Solar Covers

[Nimyue]

This seems like such a stupid silly question, but I couldn't find anything just by browsing.

I have a 12 ft by 42 inch Intex pool and we live in Texas. I'm buying it a new cover, and I don't know if a solar cover is good or not.

It does tend to get over 90 regularly and often over 100 here, so do I really need a solar cover? Would a normal cover be just fine for me? It seems the regular covers keep the pool cool rather than letting them heat up, but I don't know it that would even be a problem for us because it's so hot here. However, we've been having lots of rain storms lately so it hasn't been quite as warm this season.

Thanks!

[kelemvor]

Solar covers work primarily by preventing heat loss due to evaporation. Both transparent solar and opaque regular covers do that. Solar covers also allow more warming during the day by transmitting solar energy through the cover where opaque covers do not.

Any cover if used all day and all night is going to result in some warming. You could try to cool the pool by using an opaque cover during the day, and removing it to allow evaporation at night. Google search for "energy.gov pool cover" and the first link you get is a good resource for understanding how pool covers work.

It might be worth trying to run your pump primarily only at night and aerate the water (some type of sprayer, waterfall, etc) to promote evaporative heat loss. Companies do manufacture chiller devices for pools. I'm guessing that much like a heater, they consume lots of energy to run (and therefore money). I can't personally vouch for how well or badly a chiller works. It's something I think about every summer here in FL, but so far have not done anything about.

[topher]

another advantage to a cover is you shouldn't lose as much chlorine during the bright sun if it is covered. i don't have a cover, my neighbour does (both AGP) there pool is never much warmer than mine.. - except when there is a longer cold spell, there pool is usually a few degrees warmer.