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Solar Pool Cover
Home swimming pool owners will find that a Solar
Pool Cover can pay for itself in short order, as it not only heats the
pool, but also reduces evaporation from the pool and cuts chemical
treatment costs. It works by trapping heat from the sun and
transferring it to the pool during the day, and by insulating the pool
to retain that heat overnight. Plus, they are designed to float, so
placing and removing them is easy: no pesky ties or anchors!
There are three kinds of Pool Covers:
- bubble covers, which are actually close cousins
of bubble packing wrap, but of a much heavier construction and
UV-resistant
- vinyl covers, which last longer and can even
support substantial weight (you can walk across a properly secured
vinyl cover)
- insulated vinyl, which sandwiches a layer of
insulant between two layers of vinyl
These covers are proven to reduce water costs for
a pool by between one-third and one-half. While they do an excellent
job of conserving pool heat, they are not pool heaters, so they will
reduce the costs of running a swimming pool heater, but not replace
that device. Finally, the cover reduces chemical and cleaning costs by
helping to keep the water cleaner.
Costs naturally vary with the type of
pool
cover chosen, and the size of the pool. Bubble covers, for example, is
about $118 for a 16x32 pool. Vinyl pool covers can be much more
expensive, up to $600-700 for a similar-sized pool.
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