Solar Cover

• Bubbled texture solar covers are made of a UV-resistant plastic material. The plastic is placed bubble-side down on the water and is used to naturally heat your swimming pool water. The cover creates a vapor barrier. The sun shines down and penetrates the cover which then traps that heats and uses it to heat the water. Pool owners can expect a gradual increase in temperature depending on how long the cover is kept on and exactly how warm the temperature is outside.
  
  

Time

• Place the cover on your pool during the daytime hours for it to be most effective. The solar cover, however, can be left on at night also which can help reduce the amount of evaporation that occurs naturally. Pool owners can experience as much as 2 inches of evaporation per week from their pools. The vapor barrier created with the cover also blocks evaporation. The cover can also block leaves and other debris from entering the water's surface.
  
  

Solar Reels

• Solar covers for large pool are difficult to place and remove from the water surface. Some pool owners opt for a solar reel, which makes the task quicker and less troublesome. When trying to place a solar cover bubble-side down onto the pool surface, not getting it dirty can be difficult. The solar reel, however, wraps the cover around a mechanism that extends the width of the pool. Pool owners can simply turn the reel crank to pull the cover on and off.
  
  

Removal

• The cover should always be removed under certain circumstances. Solar covers should be removed when you add chemicals to the water and when people are using the pool. Do not winterize a swimming pool with a solar cover. To make your cover last a long time, store it away for the winter after cleaning it. When the plastic begins to deteriorate and show signs of aging, such as cracking, brittleness or flaking, replace the cover.