Question:
We really like the idea of those motor-operated pool covers (the
kind that are strong enough to walk on and hide completely below the
ground), even though their expensive. It appears to us its safer,
keeps the pool warmer, and keeps the water from evaporating. The
downside is cost, but I was wondering if there were any others?
Answer:
Wow, wish I had one of those. I just pulled the Winter cover off
my pool last weekend. For Summer we have a solar cover, which is
basically heavy duty bubble wrap that floats on the pool. It does
help heat the water and keep it warm. It also is supposed to help
keep the chlorine from evaporating out of the water. It definiately
keeps the water from losing as much heat overnight as it would
uncovered.
Seems like overkill to me unless there are children involved. A good
solar cover and manual reel will do the same job, and you can move
the reel away from the pool when it's not in use. A lot less to go
wrong too. Of course the motorized ones are very neat!
Solar covers are designed to be as transparent as possible in order to let
the sunlight in and warm the pool. Solar covers float on top of the water
and aren't held down. I don't live in Florida, I live in New Jersey. Our
swimming season is a lot shorter than yours and the pool is unused and
covered a larger part of the year.
The kind of cover I'm talking about comes in two varieties - disposable or
permanent. The chief difference is longevity - disposable covers are good
for a season and permanent covers, as you'd expect from the name, last for
years. I use a disposable cover - essentially a large thin sheet of black
plastic.
Permanent or disposable, these covers are opaque. I suppose _some_ light
gets through, but nothing like what gets through a solar cover. The covers
are big enough to not only cover the pool but also come up out of the water
and lay on the surround - concrete, decking, lawn, whatever surrounds the
pool, for at least a couple of feet all the way around. It's held down
against wind and such by weights - some people use concrete blocks or jugs
of water (which around here can freeze and burst). I use water bags made
for the purpose, essentially double tubes six or eight feet long, each tube
about the same diameter as the vacuum hose.
