Bubble wrap or solar pool covers?

16 years ago

What works better?

Bubble wrap,what size bubbles.

Solar pool covers,clear,clear black,blue black, lots of choices whats best.

I have 2 cold frames hoop houses(weathergaurd)set up end to end ,I want to put some 6mill clear plastic over it as a air space with bubble wrap or pool cover inside.

Any idears???

Can you put the bubble wrap inside?

Thanks

Stanc

Featured Answer

barrie2m_(6a, central PA)

16 years ago

Wolfover, I installed a 2x4" kneeboard 2' off the ground on one side so that the 20x40" sheet of Magniclear would fit. I could have ordered a larger cover but it would have cost twice as much with trucking and I didn't want the exhaust fan coming on throughout the entire summer anyhow. I have only the two poly layers from the Kneeboard to the ground and I can stick styrofoam sheets in the space in the spring and roll up that side plastic in the summer.

If I were to do this again I would raise the kneeboard to about 4' so that that side could be rolled up above the benches. Some insulation from the bubblewrap may be lost but I think that a sheet of plastic temporarily wirelocked to the inside of wooden kneeboard would provide an extra airspace for insulation that would make up for that difference.

One point about those who order the pool cover. Shipping is very high for the larger covers. I remember calling the Ohio based company and offering to pickup the cover and they told me that the covers were manufactured and shipped from Canada.

But there may be a way to get around the shipping. I recently bought a second slightly smaller pool cover at Lowes that had been opened and was half price. I think that Lowes may order your size if you asked them. To check on what sizes they have in stock look in the outdoor section of their pool supplies.

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Comments (7)

birdwidow
16 years ago
If you plan to line the interior of a hoop house, just considering the need to secure it to the frame makes me think that a solar pool cover would be easier to work with, simply for the ability to get it large. wide rolls.

For light transmission, I'm presuming that clear would be your choice.

However, with a double cover, the air space between them is the real insulator, so you may also want to explore the possibility of using the same clear, heavy material for both.
Datdog
16 years ago
I think a pool cover is the way to go. I'm doing bubble wrap and I've had a heck of a time keeping it up in the GH. I did purchase the heavy bubble wrap so that may make the difference.
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I can help on that one. I did some experiments using bubble wrap (same as pool cover, just different sized bubbles; concept is same). The insulating factor works better with bubbles towards the INSIDE. One reason, is that not only do the bubble help to retain the heat, but the solid backing, which is facing out, helps to put a barrier between the inside and outside and stops cold air flow. But, it's very important, for the cover to work is to have it "sealed" at all edges. If, for example, if it's only 3/4 the way down and air can get up between the cover and the outer shell of your greenhouse, then you have cold air circulation which will basically thwart any efficiency that the pool cover should provide. So, if you don't have enough pool cover, then perhaps "seal" any open areas with regular bubble wrap or even double-layered plastic (not as efficient, but better than nothing). Also, you may find that 1 sheet of this pool cover, while (when sealed up) will help, it may not make a huge difference in a zone 5 if you are heating it with some heat source. Over the last 4 years, we have done some experiments with layers. In all experiments, the bubble wrap is sandwiched between 2 layers of poly plastic that covers the greenhouse. To be clear, 6 mil plastic on outside of greenhouse, layers of bubble wrap, then another poly plastic sheet on the inside of the greenhouse. This way, the bubble wrap is between the outer and inner plastic sheets. The 2 layers of poly plastic, outside and inside are sealed up completely around all edges using a zippering system on the frame of the greenhouse (wire lock I think itÂs called) We have found this to provide the best "R" value and heat retention. Here are our results. NOTE, ALL BUBBLES TOWARDS INSIDE OF GREENHOUSE ( BEST insulating factor, good light penetration: The 1st winter, we had 3 layers of bubble wrap. GOOD insulating factor, POOR light penetration: The 2nd winter, we tried 5 layers. WORST insulating factor, excellent light penetration: This winter, we tried only 2 layers. We find that during the day, the greenhouse heats up nicely with the SUN, best of all other experiments. HOWEVER, with sun gone, it loses the heat faster than the other 2 methods and will cost more to heat during cold snaps. We will be going back to 3 layers next winter. OR, we might decide to change from bubble wrap to 3 sheets of pool cover, where each is cut as 1 large sheet. Hope that helps.
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themaniam1 Actually, that's exactly how our GH is set up. Double poly inflated with 3 layers of 1/2" bubble wrap sandwiched between the poly. Works a treat. Sure, there's some light loss, but like wyndyacre stated, the tradeoff is worth it. We are able to keep the GH nice and toasty on the coldest nights and as for light, well, the plants sure don't seem to mind a little light loss. The banana trees are growing, the palms putting on new fronds, plants are flowering, etc. But, only for simplicity, I think we're going to the clear pool covers for next year. A local supplier can supply 12'X24' sheets for only $55 CAN$ and the plastic they use is 11 mil. We'll either buy 2 sheets or perhaps 3, depending on light loss and insulating value. We tried 5 layers last year, but there was too much light loss, to the point where the GH wouldn't heat up during the day very much. We had 3 the year before and have gone back to 3 this year. It's working out well.
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I will confirm cactusfreaks comparison. I bought a 12 x 20 clear solar pool cover for my HF. It made all the difference in the world. Kept the greenhouse at 55 degrees all winter and only jumped my electric bill $30 a month. Even my hubby can live with that. It was easy to put on and remove. I just took it off a couple of weeks ago and it rolled back up nicely and went back in the bag it came in to be stored until this winter. I thought the best part was being able to put it on the outside instead of having to remove everything from the greenhouse to put it on the inside and then reverse the whole operation come spring. Cindy
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We do plan to spend more time in the greenhouse. Only trouble now is that by the time we get home from work, it's dark out :( As far as costs it's easy to see our heating costs are drastically down, but not easy to calculate exactly how much. The GH shares a propane source with our garage & studio which we are heating about the same as last year. Just a rough estimate but we have two 100-gallon tanks that cost about $500 to fill. By this time last year they had been filled once and were about 50% full. As of Sunday, both tanks are 60% full and have not been filled yet this heating season. I don;t know this years propane rates but I'm hearing they are pretty close to last year. I'd say that's a significan savings. Keep in mind we did see an increase in our electric bill by about $20 per month for late Oct & Nov when we were only heating the GH with electric. Even so I'd say the savings in just a few weeks in propane have already paid for the solar pool cover. As an added bonus, we're seeing much more reliable GH temps so we can start to us ethe GH more. In fact we're planning to start some salad greens from seed this weekend. Our tomatoes are starting to fade and our cukes are fading also. Any other suggestions for winter vegetables? We don;t plan to add supplemental light so I know we;re limited by that but I'm betting there are crops that will grow even now.
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greenhouser
16 years ago
What are you using to hold it up? We used selt tapping screws with fender washers.
barrie2m_(6a, central PA)
16 years ago
"Can you put the bubble wrap inside?"

If I get your question right you want to put the bubble-wrap over the arches as the inner layer and cover it with 6 mil. Yes you can do it with the Magni-clear pool cover.

I thought about doing that hard for a year and last spring I decided to put the Magni-clear bubble-wrap between two 6 mil films and inflate on both sides of the bubble-wrap. So far it seems to be working great. All three layers are held in place by a wirelock that was a little tiring but doable. My main installation problem was that I barely had the length of bubblewrap needed to cover my 40ft. gH.

The main consideration about the Magni-clear solar pool cover is that it has UV protection whereas the mailing type bubble-wrap may breakdown within the first year of use. I expect to leave mine on continuously for many years. I still can't figure why some folks only use bubblewrap for a few months, then remove it for 10 months of storage.
birdwidow
16 years ago
"I still can't figure why some folks only use bubblewrap for a few months, then remove it for 10 months of storage."

Neither can I. The insulation the bubble gives against cold in winter, also works against heat in summer.

I remove the bubble wrap from the roof vents, intake shutters and exhaust fan housings in summer, but otherwise leave it in place and it does the same thing for my GH under the blistering heat of a Midwestern summer sun, as attic insulation does for our home.
wolflover
16 years ago
I have the Magni-clear pool cover on the inside of my greenhouse, then two layers of 6 mil poly on top of it, with an air space between the two layers of poly. It has worked great and I love it. The pool cover has significantly reduced my heating bills this winter. I am extremely pleased with the solar blanket and highly recommend it.

I used the leftover solar cover pieces to completely cover my north wall. They were the perfect size to go to the floor of my greenhouse along the sides. BUT, the tape I used to attach the pieces to the solar blanket didn't hold, and now they've all fallen down behind my plants. I used poly patch tape to attach the pieces of the solar blanket to the main blanket. Does anyone here have ideas of how better to attach the solar blanket pieces together so they'll hold? The pieces are approximately 4 X 6'. I plan to redo it this spring after I get all my plants moved outside.

BMoser, does your cover go all the way to the ground on both sides? My greenhouse is 12 X 35' and the solar blanket covers the top and the sides down to about four feet from the floor. I had enough left over pieces to go to the floor along the full length of the north wall, but that is what fell down. :(

Bubble wrap or solar pool covers?

barrie2m_(6a, central PA)

Comments (7)

birdwidow

Datdog

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