Does A Solar Pool Cover Work In The Shade

I have been able to heat my pool up to the high 90 s 97 98 f without much effort.

Does a solar pool cover work in the shade.

Ironically strong solar rays will eventually destroy a solar cover. Using a plastic cover alone can extend your swim season a couple of months on each end of the summer. Use of a pool cover also can help reduce the size of a solar pool heating system which can save money. In think they give you the most bang for your buck.

How they work swimming pools lose energy in a variety of ways but evaporation is by far the largest source of energy loss. When protected from sun when off the pool and not used when chlorine levels are high a solar blanket can last 5 7 years. In those cases a solar pool cover is way better than using nothing at all. A solar blanket solar rings or liquid solar cover are never going to keep your pool as warm as a gas or electric pool heater.

Solar panels will still work producing electricity even when they are partially shaded. Yes liquid solar covers actually work and quite well. If they are completely blocked by an object however then the solar panel will stop producing electricity. Solar heating works by harnessing the free energy from the sun to heat the solar collectors that contain your flowing pool water.

Though the numbers will vary depending on how much shade the panels are facing the general rule with clouds and shade is that solar panels will produce about half as much energy as they would with direct sunlight. Solar blankets will add heat to the pool to a greater or lesser degree depending on 1 amount of surface coverage and 2 amount of direct daily sunshine. For a pool that is completely covered by a solar blanket and one that gets at least 6 hours of direct sunlight on the pool a 10 15 degree f gain is not unusual. Be sure to cover your solar blanket when off the pool or place it safely in the shade.

While they don t attract the sun s heat to your pool water they help reduce water evaporation at night to keep the heat in your water. You can get one for around 0 30 a square foot so covering an average size pool costs about 130. I have had great success with them. Solar collectors rely on direct sunlight to optimise their heating potential so there are factors such as where your collectors are placed and if anything gets in the way such as shade.

Though the output will be reduce solar panels will still work in the shade just at less capacity due to lower sunlight exposure. But you may not need all the heat of a pool heater and you may not want the added cost. In my opinion solar pool covers are the most cost effective method for heating your pool.