solar cover

[lauriefree]

I'm not sure what the difference is, Carl. If a clear cover lets the sun's heat in, will it let the pool heat out? Does a dark cover merely keep the heat in without allowing any gain?

Thanks.

[prh129]

You will probably get the most heat gain if the sun rays reach the bottom of the pool - that way as the water from the bottom warms, it will rise and you end up distributing the heat throughout the pool. A clear cover will allow this (as will leaving the cover off). If you have an opaque cover, it will transfer the sun's heat to the first few inches near the cover and the pump will move the warm water around so it should still mix in.

Any cover should be able to act as an insulating barrier to keep the heat in at night so I don't think the color will matter in that regard.

Peter