Thermal Covers & Rollers
A Solar Blanket or Thermal Cover will both significantly reduce evaporation, condensation and chemical costs. If deployed during the day in the warmer months on an outdoor pool, the Solar Blanket will also provide free heating from the sun. In comparison, the Thermal Cover is a non-heating cover but has a 30% higher insulation rating. The Thermal Cover will retain heat, but will not collect heat.
Solar & Thermal covers are for warming the pool and are not intended to keep the pool clean. If leaves and debris are your concern, please see our Leaf & Debris Cover or Winter Shutdown Cover.
A thermal cover will always be the best choice for an indoor pool. Because solar collection on an indoor pool is not possible, heat retention is the key factor.
Daisy ThermoTech Thermal Foam Cover Specifications:-
- Foam Material Thickness 4.5mm
- Opaque to minimise algae growth
- Thermal resistance (R-value) 0.13 m2/Kw – 30% better retention than Daisy Ultradome and equal to the Elite 5mm Thermal Shield, without the unnecessary extra bulk.
- Warranty period 8 years pro-rata for household pools / 5 years commercial
- Choice of three colours
- Weight 585 g/m2
With an outdoor pool, your cover choice will depend upon the time of year and the time of day that the pool will be covered. For instance, an outdoor hotel guest pool will be open for guest use during the day and will only be covered overnight. In this case, the Thermal Cover with the higher insulation rating will be the best choice to prevent heat loss to the cool night air.
However, for most households, the pool will be covered during the day, except when swimming. This means that in the warmer months, the solar collection capability of the Solar Blanket will far outweigh the extra insulation benefit of the thermal cover. In short, a Solar Blanket will generally provide a much greater benefit for a household pool than a thermal foam cover. A Solar Blanket is also much cheaper, lighter weight and easier to handle than a Thermal Foam cover.
Winter Outdoor Pool Heating
If you are wanting to heat an outdoor pool in winter, the Daisy Thermotech Cover has a 30% higher insulation rating than the Solar Blanket Ultradome Bubble material (0.13 m2/Kw Vs 0.10 m2/Kw). Additionally, there is no appreciable solar collection capability on an outdoor pool during the winter months. That is, if the pool pavement is not warm to touch, then there is no solar collection benefit.
To retain heat in your outdoor pool during winter, the 4.5mm Thermotech Foam Cover will be your best choice.
Durability
Daisy is the largest wholesaler of Thermal Blankets in Australia and offers a fully Australian manufactured, quality cover. Thermal covers have an 8 year, pro rata, warranty.
Installation
A Thermal Blanket is a relatively easy DIY task and many customers choose to save money by installing the cover themselves. The cover is supplied as an oversize rectangle or other basic shape. To install, simply lay it over the pool and cut to shape with a pair of scissors using the pool edge as a guide. Sharp scissors will easily glide through the material. The roller is then assembled and attached to the cover. Please see our self-installation video below. Instructions for obtaining the correct pool measurements are also provided at the bottom of this page.
We provide a full measure and installation service option within our service areas.
The Daisy Under Bench Seat Hidden Solar Roller combines practicality and style to transform your pool roller into useful seating. Simple yet stylish, the UBR is not just a roller, but a practical addition to your poolside furniture. Available in aluminium or a choice of wood look finishes, this roller will look stunning on your pool deck. Be sure to ask us to quote the UBR option when making your enquiry.
Roller Selection
A roller will need to span one end of your pool to ensure that the solar cover is quick and easy to remove and replace.
If you are unsure of which roller to buy, we recommend the Daisy ST (stationary) Roller as the universal choice, because it is the sturdy, stable and easy to use. The Daisy FM (fully mobile) Roller is also an option if you prefer the portability of the caster wheels, however, a stationary roller will generally be the best choice because it is more stable.
A stationary roller can easily be moved a short distance by picking up and “swinging” each end back from the pool. Except on a really large pool, the roller/cover combination will not be heavy when handled in this manner and the task can be quickly and easily achieved by one person.
Prefer the roller out of sight? See our Under Bench Roller option.
Pool with retaining wall? See Roller End Wall Mount option.
The SQ and LP rollers are low profile variants which are less visually imposing, but are much lower to the ground, so some bending will be required during their use. These models are suitable for pools less than 10m.
Our favourite roller is the Daisy A100, which is a mid-height stationary roller. We consider this as the “Goldilocks” choice – simple, stable and understated. The A100 will suit pools up to 18m and is also suitable for wall mounting.
All featured rollers are of commercial quality with 100mm aluminium shaft and massive 10 year pro-rata warranty. Each roller also comes with a shade cover to protect the pool blanket when it is rolled up.