Swimming after covering w/winter cover?

[elsie]

Oh I would never, ever swim *under* a pool cover!!!

After all the fantasies of continuing to swim, however, I decided it was just too much work - between errant weather, winds, premature falling of leaves etc. it ultimately didn't seem that a handful of swims would offer a big enough payout.

Solid, dark covers do indeed provide a solar effect, even without the penetration of direct sun. That's one of the benefits of automatic pool covers. If covered when the water is still very warm, they prevent evaporation thus prevent the cooling of the water. In addition, the dark cover absorbs heat from the sun and warms the water. All in all, it's about a 5-8 degree surge (upward, that is).

[Spensar]

I thought it was a neat idea, but rolling water bags back and forth didn't sound to practical. You could add grommets to provide more tie of spots, and maybe replace the water bags for the swimming area with ropes that hook/clip on and off somthing... what the something is the catch of course!

[elsie]

Bingo! Especially when the 8-ft. long double-tubed water bags are literally end-to-end and I took care to put every single one of them in those loop things attached to the cover, actually two loops around each bag. That's what stopped me to be sure. In my mid-50's I take care of all the work on this property which is quite substantial, especially with the long leaf season coming up (it never ends), and taking so many water bags out of their loops just felt like the proverbial straw.

These are the times I miss the automatic pool cover I had installed several years ago and, two months later, had un-installed. Although I got back much of my $7,000, I didn't get it all back, so I [laughingly] say I have a very expensive underground outdoor pool electrical outlet now, for it made no sense to have that piece of the work undone. The thing with the automatic cover is that it actually decreased my swimming time, even though the makers tout it keeps your pool cleaner. Thing is, your pool is only as clean as the cover is because when it rolls back up on the spindle anything on the cover such as muddy rain water, debris, etc. rolls into the pool. So even small shots of rain every day precluded swimming for me, had to wait for evaporation assuming it didn't rain again, and then walk on the cover to blow off the debris. Drove me NUTS.

Now, a pool heater would be nice.

BTW, I wonder if anyone has calculated the cost of running a 1 HP pump motor 24/7 during the swimming months? I run mine continuously because of the continual flotsum etc. in the air from my heavily treed half acre. I guestimated when I bought the property in 2002 it was maybe around $30-$40 a month (w/5% power increases annually), but in seeing how high my electrical bill was the other day for August ($265 for an 1150 sq. foot, heavily insulated tight house with new double pane windows, although my 12 year old heat pump is probably only a 7 seer--hey, maybe that's it), can't help but wonder if it's significantly higher. A neighbor told me I should call the power company and they would calculate it for me. I somehow can't believe I could reach a real live person who would do this...

[Poconos]

Elsie,
Move up to West Virginia or Southeast PA. I saw some land listed in WV that stated Free Gas. Wondered what that meant. Called a realtor. They drill a gas well, sell to some company and keep whatever the owner needs. Has a lot of interesting potential for a pool owner. Actually saw some wells on peoples property while driving around. A friend says he has seen this in Michigan and Wisconsin too. Wish I could drill for gas here in Northeast PA. I wouldn't have to winterize my pool.
Al

[Poolidiot]

1HP run 24/7 (not knowing your kilowatt charge there) I would say it would raise your electric bill around $80ish a month, maybe a tad more.(I am guessing you have a one speed motor and not 2 speed?)

[elsie]

Really! Wow. But that explains the high electric bill. Yes, 1 speed. I just tried to go online into my Alabama Power account to see the killowat specs, but their site is down. If I can get that, I'll report back. Thanks for your estimate, it actually makes me feel *better.*