Did you know that swimming pool covers perform double duty - they keep your pool free of leaves and debris and help your pool retain heat.
Because swimming pools consume a lot of energy, it's important to be diligent with pool cover usage especially if you want to keep control of your electric bill.
In addition to saving money on your household budget, using a pool cover helps make you more environmentally responsible.
Swimming pools lose heat in myriad ways but the largest cause of energy loss is through evaporation and the process by which water evaporates is what uses the most energy.
To heat water by only one degree, it takes 1 BTU per pound of water - for each pound of water that evaporates, however, from an 80 degree Fahrenheit pool, you lose 1,048 BTUs of heat - and that really adds up! Pool covers help you save both energy and water by reducing the rate at which water evaporates.
By covering the pool when it's not in use, you significantly reduce the amount of energy required to keep the pool at a swim-friendly temperature.
With proper pool cover use you could save up to 50% on your heating bill (from the amount having a pool has added to your home's original electric usage).
There are many different styles of pool covers to choose from but if you want to go really low-tech, a large, thick plastic sheet can be used.
It's not the best option because it's not easy to put on, take off or store.
In a pinch you could use one but for the long term, it's not the best choice.
You can buy a cover off the internet, from most any pool supply store or your pool maintenance professional might even have access to them.
There are myriad styles, sizes and material available as well as options for retraction and storage of the cover.
Very popular for a variety of reasons are solar covers.
They are sometimes called bubble covers and are made of durable, high grade plastic and UV inhibitors.
If you have a pool cover and have had it for several years, it might be time to look into an upgrade as there have been many technology updates in recent years.
You can even purchase electric powered covers that open and close at the push of a button rather than the crank of a handle.
These covers glide across recessed tracks housed under the pool's coping.
They range in price from about $6,000-10,000.
Another option to consider is a safety cover.
They work the same way as the covers described above but are more expensive.
With a safety cover, you get a cover for the pool that can support the weight of people - something that could come in handy if a child walks out without proper supervision.
You can even purchase pool covers that operate on a timer system - they can cover and uncover the pool, and even turn on heating devices or pool jets or lights by a simple programming pattern.
Whichever way you decide to go, bottom line, pool covers save you money and are environmentally friendly.
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