Discount Above Ground Pool Heaters

Swimming pool covers are gaining widespread use with pool owners because they help to reduce the cost associated with heating the pool water. Although there are a different number of ways in which pools lose energy, evaporation accounts for the highest loss rate. The Department of Energy has estimated that evaporation accounts for 70% of the energy loss from an above ground pool. Each pound of water that evaporates results an approximate loss of 1,000 BTUs that could be used to heat the pool water. This is more than 8000 BTUs per gallon of water.

There are two types of pool covers that are most commonly used today. These are the vinyl cover solar the solar cover. Vinyl covers are made from thick plastic sheeting and generally have a long life. They are beneficial in that they prevent evaporation of the pool's water, but they do not add any heat to the pool from the sun's radiant energy. They will help retain the pool's heat, but the insulated vinyl covers will do a better job of heat retention than the single ply vinyl sheet covers.

On the other hand, solar covers both prevent evaporative heat loss and allow the radiant energy of the sun to pass through the cover and heat the pool. Solar covers resemble the bubble wrap that is used in packaging, but are made from a thicker plastic material and have additives to prevent degradation from the ultraviolet light of the sun. Outdoor swimming pools will generally collect 80% of the sun's energy that hits its surface, and a transparent solar cover will allow 90% of this energy through it.

Solar pool covers are estimated to heat the pools water by 10 to 15 degrees F. This will allow the above ground pool heater to use less energy to heat the water and will also bring the water temperature up to the desired level quicker since there is less of a temperature differential to overcome. By employing the use of a swimming pool cover to greatly reduce the pool's evaporative loss, fewer chemicals will need to be added to the pool. Consequently, this will minimize the increase in the pool water's hardness, calcium and total dissolved solids levels and will require less make-up water. This will help prevent scaling in the above ground pool heaters, pumps and filters.

During the swimming season, pool covers should be kept in place while the pool is not being used. When used during the daytime, it is best to remove the cover right before you swim in the pool and replace it as soon as you are done. However, during the warm and humid summer months, it may be more beneficial to leave the cover off since evaporation is minimized anyway. If this is the case, and your pool is located in a windy area, the installation of windbreaks in the form of bushes and shrubs will help further prevent evaporation loss.

Solar pool covers will save money and energy by requiring less heat input from above ground pool heaters, In addition, a solar pool cover will reduce the make-up water required by your pool, lessen the amount of pool chemicals that need to be added to maintain your water balance and reduce your cleaning time since it will help keep dirt and other foreign material out of the pool.

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