Liquid Solar Covers: Keep your pool warm on the cheap!

The cool months are here and you’re thinking of extending the swimming season for a few weeks but you don’t have the budget (or the time) to get a full-blown heating solution or a solar pool cover then there’s an affordable alternative for you! We’re talking about liquid solar pool covers!

Depending on the manufacturer, liquid solar pool covers are basically a blend of alcohol and a chemical (usually calcium hydroxide) that’s less dense than water. What happens is that this chemical blend will float to the surface, creating a chemical barrier that traps in the heat, protecting the water (and sometimes even raising it!) by a few degrees! This barrier is super thin, making it something that is invisible to the eye and it really doesn’t feel like anything.

The short answer? Yes. The long answer goes like this: Yes, numerous tests have been done not only by the manufacturers but by pool owners, stockists, and even pool professionals and the consensus is the same, that solar pool covers work.

• For heat retention - while not as effective as a bubble-type solar pool cover, liquid pool covers do provide a measure of heat retention and heat gain. While a couple of degrees doesn’t sound like much, it can be the difference between a chilly pool and a comfortable pool! Remember, for people, the difference between normal temperature and a fever is just 2-3 degrees Fahrenheit or under a degree celsius!
• Cost savings - This is a no-brainer actually, liquid solar pool covers are extremely cheap and your expense will be limited to the bottle that you purchase. There are no ongoing costs like electricity or otherwise. So if you’re looking for a bang-for-buck heating solution then liquid solar covers are it.
• Water conservation - Yep, it’s been tested that liquid solar pool covers prevent evaporation by almost the same amount that your regular solar pool covers do. You can all that to the savings column. Less water evaporation, more savings on chemicals and water usage! And since a 1L bottle is good for 4 months on a 50,000L pool, the savings alone from water evaporation is more than enough to pay for the liquid solar pool cover!
• Convenience and time cost - this is probably the most attractive factor when it comes to liquid solar pool covers. I mean, the only thing you have to do is to pour the bottle (or the required dosage). No more setting timers (for pool heaters) or rolling and unrolling pool covers. It just works! The Lo-Chlor Solar Shield that we have on our online shop only needs to be applied once a month!

Here’s the quick and easy guide on how a solar pool cover!

• Buy one from Mr Pool Man’s online store (shameless plug!)
• Shake the bottle to thoroughly mix the contents
• Apply as per instructions on the bottle.

That’s it! Were you expecting some long-winded explanation on how to apply or install a solar pool cover?

Yes, it is perfectly safe to use liquid solar pool covers! In small amounts, just like any other pool chemical, it is perfectly safe if accidentally ingested (just don’t drink mouthfuls of the stuff!) and yes, keep the bottle of the unused liquid solar pool cover out of reach of children.

Liquid solar pool covers are also designed to just pass through your filter elements so they won’t clog them up. Since the layer of chemical is super light and super thin, it mostly stays on the top of your pool while the water is getting filtered through your system.

You can also safely swim while the liquid pool cover is applied. It is chemically formulated to part or give way whenever someone is using the pool then once everyone is out and the water is once again still, the chemical layer comes together again to create the cover.

Here at Mr Pool Man, we often take a look at all sides and not just show the positives of something without fully informing our readers of the truth of certain products. Here are some situations where a solar pool cover wouldn’t be of much use.

• If you live in a “Leafy” area - if you live in an area where you have a leaf or debris problem, then liquid solar pool covers may not be a good idea as floating debris will break the surface “film” barrier that it creates.
• If you live in a windy area - Now take a look at your pool, if the wind is constantly creating ripples on the surface, then solar pool covers will not be a good fit for you. Ripples on the surface caused by the wind will break the layer created by the liquid solar pool cover.
• If your pool sees constant heavy use - If your pool sees heavy usage on a daily usage then a liquid solar pool cover may not be enough to keep your pool water warm. Of course, a solar pool cover won’t work in this case as well, but we figured it’s good to get it out there as well. Just note that the more the pool is being used, the quicker the need to reapply a liquid solar pool cover because of the loss from splashing, and the chemical is lost from people going in and out of the pool all the time.
• If you have a lot of water features - water features actively cool your pool water by exposing the water to the air and wind, plus the water movement created by the water features will break the surface film that the liquid solar blanket creates.

SEE ALSO: Are Winter Pool Covers an Essential?

Are liquid solar pool covers worth it? Absolutely! If you don’t have a full-fledged solar pool cover then for just a few dollars, you can warm up your pool on the cheap. If you have a pool heater then even better! Liquid solar pool covers can help keep that heat in your pool, essentially lowering your electricity consumption literally by hundreds, if not by thousands of dollars. So whether you don’t like the hassle of using a real solar pool cover or if you’re still saving up to get one (along with a pool cover roller we hope) then treating your pool with a liquid solar pool cover from Lo-Chlor is definitely a good idea.

P.S. As we mentioned earlier, there will be locations where liquid solar pool covers won’t be useful. We suggest getting a bottle first and trying it out and see if it works for your pool before stocking up!

Final Note: A liquid solar pool cover can never be as effective as a good solar pool cover like the ones from Daisy. But as a temporary solution, it is worlds apart from just a naked pool!