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Solar Cover or No Solar Cover?

15 years ago

I have been a lurker for a few months now and have learned quite a bit from reading other poster's questions...Thanks!

We signed our contract and will begin digging in a week and a half. We have contracted for a free form pool that will be a lagoon shape and about 42 x 33. I was sure I would get a solar cover to help out the heat pump and to cut down on evaporation. We live in CT, so the solar cover would help up extend our swimming season without costing an arm and a leg for the electric bill.

I've been reading about them and now realize what a pain they can be to take off and put on, and also to store. And I'm also trying to be realistic...Maybe I'll only use it in the spring and the fall when humidity is lower and we need more heat. So here are my questions:

Where do you store your cover when not on the pool?

Has anyone tried and liked the cover stick?

What would you do?

Any input would be helpful!

semo233

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Comments (7)

mjs504
15 years ago
I live in southern NY and we have a solar cover on a 18 X 36 pool. We purchased a Heat Pump in May so this is the first year that we've heated our pool. In May when some of the nights went down to the 50's, I was glad that I had the cover. I would have lost significantly more heat if I didn't have the cover. We have an inexpensive reel which is a pain. I would recommend spending a little more money and purchase a better reel so that it's easier to reel in and out.

Good luck.
azbabs
15 years ago
I have a 22'X 43' freeform and use a solar cover spring and fall. I cut our cover into 3 pieces and can easily remove/replace by myself. I also have 1,000' of decking so I have room to move the pieces around and float them into place. I store them in a small shed also on the deck.
The cover doesn't really heat my pool, but prevents the heat I gain from my solar from escaping at night. In Phoenix I swim March thru mid Nov with mid 80 water. Well worth the hassle of the cover.

Congrats on your new pool. Hope your construction goes smoothly.
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lol....my experience does NOT agree. When I had my SWCG pool in California with a solar cover. We had to remove the cover anytime the water got over about 87 degrees for more than say 3 days. If not, the pool would be absolutely filled with algae. And, the same thing was occuring before we had the SWCG. I can't tell you how many times I would forget or get too lazy only to find the pool looking like a poorly taken care of aquarium. And the amount of chlorine could not combat it. The warm water under the solar cover was so idea of an environment that the algae would survive with the Chlorine at 6PPM and chlorine stabilizer below 50. It makes no difference whatsoever IMHO or my direct experience.
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jmas65
15 years ago
semo,
I use the stick and like it ok - I'm not sure there's anything you can do with a solar cover to really make it a delight, but the splitting the cover and using the stick allows me to easily remove the cover by myself in under 5 minutes, and can deploy it by myself, though still easier to do with 1 other person, in about 5 minutes.

I think the whole key is not trying to deal with it in one huge piece, but as 2 or 3 separate sections.

I only use the cover March-May and Oct-Nov; just this past weekend I placed a couple of ladder hooks on the far side of the house, behind a fence, and stored the covers there until I need them again.

Nobody hates the cover more than I do, but it works so darn well, I can't imagine not using it in those transitional months where the night temps really start to drop, but the kids still want to swim by day.
semo233
Original Author
15 years ago
I never thought of cutting the solar cover into pieces...three would probably work just fine for us.
When I came out of work at 1:30 and got in the car, the digital thermometer read 112 degrees. The air is about 100 with high humidity.
I'm really wishing we signed the contract sooner as we would have our pool already!
Thanks for your input.
I'll be posting questions about decking soon...
fuzzbunny1
15 years ago
We started out with no solar cover since I know they are a pain. But, we get the shade in the afternoon, and even with solar I just couldn't get the heat to stay up with the cooler nights. We bought a roller that was about $280 and that to me is much easier than using one pieced together. It is kind of an eyesore while just sitting at the pool, but I figure we'll store it behind the shed when not in use, and we had a party this weekend and we just stored it. It really only takes about 5 minutes to put on or off with the roller, if that. It still is easier with two people, but I do it just fine. I dont' know about the stick.
semo233
Original Author
15 years ago
What kind of roller are you talking about? We are getting a free form pool and I didn't realize I could get a roller.
M
fuzzbunny1
15 years ago
Not the stick, but a roller that sits at the end of the pool, and it stays attached to the cover, and you just turn the wheel, it's a steel roller. Google Leslie's Pool supplies as that is where I bought mine.

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