Do I need a solar cover

[jkoch]

I just puchased a pool that came with a cover that goes completely over the top and ties.

My question is will this cover be enough or do I need to purchase a solar cover also?

Thanks,
JK

[Poconos]

Sounds like you have a safety cover or sometimes called a winter cover. Not the same as a solar cover. Solar covers are designed to let the infrared heat through while keeping heat in the pool and eliminating heat loss due to evaporation. Safety covers are not designed to be easily put on and taken off and are usually quite heavy. Solars are similar to heavy duty bubble wrap, float on the water, and a lot lighter.
Hope this answers your question.
Al

[Spensar]

If you have a pool heater, you need a solar cover, unless you like to evaporate money away. Otherwise, they don't do much for the pool temperature in a moderate or northern climate. Links below are useful if you are heating.

[Poconos]

[QUOTE=Spensar;64775] Otherwise, they don't do much for the pool temperature in a moderate or northern climate.

Spensar,

I don't know what you consider a moderate or northern climate but I can assure anyone that here in the northeast they do make a big difference as those tables in the links will confirm. Nights are usually quite cooler than the water and they do help retain any heat you gain during the day. Heat is heat whether it is obtained naturally from just the sun on the pool or by fossil fuel or heat pump. Am I missing something?

Al

[Spensar]

[QUOTE=Poconos;64779]

Otherwise, they don't do much for the pool temperature in a moderate or northern climate.

Spensar,

I don't know what you consider a moderate or northern climate but I can assure anyone that here in the northeast they do make a big difference as those tables in the links will confirm. Nights are usually quite cooler than the water and they do help retain any heat you gain during the day. Heat is heat whether it is obtained naturally from just the sun on the pool or by fossil fuel or heat pump. Am I missing something?

Al

True, heat is heat. If you have a hot day and the water heat's up, the cover will help keep the heat in.

I think it is fair to give people a heads up that a solar cover by itself will not do a lot to increase the temperature of the pool water. It's greatest utility is in keeping the heat in, not generating it. This especially applies if there is a big difference between the water and air temperature like when you are heating the pool. To many people by it thinking it is some kind of solar heat that will do wonders for their pool temperature, and are very dissapointed afterwards with the modest impact. Most people around here don't bother with it after a while, unless they are heating. I'm in Ottawa, Ontario.

[cleancloths]

Heat loss due to evaporation is the biggest heat loss of a pool, an order of magnitude greater than convective losses. I live in NJ and keep the solar cover on whenever we are not using the pool - it makes a huge difference. I run my heatpump to initially raise the temperature in the early spring - that is it. I have two solar mats that are 2' by 20' each, and between them and the cover my pool stays at 80-85 degrees all the time.