Swimming Pool Covers
Posted by Norman Fong
Summer is coming. Swimming pools are major resource sinks. If you are gifted (or cursed) with a swimming pool or spa, a pool cover is an essential item. It helps improve the safety of the pool by preventing small kids from falling in and it helps reduce electrical, heating, and chemical costs.
Pool covers are not substitutes for fences. Every pool should be fenced and locked. Many localities including ours require a perimeter fence around the pool.
Some vendors claim up to 80% savings using a swimming pool cover. This is a little optimistic. You can measure how much water you lose every month by making marking the side of your pool’s tile. Refilling a pool with water costs a lot of money. Your water will also stay warmer with a pool cover.
A pool cover:
- Increases safety
- Reduces the use of chemicals – (Less evaporation and tree contamination)
- Reduces water consumption – (Less evaporation)
- Reduces power use – (Less pool sweep and pool pump operation time, less temperature loss)
In our own experience, it is a no brainer to get a cover for a pool, but they do cost thousands of dollars. The thermal blankets you can drape over the water’s surface do not provide the same level of performance as a vinyl pool cover.
The only downside is that you need to pump water off your pool cover a couple times a year. Look at all the gunk that we prevented from entering our pool!
Also consider getting a variable speed pool pumps to save even more money.
Don’t forget to get your pool heater checked and serviced. This will ensure it runs at 100% efficiency.
Save money on pool chemicals by using common grocery items. Pool Care
Filed under: Conservation, Effort, Energy, Environment, Home, Medium, Money, Reduce, Shopping, Water | Tags: Pool, Spa, Swimming Pool, Swimming Pool Cover
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8 Responses to “Swimming Pool Covers”
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March 30th, 2009 at 12:22 pm
There are a few things I wanted to add to this. I think it is wonderful that you are promoting pool covers; it is possible to save huge on energy and water bills! However, I want to make sure people understand the difference between solar covers and safety covers. Plastic solar covers DO NOT increase safety, and can in fact lead to entrapment issues. However, safety covers are created to ensure safety in pool environments. There is a big distinction though.
Also, there are many many pool covers out there that are relatively inexpensive. Liquid pool covers, for example, cost less that $1 a day for many pools. They are also a great solution for avoiding dangerous entrapment issues. I go more in depth on my blog, if you are interested: http://www.moniquenelson.wordpress.com
April 14th, 2009 at 11:40 am
I must agree with Monique in regard to the differnce between a safety cover and a solar cover. I would also like to point out another differnce. Most tension style safety covers, use of a spring attaching to an anchor in the surronding deck, are designed to be used during a pools closed season. Putting a tension safety cover on year round will cause the cover to wear from sun damage as well as ddamage from handling. The cover eill also take time to put on and off properly. A track driven cover will work well for daily use but they are not always suitable for a region with heavy winters.
October 28th, 2009 at 8:38 am
A swimming pool cover should be required with all pools. That is just how I feel.
May 5th, 2010 at 10:38 am
[...] Cover your pool with a vinyl cover, not a solar blanket. You’ll reduce the water evaporation, chemical usage, and lower the time you need to run the pool pump. Newer multiple speed pumps run longer but at slower speeds, reducing power use. Upgrade to one when your current one fails. Install a solar pool heater system, they work great. Share: [...]
May 5th, 2010 at 12:42 pm
[...] consider using a swimming pool cover to reduce the run time of your pool pump. [...]
June 4th, 2010 at 8:40 am
[...] consider using a swimming pool cover to reduce the run time. A variable speed pool pump also saves energy. [...]
June 4th, 2010 at 8:44 am
[...] this Website with more details. It is best to install a system along with a Variable speed Pool pumps at the same time. [...]
April 10th, 2012 at 11:42 pm
Pool covers are ideal for protecting the pool when it is not used for long periods, or for preventing access from unauthorized people, young children or pets. At the same time, they help maintain the temperature of the water, extending your fun time in the pool. Plus, they keep the pool clean from leaves and debris and they reduce water and electricity bills and the costs for disinfectants.
In short, you make a worthwhile purchase.