| A solar blanket pool cover looks like very thick | | | | conductors of heat from the sun's rays and for |
| bubble wrap in appearance. Good quality solar | | | | this reason, they should not be exposed to the |
| blankets are made to last and there is very little | | | | sun unprotected for a prolonged period when |
| that can go wrong with them. However there are | | | | they are not on the surface of the water. |
| a few things that should be done to make sure | | | | If this does happen, the cover runs the risk of |
| you get the maximum life from your pool cover. | | | | burning itself, which will shorten its life. Fortunately |
| Always keep pool water chlorine levels within an | | | | the remedy for this situation is also simple. If the |
| acceptable range | | | | solar blanket is fitted to a pool cover roller, that |
| While very little can go wrong with a solar blanket, | | | | roller will almost certainly have been supplied along |
| one situation that will shorten its life is excessive | | | | with a pool blanket "sun over cover". This is laid |
| chlorine levels in the pool water. When this | | | | over the pool cover when it is rolled onto the |
| happens for a prolonged period of time, it brings | | | | roller and will protect it from the sun. |
| about a condition where the bubbles on the | | | | If the pool cover is not fitted to a roller, the |
| blanket go milky white in colour and become | | | | cover should just be stored out of the direct sun |
| brittle and flaky and its useful life effectively | | | | light when it is not on the pool. Both of these two |
| comes to an end. | | | | actions will avoid the pool cover burning itself |
| Avoiding this condition is extremely easy and will | | | | when not on the pool. |
| automatically happen if you follow a normal | | | | So the steps to take to prolong the life of your |
| swimming pool maintenance routine. Generally | | | | new pool cover are as simple as 1,2,3, they are: |
| speaking, most pool maintenance professionals | | | | 1. Have your pool water tested by your pool |
| advise pool owners to have their pool water | | | | maintenance professional in the first week after |
| tested regularly, approximately every four to six | | | | the pool cover is fitted. |
| weeks. By doing this, and with the correct advice | | | | 2. Continue to have the pool water tested on a |
| that follows this testing, the owner can maintain | | | | regular basis, approximately every four to six |
| the correct concentration of chlorine in the water | | | | weeks as part of your general swimming pool |
| by simply keeping the pool in balance. | | | | maintenance routine. Doing this will provide you |
| Due to the fact that a solar blanket will slow | | | | with a timely alert if the pool water is becoming |
| down the chemical loss that a pool experiences | | | | "over chlorinated". |
| through evaporation, it is further recommended | | | | 3. When the cover is not on the pool water, the |
| that after a solar blanket is fitted, the first water | | | | cover needs to be protected from the direct sun |
| testing should be within about a week of the | | | | because of its ability to generate heat which may |
| blanket's installation. By doing this together with | | | | result in the cover burning itself. Use the pool roller |
| the normal regular water testing the problem of | | | | over cover as protection or store the pool cover |
| too much chlorine attacking the solar blanket will | | | | out of the direct sun light. |
| be removed. | | | | By following these three simple steps, you can |
| Always fit a sun cover when your solar blanket is | | | | expect to have your solar blanket pool cover last |
| not in place on the water | | | | its maximum expected life. |
| Solar blanket pool covers are particularly good | | | | |