Tips to Extend Your Swimming Season

Today is the first day of autumn, which, for many, starts to signal the end of swimming season. However, the change in seasons doesn’t necessarily mean that your days of splashing around in the pool are over until spring.

Here are a few different ways that you can extend your time in the pool this fall:

1. Heat Pump

Heat pumps use the surrounding air to heat your pool. While the upfront cost for a heat pump may be higher than other options, you will end up saving money in the long run. Because heat pumps transfer existing heat, rather than generate it, they have a low operating cost and are energy efficient. It’s important to remember, however, that most heat pumps will not operate in temperatures below 50 degrees Fahrenheit.

2. Gas Heater

Gas heaters use either natural gas or propane to heat water before it enters your pool. A gas heater is considered to be one of the most effective ways to quickly heat the water in your pool and it is convenient to use. The downside to a gas heater is that it is one of the least cost-effective options to run.

3. Solar Blanket

You can use a solar blanket to cover your pool, which traps in any heat that has already been generated and helps prevent evaporation. Additionally, solar blankets also harvest heat from the sun to keep your water warm. This is a cost-effective option since there are no operating costs beyond the initial purchase price. Keep in mind that it can be a bit of a hassle to remove a solar blanket, but you can purchase a solar blanket reel to make this easier.

4. Solar Rings

One alternative to a solar blanket is solar rings, which are rings, linked together by magnets, that harvest the sun’s rays to heat your pool and trap in the warmth. While they may not be quite as efficient as a solar blanket, these rings do offer many of the same benefits, without the hassle of the blanket removal, since they are considerably smaller.

5. Liquid Solar Blanket

Another alternative to a traditional solar blanket is a liquid version, which, when added to your pool water, creates an invisible liquid cover over the top of the pool, reducing evaporation, generating heat from the sun and locking in the water’s heat. The liquid is safe to swim in and is much easier to use than a regular solar blanket.

6. Solar Heater

While solar blankets can help heat your pool only when it’s covered, a solar heater works any time the system is running, meaning that you can reap the benefits of it while the pool is in use. Solar heaters use the heat from the sun to warm your water and are an energy efficient and environmentally friendly option for heating your pool.

Call Rising Sun Pools at 919-851-9700 for more information about how to extend your swimming season this fall.