Wow.... Bleach consumption cut in half with a solar cover

[chem geek]

The ideal cover would totally block UV light so that chlorine won't breakdown from sunlight's UV rays. It would completely pass through visible light and most infrared. It would completely block heat from convection and diffusion (very little gets radiated back out from the pool as infrared -- it's not THAT hot) so would be a good insulator for heat.

I don't think such a cover exists. Most that pass through sunlight seem to pass through a lot of UV. So the clear bubble pack variety are probably best if you want heating since they pass through most of the light while still being good insulators. If you want to minimize chlorine loss, then an opaque cover is best though a blue cover MIGHT block UV (since it reflects blue) while letting other visible light through (or it might let blue light through -- ideally it would be like blue-blocker sunglasses that look orange when looking through them).

My own pool cover is an opaque safety cover and changes the heat loss at night from around 6F without the cover to 3F with the cover. If I had a true solar cover (bubble pack) the pool would probably lose half what it currently does -- probably around 1.5F. But at least I can roll mine with an electric motor so the convenience outweighed the lower insulating efficiency.

Richard

[PhantomAndy]

5 years with my 18x36 IG in Kentucky. I started using a solar cover the first year. When it got a split personalily (delaminated) after the 2nd year, I didn't use a cover (3rd year).

My pool gets tons of sun, from 9am until 7pm.

My experience has been that 1) the solar cover holds in heat very well by way of stopping evaporation overnight. 2) I get a faster heat gain during the day WITHOUT the solar cover on.

These are general rules that apply on 'average' summer days. At the beginning and end of the swim season when the daytime temps are cooler, or when the temp is below average, or it's going to be windy, the temperature is maintained better WITH the cover on.

Regardless of your views on temperature gain, the reduced Cl usage is an undisputable fact. If you have the cover on during the day, you will lose less chlorine.

CarlD's recommendation on the solar reels is on target as well. They are a must if you have a pool of any significant size, and the plastic reels have a limited life. Mine has a plastic frame on eihter side and an alluminum tube for the width of the pool. It's still working 4 years after I bought it, but I'll be lucky to get another 1 or 2. The sides are sagging and warping. (It's the Europa model, I purchased at Leslies).

Good luck,