Solar Cover?

[thebumble]

We have a metal-framed Intex 18' x 4' pool. Last year, the water was pretty cold. This year I'm thinking about getting a solar cover. I was going to get those "solar fish", but from this forum I learned they don't work too well.

Is the Intex solar cover decent? I don't want to spend a fortune and it's only $39.00 in Walmart.

Also, will the solar cover really help the water and when should I put the cover on? Leave it on all day & night when not swimming, or just use it at night?

Any advice is appreciated. Thanks!

[JohnT]

We have a metal-framed Intex 18' x 4' pool. Last year, the water was pretty cold. This year I'm thinking about getting a solar cover. I was going to get those "solar fish", but from this forum I learned they don't work too well.

Is the Intex solar cover decent? I don't want to spend a fortune and it's only $39.00 in Walmart.

Also, will the solar cover really help the water and when should I put the cover on? Leave it on all day & night when not swimming, or just use it at night?

Any advice is appreciated. Thanks!

Always on at night or when it's cloudy. The effect when it's sunny isn't 100% settled. My next one will be clear, which I think will be better during sunny periods when I don't have time to roll-up and cover the solar cover.

[cleancloths]

The solar cover (the name is a misnomer) greatly reduces your cost by reducing evaporation. I leave mine on anytime I am not swimming.

As for quality, I have found it best to buy the cheapest you can find. While others may argue about this, here is my logic. If you are lucky a good cover will give you two years. They get ratty by year three. A cheapo one will give you one maybe two years. I bought my cheap 20 x 40 two years ago for $89. Most 20 x 40 go for $200 or more. You do the math. Plus the cheap thin ones are much easy to handle.