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#721160 - 07/09/12 11:50 AM Solar Rings
Steve_S Offline
journeyman

Registered: 04/27/10
Posts: 78
Loc: Central NJ
I searched the archives here and didn't find any feedback on these items. Searches show that solar covers tend to work, and that clear reflective are the best.
These are a little more affordable, and they are easier to take on/off, plus if someone falls in, they don't get wrapped around the large cover.

Although less expensive than a full cover, they are not cheap. Anyone have experience with them? My pool's average temp is about 75 deg, I'm only looking to increase about 5 degrees, but I'll take more if possible.

Some details: inground gunite pool, approx 25,000 gal, partial sun throughout the day, mostly shade.

Any advice/feedback is greatly appreciated.



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#721727 - 07/15/12 06:42 AM Re: Solar Rings [Re: Steve_S]
Marq Offline
Super Handyman

Registered: 10/08/01
Posts: 1776
Loc: Romeo, MI
My only experiance is with a spa we had that we used as a pool for the kids. I tried a couple of the "solar" covers and nothing worked. Most of the reading I came across tended to agree. I currently have a swim spa with 4" solid covers, this works great but only as a means to keep the heat that is pumped into the pool.

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#726198 - 08/31/12 03:07 PM Re: Solar Rings [Re: Steve_S]
Suenmark98 Offline
enthusiast

Registered: 04/04/02
Posts: 272
Loc: Houston TX
I had a 16 x 32 pool in northern VA, and used a full solar cover with a reel (essentially a large sheet of heavy duty bubble wrap). It worked great - got us from the low to mid 70's to a comfy low 80's. The biggest benefit seems to be that you don't lose all that heat overnight. They say there is also a savings in chemicals since the pool is covered most of the time. When it got old, brittle and torn, I bought the solar circles shown in your pictures. They did almost nothing, and frankly, were a pain in the butt. By the time I bought as many as I needed, I'd spent almost as much as a new solar cover. The magnets do not work, the circles fold over in a breeze and flop onto each other too, you get bugs and leaves on them and under them, a real nuisance all-around. You have to pull them off one by one and flop them somewhere before you can swim. I would not buy them again


Edited by Suenmark98 (08/31/12 03:40 PM)
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#726805 - 09/06/12 11:29 AM Re: Solar Rings [Re: Suenmark98]
Steve_S Offline
journeyman

Registered: 04/27/10
Posts: 78
Loc: Central NJ
Thanks for that reply. That is great info. I was starting to consider buying them just to see what would happen.
Did you have any heating equipment? Or did the old cover add 5 to 10 degrees alone?
Also, did you have a diving board? Not sure how I would work the cover and reel with a diving board.

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#727318 - 09/11/12 06:05 PM Re: Solar Rings [Re: Steve_S]
Suenmark98 Offline
enthusiast

Registered: 04/04/02
Posts: 272
Loc: Houston TX
I did not have a heater or a diving board. Yes, a reel isn't small!
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Mark

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