Solar Covers

• Solar covers are one of the easiest and most cost-effective ways to heat your swimming pool. The cover is placed on the surface of the pool water, and the heat generated form the sun's rays is trapped by the cover and used to heat the water. The only thing a pool owner has to do is purchase a cover and take it on and off whenever he uses the pool. The covers are usually precut to most common pool sizes. Occasionally the owner needs to trim a cover to make it fit properly.
  
  

Solar Cover Drawbacks

• The only drawback to a solar cover is that the owner doesn't have the capability to control how hot the pool gets. The cover is either on the pool or off; there's no temperature control as there is with an electric heater. Depending on how big the pool is, removing the cover every time someone wants to use the pool can be a hassle, especially for a single person. However, solar reels are sold that assist a pool owner with removing and placing the cover on the pool.
  
  

Solar and Electrical Heating Systems

• Solar or electrical heating systems are costly and one of the biggest deterrents to heating a pool because the system to heat your pool can cost just as much or maybe more than the pool itself. The benefit of an electrical heating system, however, is the ability to control the temperature and turn the heater on or off with the flick of a switch. The owner has no messy covers to roll up and remove every time he wants to step into the pool.
  
  

Selecting the Best

• Intex pools are above ground pools. Some are even inflatable-type pools. If you have an inflatable pool, the choice is probably a logical one. The solar cover is a more ideal solution because it costs less than $100, as of April 2011, for most pool sizes and serves its purpose with little overhead or investment. The electrical heating systems are more suited for an expensive in-ground pool that costs thousands of dollars to install. An investment into an in-ground pool usually means a homeowner has intentions of keeping it around for a long time; therefore an electrical or solar heating system is an investment that may be worth the money in the long run.