Now that you’ve been pretty thoroughly informed about standard solar pool covers (see Parts 1, 2 & 3), there’s just one more topic we’re going to cover in this series: alternative solar pool covers. In our final article below, we’ll explore several different types of solar pool covers that differ from the conventional one-piece bubble covers we’ve focused on up to this point.
Pros and Cons of Solar Sun Rings
Solar sun rings are a great option for someone who wants some of the benefits of a one-piece solar pool cover but doesn’t want to deal with the hassle of moving an awkward, large cover around all the time. Solar sun rings are made of two layers of vinyl that are designed to repel UV rays and keep them from causing your pool water to evaporate. They also act (similar to one-piece solar covers) as a blanket for your pool, causing it to retain heat. You can purchase just the right number of rings to fit your pool. This option works especially well for people with custom built pools in unique shapes and sizes. The rings are lightweight, easy to store and stick to one another while in use by way of small internal magnets.
A downside to solar rings is that they do tend to sometimes leave tiny pockets of water that are either unprotected or not as well protected as they would be under the consistent cover of a single, large, one-piece bubble cover. Therefore, they may not prove to be quite as effective at doing the job as a conventional solar pool cover would be.
Pros & Cons of Liquid Solar Covers
If you want the ultimate in convenience, you could consider a liquid solar cover. This is a microscopically thin, undetectable layer of harmless chemicals which you add to your pool that serves as a protective barrier to prevent up to 40% of water evaporation. There are a variety of different brands on the market, and the amount you’ll need to purchase will vary depending on whether you have a small, medium, or large sized pool. Any pool shape, size, or type can be protected with a liquid solar cover. It’s a great option to consider if you’re not quite ready to go with a conventional solar cover or solar rings.
The drawback of a liquid solar cover is that it won’t be as effective overall as either of the other two options. With that being said, it’s much better than not putting any kind of cover on your pool. Another downside is that you’ll need to keep adding the liquid solar cover to your pool each month if you want it to be effective. However, since it’s so inexpensive and easy to add by simply pouring the liquid into the pool and letting it rise to the surface, this disadvantage isn’t really that big of a deal. It’s just one more small item to add to your pool’s regular maintenance checklist.
Conventional solar covers, solar rings, and liquid solar covers are a few of the ways you can conserve water and save on pool heating and chemical replacement costs. They’re definitely a good investment that will help to keep you and your pool guests warm and comfortable in the water throughout the swimming season. Hopefully, this informative series of articles has given you a helpful introduction to these smart, cost-cutting pool accessories.
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Lyon Financial
Since 1979 Lyon Financial has made the backyard resort dream come true for over 400,000 families across the U.S. Through our solid relationships with more than 3,000 pool contractors and our continued commitment to putting our clients first, we have built a reputation as the first choice in providing pool financing solutions. For more information, visit lyonfinancial.net or call (877) 754-5966 today.
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