Solar Pool Cover FAQ: Everything Cape Town Pool Owners Ask
This solar pool cover FAQ answers the questions Cape Town pool owners ask most often.
Quick answer: a solar pool cover heats your pool by up to 8°C, cuts evaporation by up to 95%, and typically lasts 1–2 years depending on the micron thickness you choose. Below, we cover cost, water savings, lifespan, safety, and more.
What Is a Solar Pool Cover?
A solar pool cover, also called a bubble cover or solar blanket, floats directly on your pool’s surface. It’s a UV-treated plastic sheet with thousands of small air bubbles that trap solar heat while slowing evaporation. Because it works passively, it needs no electricity.
How Much Does a Solar Pool Cover Cost?
Pricing mainly depends on three things: your pool’s size, the micron thickness you choose, and whether you need delivery or installation. Naturally, larger pools and thicker 600 micron covers cost more per square metre than smaller pools with standard 500 micron covers. So, the most accurate way to get a price is a quote based on your pool’s exact dimensions, rather than a general estimate.
How Much Water Does a Solar Pool Cover Save?
A solar pool cover reduces evaporation by up to 95% compared to an uncovered pool. Since evaporation is the biggest source of water loss in an outdoor pool, this also means fewer chemical top-ups and lower water bills.
How Much Warmer Does a Solar Pool Cover Make My Pool?
A solar pool cover can raise your pool’s temperature by up to 8°C, using solar heat alone. It works by trapping heat that would otherwise escape from the water’s surface overnight, so your pool holds onto more warmth by morning.
What’s the Difference Between a 500 and 600 Micron Cover?
A 500 micron cover costs less and comes with a 1-year warranty, while a 600 micron cover costs more but comes with a 2-year warranty. Both offer the same heat retention and evaporation benefits. In other words, the real difference comes down to lifespan and durability, not performance.
How Long Does a Solar Pool Cover Last?
A solar pool cover typically lasts 2 to 4 years with normal use, depending on the micron thickness you pick. A 500-micron cover carries a 1-year warranty, while a 600-micron cover carries a 2-year warranty. However, covers exposed to constant direct sun and left off a roll-up station tend to wear out faster.
Does a Solar Pool Cover Prevent Drowning?
No, it doesn’t. A solar pool cover floats on the water and can’t bear weight, so it won’t stop a child, pet, or adult from falling into the pool. Instead, drowning prevention requires a separate, dedicated safety cover. For the full breakdown, see our guide on bubble covers vs safety covers.
Is a Pool Cover Required by Law in Cape Town?
Yes, it is. The City of Cape Town’s Water By-law requires every swimming pool to be covered when not in use, specifically to reduce evaporation. This rule is permanent and applies at every water restriction level. Read our full breakdown of the pool cover law in Cape Town, or see the City of Cape Town’s own water regulations for the official source.
How Do I Measure My Pool for a Cover?
First, measure your pool’s length and width at its widest points. Then, send us these dimensions when you request a quote. Because covers are cut to your pool’s exact size, accurate measurements matter far more than your pool’s shape.
Can Wind Damage or Blow Away My Cover?
Yes, it can, if the cover isn’t properly secured. Cape Town’s summer south-easter is particularly likely to shift or lift a loose cover. Fortunately, grommets, straps, and a roll-up station all help keep a cover in place and reduce wear.
Do I Need a Roll-Up Station?
Not necessarily, but it makes covering and uncovering your pool far easier day to day. As a result, pool owners with a roll-up station tend to use their cover more consistently, which means they get more of the heating and water-saving benefit over time.
Get a Solar Pool Cover Cut to Your Pool
This solar pool cover FAQ should answer most of your questions, but if anything’s still unclear, get in touch. We supply solar bubble pool covers across Cape Town, cut to your exact pool dimensions. Choose same-day collection, courier delivery, or professional installation, whichever suits you best.
Request Your Free Pool Cover Quote →
We service the Northern Suburbs, Southern Suburbs, Atlantic Seaboard, West Coast, Helderberg District and the Western Cape.