Solar cover / blanket quality - buyer beware

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tacoma5050
Pool Enthusiast
Pool Enthusiast
Posts: 12
Joined: Sun 13 Apr, 2008 11:17

Solar cover / blanket quality - buyer beware

Postby tacoma5050 » Fri 12 Jun, 2009 10:45

Beware not all 12 mil covers are the same thickness or quality!!

I recently purchased my third 12 mil solar cover. The previous two both lasted 5-6 years. Both my previous covers and the new one had 7 year warranties. But I ordered this new blanket from a different supper because it was a little cheaper.

When the new one arrived I knew immediately something was wrong as I could lift it very easy, where as with my last two I could not handle it as easily, so I suspected the new one weighed less. Then, when rolling out the new cover it was undoubtedly thinner and more flimsy than my past two covers.

I called the supplier and they assured me I received a 12 mil cover.

So I borrowed a digital micrometer (accurate to 0.1mm) from an engineer friend. I measure my old 12 mil cover and to my surprise it was 24 mil, but if I measured the thickness of the top layer and bottom layer where a bubble has been cut in half, then each layer was 12 mil. On my new cover, the total thickness was only 12 mil and each layer was only 6 mil. So my suspicion was confirmed, this new 12 mil blanket was half the thickness of my previous two!

There were many weeks of discussions with supplier, they told me things like:
“12 mil doesn’t really mean 12 mil” and
“You can only measure the thickness with a laser micrometer” and
“we weighed the blanket before we shipped it and it is the correct weight”
etc, etc.
Finally I told them: “order a 12 mil sample from my previous supplier and compare it to your 12 mil cover, the difference in quality and thickness will be undeniably noticeable”. A few days after they received the sample they agreed to refund my money in full. I am not sure if they are pulling that blanket from their inventory, or if they just want me to go away.

Bottom line: Always request a sample before you buy a solar cover.


RMS1
Pool Care Proficient
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Posts: 45
Joined: Sat 15 Aug, 2009 10:49
Location: Oregon
Contact:

Solar cover / blanket quality - buyer beware

Postby RMS1 » Sat 22 Aug, 2009 01:06

tacoma5050 wrote:Beware not all 12 mil covers are the same thickness or quality!!

I recently purchased my third 12 mil solar cover. The previous two both lasted 5-6 years. Both my previous covers and the new one had 7 year warranties. But I ordered this new blanket from a different supper because it was a little cheaper.

When the new one arrived I knew immediately something was wrong as I could lift it very easy, where as with my last two I could not handle it as easily, so I suspected the new one weighed less. Then, when rolling out the new cover it was undoubtedly thinner and more flimsy than my past two covers.

I called the supplier and they assured me I received a 12 mil cover.

So I borrowed a digital micrometer (accurate to 0.1mm) from an engineer friend. I measure my old 12 mil cover and to my surprise it was 24 mil, but if I measured the thickness of the top layer and bottom layer where a bubble has been cut in half, then each layer was 12 mil. On my new cover, the total thickness was only 12 mil and each layer was only 6 mil. So my suspicion was confirmed, this new 12 mil blanket was half the thickness of my previous two!

There were many weeks of discussions with supplier, they told me things like:
“12 mil doesn’t really mean 12 mil” and
“You can only measure the thickness with a laser micrometer” and
“we weighed the blanket before we shipped it and it is the correct weight”
etc, etc.
Finally I told them: “order a 12 mil sample from my previous supplier and compare it to your 12 mil cover, the difference in quality and thickness will be undeniably noticeable”. A few days after they received the sample they agreed to refund my money in full. I am not sure if they are pulling that blanket from their inventory, or if they just want me to go away.

Bottom line: Always request a sample before you buy a solar cover.


Yes, and find a local dealer. I rarely buy things over the internet and something as important as a solar cover, my advice is to stay local.

http://clean-pool-and-spa.com

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