When I was growing up my family had two traditions we stuck to. One was that we always had Bar One chocolates while watching the FA Cup soccer final on TV in early May; the other was that we always had a swim on the first day of Spring – 1 September – no matter the weather or water temperature.
But I have a confession to make, dear reader.
As I got older, I became a bit of a wuss when it came to jumping into the ice-cold water.
Soon I began skipping years, choosing instead to watch my Dad and my brother hold their breaths and jump in . . . only to jump right out!
Those of you living in Joburg will know what I’m talking about. As will those of you who’ve waded into the waters at Llandudno Beach in Cape Town. The word “ouch!” immediately springs to mind.
One thing’s for sure, though, I wouldn’t have chickened out had my Dad taken the plunge and invested in a solar blanket for our pool all those years ago.
This amazing product offers swimming pool owners a range of benefits, among them an extended swimming season.
That’s right, by locking in the warmth of the sun, solar blankets allow owners up to four months of extra swimming pool time. What a win!
Also, the water will be, on average, 10% warmer given the sunny conditions we enjoy in South Africa.
I could’ve been swimming quite comfortably in September (maybe even August) and into April or even May had one of these bubble blankets been sitting snugly on top of the surface of our pool all winter.
The Super Bubble blanket imported especially from Australia, can best be described as a cover for your pool that is like durable, industrial strength bubble wrap.
The larger bubbles on these blankets also ensure 13% better insulation overnight, so the water remains warm into the next morning.
This makes it perfect to go for a dip in those spring and autumn months when the air temperature starts to dip yet the sun still shines brightly.
While warmer water is the obvious win, there are other benefits too. Your automatic pool cleaner can continue working away under the cover, and its job will be made much easier because the solar blanket will keep your pool debris free.
By almost eliminating evaporation, the cover will also save you money on your water bill. A word of caution though – because it floats on the water it is unsafe for children and pets to climb on. In other words, it doesn’t replace the pool safety net.
So in future, perhaps my son will choose to have a swim on the first Saturday in May instead of sitting with his Dad enjoying a Bar One. – By Gregory Rule
- Gregory Rule is a member of the Nets for Africa marketing team