| A swimming pool is a nice luxury for a home to | | | | blankets may be cut with a utility knife or shears |
| have. But let's face it, if you live in the north, the | | | | to custom fit your pool. They are available for |
| season you are able to use your pool is only | | | | both above ground and below ground pools. The |
| three, possibly four months long. A solar pool | | | | covers may be folded for storage, or you can |
| heater may be just the thing you need to extend | | | | purchase a reel which rolls the solar blanket for |
| the season a month or more. Solar heating can | | | | easy, neat storage. |
| be economical for heating swimming pools | | | | The other common system for heating pools is |
| because the heat source is basically free. The | | | | the solar collector. This system circulates the pool |
| cost of the solar heating system can vary due to | | | | water through a solar collector, where it is heated, |
| the type of heating system you choose. | | | | and then returns it to the pool. These systems |
| The most economical and simple solar heating | | | | are quite effective pool heaters. The solar |
| system for your pool is the solar pool blanket. | | | | collector is usually mounted on the home or |
| These blankets help warm your pool in thee | | | | another building close to the pool. The water is |
| important ways. Water molecules, when they | | | | usually diverted away from the filter system, fed |
| evaporate into the atmosphere, take heat with | | | | through the solar heat collector and then returned |
| them. So the first thing the pool blanket does is | | | | to the pool. |
| keep water from evaporating, thus cutting heat | | | | If you choose to go this route, make sure you |
| loss. The solar blanket also helps hold heat in by | | | | choose a reputable professional installer for your |
| cutting down on simple radiation loss. The blankets | | | | system. Solar collectors can be quite heavy and |
| are transparent, so the third thing they do is allow | | | | they expand and contract in changing outdoor |
| the suns rays to penetrate into the water, | | | | temperatures. Because of this, if not properly |
| carrying its heat with it warming the water. The | | | | installed, they can cause structural problems with |
| solar swimming pool covers also usually have | | | | the building it is located on, and can also ruin the |
| "bubbles" in them which perform two services for | | | | roof of the dwelling. |
| the blanket. First, they direct more sunlight into | | | | Solar heating for a swimming pool can be |
| the interior of the pool and they also give more | | | | economical and efficient. Whether you choose the |
| insulation value to the blanket. | | | | simple to install and use solar blanket or the more |
| The better quality solar pool covers consist of a | | | | complex solar collector, you will be using free solar |
| good UV resistant plastic which is also resistant to | | | | radiation and doing your part for the environment. |
| the harsh chemicals used in the pool. The solar | | | | |