Owning a pool cover (solar blanket) is an option that can help salt water pool owners in several key ways. In general terms, it helps to keep pool water warm, reduce evaporation and keep leaves and debris out.
There are some other benefits too. If you don’t own a pool cover, check out my article on the subject here to decide if one makes sense for you.
Pool owners can also purchase a pool cover roller to use in conjunction with the solar blanket. The question is whether or not you should buy a roller. It’s an added expense that also takes up space in your yard or by your pool.
And if you do buy one, which style should you get? There is more than one to choose from!
Below we’ll take a closer look at solar blanket options and whether or not you should consider a pool cover roller
When buying a pool cover roller makes sense
A pool cover roller makes sense if your backyard and pool layout allows for it otherwise it may get left on the side of the house unused if there is no room. A roller makes pool cover usage easier and quicker and can also protect it from damage by improper handling.
If you have a large backyard with space around the pool, you can often situate the roller at one end of the pool for ease of use.
A roller works perfectly for a rectangular or square-shaped pool but can also work for other pool designs including odd shapes.
A pool cover roller also makes sense for health and logistical reasons. They can generally be operated with 1 person although 2 people might make it easier for some people.
But since solar blankets are heavy, if you have trouble lifting and carrying it, a roller can help to lessen the work involved with taking the cover on and off the pool. Taking a pool cover off and putting it on the pool are generally two-person jobs if you’re doing it manually. Some people can do it on their own but it’ll take extra time and effort.
Finally, a roller can help to protect the cover itself. The roller compactly stores the cover when it’s not in use. Without a roller, you’d have to manually fold up and store the cover. This may increase the chance it gets dirty and damaged every time it touches or gets dragged on the ground.
When buying a pool cover roller doesn’t make sense
If you have little room in your backyard or specifically around the pool, a pool cover roller may be difficult to situate without it getting in the way. A roller will be at least slightly wider than the width of your pool and thus, it does take up space!
Your pool design may also limit the addition of a pool cover roller. You generally place a pool cover roller on one of the short ends of the pool and roll it out along the long length of the pool.
Your pool or backyard design may also dictate where you can put the roller i.e. a diving board, waterfall, garden or slide on one side of the pool will limit and maybe even eliminate all options.
In these cases, you may end up having to carry the entire roller over to place the cover on the pool and then carry the roller away again when the pool is in use. Will you do this each time?
Or like many pool owners in this situation, will you simply give up and leave the roller on the side of your house like one of my neighbors did?
Can you use a pool cover without a roller?
You can certainly use a solar pool cover without a roller. I’ve done it personally so I have an idea what is involved and shared some thoughts on this subject on a related post. I cut mine into two pieces to make it easier to carry and am able to do it myself but it does take a few minutes.
And while I haven’t damaged the cover, it does get dirty when transporting it despite my best efforts.
Solar blankets are heavy and bulky and this gets more obvious as the pool gets larger and your cover does too.
In my case, I really don’t have a place to put a roller permanently given my pool design (reverse waterfall design) with all four sides of the pool unable to support the addition of a roller:
One end of the pool has a walk in staircase and the opposite end has a diving board.
One long end of the pool has a large water feature and the opposite side of the pool has a brick path only wide enough for walking. A garden surrounds the pool, further limiting my options.
I simply can’t put a roller in the backyard so I didn’t buy one.
What style of pool cover roller is best?
If you’ve decided to buy a pool cover roller, you have a few things you need to consider before buying. When you choose a pool cover roller, there are several main features to think about:
Wheels or no wheels – A unit with wheels makes it easier to roll away from the pool if needed. If it’s going to be stationary at one end of your pool, you might not need a roller with wheels. If your chosen model has a metal base instead of wheels, ensure it’s sturdy and not cheap. It needs to hold the significant weight of the cover.
Pool style and shape – You can buy rollers for both above ground and inground pools so choose the correct one. Also consider the shape of your pool. While a rectangular pool is easiest to work with, other shapes can be workable too but the funkier your pool shape the more customization you might need to do, certainly with the pool cover itself.
Pool cover length – The longer your pool, the longer and heavier your pool cover. You need to buy a roller that can safely hold the pool cover’s weight.
Pool cover thickness – Solar blanket covers are generally sold at 8 mm, 12 mm and 16 mm in thickness. The thicker your solar cover the more the reel will need to hold. This also impacts the weight of the cover. This goes back to our last point about the roller you buy needing to safely support the full weight of the cover you use.
Summary
A pool cover roller is a good addition if your pool design and backyard space allows for it. Some pool owners have the ability to place a roller at one of the pool whereas others simply don’t have the space.
You can also opt to manually pull your cover on and off the pool as needed if you can’t find the space of simply don’t want to spend the money to buy one.
And while a pool cover is the lower cost option to keep the pool temperature at a good level while also offering other benefits, you may also look at a more permanent and automated option with an automatic pool cover instead. They are generally compatible with salt water pools but check with each model you look at to be safe.
They aren’t cheap however. Automatic pool covers can be expensive to buy, maintain and replace but they are a more permanent option and do offer other benefits over regular manual covers.