5 Things to Know About Solar Pool Covers

Choose an opaque cover over a clear one Opaque covers reflect heat back into the water at night, while clear covers lose that heat faster by radiating it upward.

Go with at least 12 mil thickness, ideally 16 mil Thicker covers insulate better and resist tearing. The 16 mil option is worth it for larger pools or cool climates.

The bubble texture is what traps heat The air pockets in the bubble layer provide the actual insulation, not the plastic itself.

Buy a reel or the cover is useless Taking a wet, heavy cover off by hand gets old fast. A reel turns it into a 15-second job.

Ignore brand names and focus on specs Look for the mil rating and “opaque” or “dark blue” on the label. Cheap thin clear covers only keep leaves out, not heat in.