OK: I ALWAYS use the solar cover with a good reel. It's just too hard to keep the water warm at either end of the season. During the Dog Days, I don't use the cover and try to run the panels only at night to cool the water.

I assumed the cover was part of the deal. I don't find them to be much of a problem. I can crank it off in a couple of minutes and with help from my older kid, we can cover it even faster--maybe a minute. I can live with that much inconvenience!