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Best Color for Solar Pool Cover [Does It Have to Be Blue?]

Tim Carter
Written by Tim Carter Last Updated: November 6, 2022

A solar pool cover is a specialized type of pool cover that helps to heat the water in your pool by absorbing solar radiation. You can use it for a variety of reasons, such as aesthetics, to reduce evaporation, or keep the water in your swimming pool warmer for longer. The solar pool cover works by trapping solar energy in the form of heat, which then transfers to the water below.

Solar covers are available in a variety of colors, but the most effective ones are clear or blue. Clear solar covers allow solar radiation to pass through more easily, while blue solar covers reflect some of the sunlight away from the pool.

By reflecting sunlight, the solar pool cover helps to reduce evaporation and keep the water warmer for longer. As a result, a solar cover can be a great way to extend your swimming season and save money on heating costs.

The blue solar pool covers reflect sunlight, while the black solar pool covers absorb it.

The best solar pool cover for your needs will depend on the climate you live in and the amount of sun your pool gets.

In general, solar pool covers are a great way to reduce evaporation, keep your pool warm, and save money on your energy bill.

However, solar covers can be quite expensive, so it is important to weigh the pros and cons before making a purchase.

It can be used for a variety of reasons, such as aesthetics, to reduce evaporation, or simply because it’s what works for your swimming pools.

Let’s take a look at them.

Table of Contents

What Are the Pros and Benefits of Solar Pool Covers?

Solar pool covers are a great way to keep your pool warm and reduce evaporation.

Solar covers also help to reduce chemical loss. Chemicals are lost through evaporation, so by reducing evaporation you can reduce chemical loss.

In addition, solar covers help to prevent leaves and debris from entering the pool. This is especially important in the fall when leaves are falling from trees.

Finally, solar covers can extend your swimming season by a few weeks because they help to keep the pool warm.

Besides their many benefits, solar pool covers also increase the value of your home.

If you ever decide to sell your home, the fact that you have a solar cover for your pool will impress potential buyers. This is a great selling point that can help you get top dollar for your home.

Let’s sum up the five benefits of solar pool covers:

1. Solar pool covers help trap heat in the pool, making it warmer and more comfortable to swim in.
2. They also reduce evaporation, which can save you money on water and chemicals.
3. Solar pool covers help to block out UV rays, which can fade pool liners and damage pool equipment.
4. They also prevent leaves and other debris from falling into the pool, keeping it cleaner and reducing the need for maintenance.
5. Finally, solar pool covers can save you money on your energy bills and increase the value of your home.

With so many benefits, there’s no reason not to invest in one!

What Are the Cons of a Solar Pool Cover?

Solar pool covers are often touted as an energy-saving, eco-friendly way to heat your pool. And while they can certainly help you save money on your energy bill, solar covers also have a few downsides that you should be aware of.

First of all, solar covers can be quite heavy, making it difficult to take them on and off of your pool.

In addition, solar covers can cause your pool to keep heat, making it uncomfortably warm on hot days.

Finally, solar covers can also trap leaves and other debris, which can lead to stains and other problems.

Solar covers can reduce the circulation of water in your pool, which can lead to problems with algae growth.

If you decide to use a solar cover, be sure to weigh the pros and cons carefully before making a decision.

How Does a Solar Cover Work?

A solar pool cover is a great way to heat your pool and keep the water clean.

Solar covers work by trapping solar energy as heat within the cover material.

It then transfers this solar energy to the water, which raises the temperature of the pool.

In addition to solar pool covers, there are also solar blankets and solar rings.

All three types of solar covers work in basically the same way, but solar blankets are more efficient because they cover the entire surface of the pool.

Solar rings are less efficient because they only cover a small portion of the pool surface.

Is the Color of Your Pool Solar Cover Important?

It’s no secret that solar pool covers can help reduce evaporation and heat loss, but you may be wondering if the color of the cover actually makes a difference.

Solar pool covers are available in a variety of colors, from clear to blue to black. So, which color should you choose?

As it turns out, the color of your solar pool cover can impact its performance.

Clear covers are the most popular choice because they allow the sun’s rays to pass through and heat the water underneath.

Blue covers are also effective at trapping heat, but they can cause the water to become overly warm during peak summer months.

Black covers are the best option for absorbing heat, but they can make the water underneath quite hot.

Ultimately, the best color for your solar pool cover will depend on your climate and how you want to use your pool.

Solar Pool Covers in Clear

Clear solar pool covers allow more light energy to pass through the water.

Clear solar covers may absorb less heat than other colors because of the easier passage of light through the plastic.

However, clear solar covers provide more heat gain than colored solar covers.

Clear pool solar covers transfer most UV light directly into the water. This will reduce chlorine levels near the water’s surface, causing more frequent purchases of chlorine.

Solar Pool Covers in Light Blue

Compared to clear solar pool covers, light blue pool solar covers are more effective at retaining heat in the pool and effectively blocking UV rays, which saves pool water chemicals.

According to the United States Department of Energy, opaque pool solar covers block nearly twice as much pool-warming light energy as transparent covers.

Solar Pool Covers in Dark Blue

Dark blue pool solar covers are the most effective at retaining heat in your pool.

However, while a darker colored solar cover absorbs more heat, the net heat gained during the day is less than with clear covers.

As a result, a clear pool solar cover would be ideal for heat gain, while a dark blue solar cover would be ideal for heat retention.

Pool solar covers in light blue appear to be a happy medium between heat absorption and retention. It is also the most common color.

If you only use your pool solar cover at night, choose a darker color; if you only use it during the day, choose a transparent color.

Alternatively, for the best of both worlds, choose a standard light blue pool solar cover.

Is Pool Solar Cover Thickness Important?

Solar pool cover thickness is important because it insulates the pool and prevents evaporation.

Solar covers are made of different materials, such as polyethylene, which has different R-values. The higher the R-value, the more effective the solar cover is at insulating your pool.

In general, solar covers range in thickness from 8 to 20 millimeters.  The thicker the solar cover, the more heat it will retain, but it will also be more expensive.

Solar covers are available in a variety of colors, but clear covers are the most effective at absorbing solar radiation.

Be sure to buy a solar cover that is large enough to fit your pool, and that has a warranty in case it tears or fades.

A thinner solar cover will allow more heat to pass through to the water, while a thicker cover will absorb more heat.

Thicker covers are also more resistant to UV rays, water chemicals, punctures, and tearing.

16-millimeter and 20-millimeter solar covers are typically quite heavy and difficult to move on and off the pool.

Long solar covers can cause solar reels to sag in the middle or roll up too thick to fit on the pool’s edge.

12-millimeter covers are the most popular and are the ideal middle ground.

A solar blanket can last 5-7 years if it is protected from the sun when not in use and is not used when chlorine levels are high. Strong solar rays, ironically, will eventually destroy a solar cover.

Even with proper care, if your pool receives 8 hours of direct daily sun in the hotter parts of the country, you may only get 2-4 years of use.

Final Thoughts

The color of your pool solar cover matters more than you might think. Solar blankets are now available in a variety of colors, including light blue, dark blue, silver/grey, and translucent clear blankets.

What color is best for your pool?

Solar covers are available in clear, blue, and black.

Clear solar covers are the most popular because they allow solar heat to enter the pool while still providing a barrier against evaporation.

Blue solar covers are also popular because they reflect sunlight, which helps to keep the pool cooler.

Black solar covers are the least popular because they absorb solar heat, which can make the pool too hot.

Author

Tim Carter
Tim Carter

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