ideas, thanks. For the 2 times I've done this now, we've done the accordion fold and rolled it up. Not terrible, but seems like a 2 person job, and I still don't have anything (like a strap to hold it together). Any tips for holding it together, transporting, and storing in the barn if I just stick with the accordion and roll technique for now?
If you use PVC, this could help you lift and hang in the barn. Please add your signature.
I cut mine in half so, it is now two 18ish x 20ish covers. We drag it the end and fold it into a 4 foot wide section and then roll it up. It is easy enough to carry it to the pool hut. And it stands up on its own pretty well leaned up against something. Be sure to buy a thin, 8 mil, cover to make it easier to handle.