Swimming after covering w/winter cover?

[elsie]

I covered my in ground last weekend since we were projected to have one cloudy day after another and along with shortening days and the lowering sun getting lost behind tall trees, I knew that come this weekend the temperature would've dropped from 84 to the high 70's, and that's too cold for me. Also, we've been in a prolonged drought (which has finally broken) and we're having a premature fall and lots of leaves are falling. Once I can't do laps anymore, I find it's best to cover the pool so I don't have to tend to it after 4 months of doing all the work myself. The irony is that here in Alabama September is still very humid and hot.

However, I just hatched an idea. Another irony is that the winter cover acts as a solar cover, preventing heat loss at night and accelerating solar power during the day. With the cover on, that water will be swimmable for at least another month. But alas, it's covered. Or is it?

Why couldn't I rig something up whereby, after rolling one side of water bags off, I alone could pull the cover back, one end at a time, to expose about a five-foot width of water? Like tie a rope to each end where a loop is, then one end at a time, gently pull it up and back and then tie that rope to something that's elevated from the ground (deck railing, tree, etc.). That way that edge of the cover wouldn't get pulled under by any pool water. Then when I'm done with my laps, I would just take the rope at either end and pull the cover back and roll a couple of water bags back on it to secure it. I think this is possible! I'm going to try it tomorrow…

[waste]

elsie, sounds like a viable idea HOWEVER(!) - Swimming under the cover can lead to entanglement and drowning!!!!:( If it's just you swimming and you realize the potential danger and don't go under the cover, you can continue to enjoy the pool while the weather holds out.:)

[sunofthebeach]

I dont think your winter cover acts as a solar cover.

Light does not pass through it.

The water under your cover is cold.

[elsie]

Oh I would never, ever swim *under* a pool cover!!!

After all the fantasies of continuing to swim, however, I decided it was just too much work - between errant weather, winds, premature falling of leaves etc. it ultimately didn't seem that a handful of swims would offer a big enough payout.

Solid, dark covers do indeed provide a solar effect, even without the penetration of direct sun. That's one of the benefits of automatic pool covers. If covered when the water is still very warm, they prevent evaporation thus prevent the cooling of the water. In addition, the dark cover absorbs heat from the sun and warms the water. All in all, it's about a 5-8 degree surge (upward, that is). :)

[Spensar]

I thought it was a neat idea, but rolling water bags back and forth didn't sound to practical. You could add grommets to provide more tie of spots, and maybe replace the water bags for the swimming area with ropes that hook/clip on and off somthing... what the something is the catch of course!

[elsie]

Bingo! Especially when the 8-ft. long double-tubed water bags are literally end-to-end and I took care to put every single one of them in those loop things attached to the cover, actually two loops around each bag. That's what stopped me to be sure. In my mid-50's I take care of all the work on this property which is quite substantial, especially with the long leaf season coming up (it never ends), and taking so many water bags out of their loops just felt like the proverbial straw.

These are the times I miss the automatic pool cover I had installed several years ago and, two months later, had un-installed. Although I got back much of my $7,000, I didn't get it all back, so I [laughingly] say I have a very expensive underground outdoor pool electrical outlet now, for it made no sense to have that piece of the work undone. The thing with the automatic cover is that it actually decreased my swimming time, even though the makers tout it keeps your pool cleaner. Thing is, your pool is only as clean as the cover is because when it rolls back up on the spindle anything on the cover such as muddy rain water, debris, etc. rolls into the pool. So even small shots of rain every day precluded swimming for me, had to wait for evaporation assuming it didn't rain again, and then walk on the cover to blow off the debris. Drove me NUTS.

Now, a pool heater would be nice.

BTW, I wonder if anyone has calculated the cost of running a 1 HP pump motor 24/7 during the swimming months? I run mine continuously because of the continual flotsum etc. in the air from my heavily treed half acre. I guestimated when I bought the property in 2002 it was maybe around $30-$40 a month (w/5% power increases annually), but in seeing how high my electrical bill was the other day for August ($265 for an 1150 sq. foot, heavily insulated tight house with new double pane windows, although my 12 year old heat pump is probably only a 7 seer--hey, maybe that's it), can't help but wonder if it's significantly higher. A neighbor told me I should call the power company and they would calculate it for me. I somehow can't believe I could reach a real live person who would do this...

[Poconos]

Elsie,
Move up to West Virginia or Southeast PA. I saw some land listed in WV that stated Free Gas. Wondered what that meant. Called a realtor. They drill a gas well, sell to some company and keep whatever the owner needs. Has a lot of interesting potential for a pool owner. Actually saw some wells on peoples property while driving around. A friend says he has seen this in Michigan and Wisconsin too. Wish I could drill for gas here in Northeast PA. I wouldn't have to winterize my pool.
Al

[Poolidiot]

1HP run 24/7 (not knowing your kilowatt charge there) I would say it would raise your electric bill around $80ish a month, maybe a tad more.(I am guessing you have a one speed motor and not 2 speed?)

[elsie]

Really! Wow. But that explains the high electric bill. Yes, 1 speed. I just tried to go online into my Alabama Power account to see the killowat specs, but their site is down. If I can get that, I'll report back. Thanks for your estimate, it actually makes me feel *better.*