Looking for solar cover for 18x36 IG

[Pooly1]

New Member looking for info on the best type of solar cover for a IG 18x36.

[PoolDoc]

What do you mean by "best" -- cheapest, easiest to use, most effective at heating the pool?

What part of the country are you in -- some covers are not at all suited for windy areas?

Also, if you are looking for heat, an inexpensive poly solar system may be a better choice.

[Pooly1]

More details got it. I guess I was wondering about the difference in a silver, blue or clear cover. The differences in diamond air pockets vs round. I live in Michigan and I have a pool heater. I want a top notch cover that will raise my temps as much as possible.

[PoolDoc]

In Michigan, a 'solar' pool cover will not raise your temperature. It *may* help you spend less heating it. As far as I know, there have been any actual comparative studies I haven't seen them. Several people here use them, however. So I'll let them comment.

Top notch cover that will retain as much heat as possible? Probably something like this:
Cover Pools

[Pooly1]

lol we do get sun here. My neighbor has a pool identical to mine and a silver diamond style cover. His pool last year was always 7 to 10 degrees warmer then mine. We both don't have any trees and the pools both face the same direction so I have to believe that the cover is heating it up. Thanks for the quick response to questions

[PoolDoc]

If he's getting 7 - 10 degrees, I wouldn't look any further: get what he got!

[BigDave]

My experience with solar covers is that it is much more about conserving the heat you have than heating. Keeping the cover on at night, especially if it's cool, dry and breezy will help slow heat loss due to conduction and evaporation (which may be quite high). It may even slow loss due to radiation (silver probably wil help here) - it would also probably slow the radiant heat the pool gets from the sun an equal amount.

What I'm trying to say is it may be best to think of the solar cover as a more of a blanket than a heater.

I have blue because I like the color.

[Pooly1]

Okay I got it I think will order the silver diamond thanks!