Tips, suggestions on what type of solar cover to buy & where?

[MTU 5.0]

I have a 24' x 15' AG that sees full sun all day long and I am looking into getting a solar cover and would like suggestions on who makes a quality cover at a good price and what type is best. My two reasons for getting a cover are to increase the pool temp (duh) and maybe retain some chlorine. Not sure how much covers help with the latter, but it would be a nice added benefit.

Do I need 12 or 15 mil or is 8 good enough?

What pattern and color should I look for?

Any suggestions on websites with good deals on quality covers are also appreciated!

Thanks in advance!!

[tenax]

i'd go for the 12 versus 8 or 15..why? because the 12 is relatively lightweight to manage, yet that much more durable than the 8 which feels to me like a grade above regular bubble wrap:) i really like the solar cover i picked up. i believe it was 100 bucks for an 18 x 30, easy to cut to size..and it's been doing very well at keeping the temp up about 5 degrees over without the cover which my family tells me is a huge difference (80 is cold to them..85 nice and warm..wusses:))

[darrin]

I have used two types of solar covers. One was a dark blue with a silver backing and the other is clear. During the day the blue/silver would warm the water slightly on a sunny day. I would not recommend any dark solar cover. The clear cover works much better because it allows sunlight to pass thru and prevents evaporation. It warms the water much better.

Some people might tell you that the cover should only be used at night to prevent heat loss and that they really dont warm the water during the day. That is not the case with a clear cover.

[tenax]

mine is living proof a blue cover will indeed warm up the water during the day..you can feel the difference in the temp about a foot deep if the water is not circulating at the time..5-6 degree rise in temp for me:)

[MTU 5.0]

Thanks for the responses. A couple more questions though......

How big are your covers and what did you pay?

[CarlD]

OK, ALL solar covers will warm the water in sunlight--and all will insulate at night.

But my experience has been that the clear, heavy-weight covers do best. They pass the most light, and they insulate.

Opaque covers work by conduction, but transparent ones work by letting the light heat the water directly. More like a true greenhouse. There are also blue transparent covers. They don't work as well but look a little nicer.