Swimming Pool Solar Blankets

With the arrival of warmer weather comes anticipation of the upcoming outdoor swimming season. Pool owners of all ages and in all parts of the country look forward to taking that first dip. However, heating a swimming pool to a comfortable level takes time and energy, often postponing the season's first swim longer than most pool owners would like. Fortunately, simply by using a solar pool blanket, you can open your pool earlier in the season. Not only that, swimming pool solar blankets also save significant amounts of money on pool heating. Offering such outstanding benefits, solar pool covers are an excellent addition to any outdoor swimming pool.

As their name suggests, solar pool blankets use the sun's rays to heat swimming pool water. These pool blankets also act as insulators, preventing heat that is already in the water from escaping. As a result, swimming pool solar blankets both heat and maintain the temperature of pool water. In fact, solar swimming pool covers can raise the temperature of pool water by 10 to 15 degrees. This is why these insulating blankets allow for earlier pool openings and also extend the swimming season at the end of the summer.

Swimming pool solar blankets are made of plastic and are covered with air bubbles, giving them an appearance similar to that of bubble wrap. Sunlight is able to pass through these thermal sheets, causing the pool water to heat up. However, the air bubbles along with the thickness of the blanket's plastic create an insulating effect, trapping the heat in the water and preventing the warmth from escaping back out into the air. These insulating properties also greatly reduce the evaporation of water and chemicals from swimming pools. Since evaporation is a major cause of heat loss from swimming pools, solar pool blankets can make a significant difference with regards to heat retention.

Naturally, since solar pool covers are so effective at gathering and retaining heat in the water, they allow pool owners to enjoy significant savings with respect to heating and maintenance costs. Since swimming pool solar blankets can increase pool temperatures by up to 10 to 15 degrees, comfortable water temperatures can be maintained without running pool heaters nearly as often. In fact, a quality solar pool blanket can lower heating costs for gas and electric heaters by as much as 70 percent. Also, since these pool blankets prevent the evaporation of chemicals from the water, it's easier to maintain stable chemical concentrations for a healthy and sanitary swimming environment. When pool heaters are run less frequently and smaller amounts of chemicals are required to keep the water safe, money savings are sure to follow.

With a variety of different types of solar pool blankets available on the market, these covers can be used for swimming pools of all different types, shapes and sizes. As a leading direct source of quality pool supplies, Intheswim.com offers several types of solar pool covers, including above ground pool solar blankets and in-ground solar pool blankets. For kidney-shaped swimming pools or pools with unusual configurations, solar covers can simply be trimmed with scissors in order to fit a particular pool exactly. By making sure that the blanket fits snugly against the pool walls, heat retention will be optimized.

Amongst Intheswim.com's selection of above ground pool solar blankets and in-ground solar pool blankets, different classes of these covers are available. From the Standard series to the Diamond series, all solar pool blankets available from Intheswim.com are made from high-quality material and provide excellent heating and insulation. The diamond series blankets also feature additional thickness for increased durability and enhanced heat transfer. Moreover, with a unique hexagon design of the air bubbles, the space between air pockets is reduced, further increasing the blanket's ability to transfer and retain heat.

No matter what type of solar cover pool owners choose to purchase, it's important to lay the blanket out for a few days prior to trimming it to the desired shape and size. This will provide time for any folds to smooth out and for the cover to shrink or expand from exposure to sunlight. Once the pool blanket is ready for use, it should be placed over the water with the smooth side up. This way, the surface area for transference of heat from the sun is maximized and the air bubbles will provide a layer of insulation over the water.

While solar swimming pool covers offer so many incredible benefits, they are also affordable. With low prices and fast, free shipping from Intheswim.com, pool owners can start enjoying great savings and longer swimming seasons right away. So for earlier pool openings, longer swimming seasons and significant savings on heating costs, consider taking the plunge and purchasing a solar blanket for your in-ground or above ground swimming pool.

James Claypool is experienced specialist in pool supplies including swimming pool solar blankets. He explains how solar pool blankets can be used to save money on pool heating. A quality solar pool blanket can lower heating costs for gas and electric heaters by as much as 70 percent. http://www.intheswim.com