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Benefits And Types Of Solar Covers
http://www.poolwarehouseuk.com/
Solar Covers should not be overlooked when it comes to your essential pool equipment. Whilst a pool cannot function satisfactorily without a pump or a filter, it is possible to run your pool without a solar cover.However, the benefits of a cover far outweigh the cost of investing in one.
For pool managers environmental considerations are becoming increasingly relevant. In areas where the supply of water is struggling to meet an increasing demand this particularly true. In these areas the ever increasing cost of domestic water will easily justify the purchase of a cover.
Evaporation through the water surface is the greatest source of energy loss for swimming pools. The use of a solar cover will create a sealed barrier between the water and the air. This barrier will eliminate up to 98% of evaporation, which in turn can reduce expenditure on chemicals by up to 60%. Other benefits are the increase in water temperature, up to 8o C, the inhibition of algae growth and reduction of dirt and debris entering the pool.
Solar covers are made from a heavy duty "bubble wrap" type of material. The difference is that the solar cover material is a much thicker, heavy duty plastic, which contains special inhibitors to slow down the harsh effects of contact with U.V and Chlorine. An insulated layer is effectively created by the bubbles, which helps to prevent heat loss through evaporation, and the translucent nature of the fabric allows the suns rays to create a greenhouse effect, raising the water temperature.
To gain the maximum benefit from your bubble pool cover, it should be on the pool at all times other than when someone is swimming. Never swim underneath the cover. This is extremely dangerous. Use of the cover during the day will help to increase the water temperature, while at night any evaporation will be minimized. Most evaporation occurs at night, when the difference between water and air temperature is at its greatest.
Traditional solar covers are available in a range of weights from a relatively thin 200 micron material used for splasher pool covers, through a 400 micron to a top of the range 500 micron material. All of these weights are available in a range of colours from a plain blue to a blue top and a silver underside, black and clear. Covers with a silver underside are more effective at retaining heat in the water, as it is reflected back in to the water rather than lost to the air by convection.
A new type of fabric will be available in 2012. Produced by Plastipack after 5 years of thorough research, this fabric is Geobubble. Developed with the help of two leading Universities, Geobubble rectifies the weak points of a traditional bubble.
The new bubble shape that has been developed has only rounded edges. A traditional bubble has some sharp edges, and at these points the bubble is relatively thin and therefore prone to attack at this point. The new bubble has no thin points, with all edges rounded, and can therefore give at least an extra 25% longer lifetime. On the new Geobubble the bubbles are 50% thicker at the traditional bubbles weak points. The new Geobubble is available as a silverblue heat reflective Platinum+, and a clear SolGuard, which maximizes solar heat gain.
To see a full range of pool equipment, including solar covers and pool covers please see the website of specialist supplier poolwarehouseuk.com
Article submitted Saturday, January 14, 2012 & read 4 times.
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