Solar Pool Cover - Keeping from flying off
Mike Larkin
17 years ago
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Karen Pease
17 years agostressbaby
17 years agoRelated Discussions
Solar pool cover year round in hot climate?
Comments (19)My goodness, this thread takes me back in time! Mighty_turf, I ended up not using a solar cover on my 10x12 HFGH (decided my climate really didn't require it) so I am no help on best places to purchase. I believe conventional wisdom is that most heat loss in a greenhouse occurs through the roof. If I were to purchase one I'd definitely cover the roof, and probably lap it down the sides a bit, depending on the size I ended up ordering. Hopefully others here will have more specifics for you. If not, I'd consider starting a new thread with your specific questions about solar pool covers, to get a few more eyeballs on your questions. (Sometimes newer threads get more attention...?) Happy New Year!...See MoreSolar pool covers are not for windy sites
Comments (9)Robert, it looks as snug as a bug in a rug. You did a very neat job. So the twig just gives the slippery cover something to grip on. Neat idea. If you continue to have wind getting under the cover you may could seal it down with duct tape. No not the regular gray stuff. They now make an 'All weather' tape. It is gray also. They have clear but I couldn't find it in 'All Weather'. It was cheaper than ordering the clear 'greenhouse' tape from the internet. 30 Yards was around $5. @ Wal-mart. That's 90 ft. I wished I had done like you and put my vents in the knee wall. But I had intended for my vents to be in the back wall not the front wall and have the exhaust fans on the front wall. But my DH and the installer got them backwards and I just let it go. The air coming in would have been from the North and probally cooler. Now it's pulling the SE air which is hotter. I have bought some extra vents that can fit in the exact space as a cement block but not installed yet....See MoreWhats the difference between a pool cover and solar cover?
Comments (4)aezarien is right. A black cover would plunge your GH into darkness, at which point, you might as well shut it down for winter and move the plants into the house. As for leaving the aluminet up all year: If you experience so much sunlight you need shade in winter; are you sure you even need a solar cover? You might do as well by permanently lining your GH in bubble wrap, which will keep it warmer in winter and cooler in summer. Sort of like going from lightweight double to heavyweight triple polycarb, which may well be all you need in your climate....See MoreSolar Cover on or off during the day?
Comments (2)The answer is....it depends. Since the major source of heat loss is through evaporation, the answer to use of a cover in daylight is it depends on the following. It WILL cut down on heat absorbed by the light striking the water. It WILL retain heat due to lower evaporation due to both temp and wind conditions. So if you are in a windy, desert location (higher evaporation rate) it would likely be better to leave it on, but if you are in a calm, humid environment (lower evaporation rate) it would be better to remove the cover. Add in complications due to your cover: clear, blue, or ??? If you like playing with numbers you could do a bucket test to figure out how much the water drops in a day, add in the surface sq footage and then could calculate the BTUs lost to evaporation. I think most areas have some solar data available as well as mean wind conditions, etc. Would be a fair amount of work just to get an estimate, but if you like numbers it could be like a treasure hunt....See MoreVamptoo
17 years agobarrie2m_(6a, central PA)
17 years agoMike Larkin
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17 years agoMike Larkin
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