Solar cover 8mil???

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wpturner05

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LifeTime Supporter
Mar 30, 2015
137
Reading PA
Pool Size
24500
Surface
Vinyl
Chlorine
Salt Water Generator
SWG Type
Hayward Aqua Rite (T-15)
Good morning!!

Asking for some reassurance from those that have gone before me. I have used a solar cover almost every year since I have had my pool (since 2013). I typically buy the 12 mil ones (maybe even 16?). And they only last about 3 years . After reading on here - I decided to save the money and go for the 8. I just placed it and it feels SO flimsy. Will this actually last three years??? I would rather return it now and get the 12 or 16 mil with the fancy upgraded verbiage. A lot of what I read on here was pointing to just saving the money and go basic and 8mil

Thank you for the insight!!
 
wpturner05 said:
I just placed it and it feels SO flimsy.
Click to expand...
The bubbles, which are typically the fail point, are the same on all the covers and are even flimsy-er.

Do you have a reel ? An 18x36 cover will be pretty heavy when wet, even the thin one. The less manageable it is the more likely it gets snagged on something.
 
I do have a reel. This is also my third reel - they eventually bow in the middle making the heavy three year old covers very difficult to roll up.

I am wondering if this is just one of those expenses that is recurring if I want the solar cover …. Or if I am doing something wrong
 
Ok GREAT. With a reel the cover won't get snagged trying to get it somewhere you can fold it up. The 8mil will last plenty long enough for it's cost, and likely just as long as the others.

It will also be less stress on the reel, which can only help there too. I rebuilt mine each season with new bolt holes. It looked like Swiss cheese but it worked. I went with thicker bolts, then thicker bolts again, but they didn't help and did the same thing.

The cover is a necessary evil when heating, or just trying to retain a little warmth. We 100% all agree they work to their abilities. We also 100% all agree they are evil. I'm pretty sure it's the only 2 things we are unanimous about at TFP.

When my cover died on year 5, I gave up the heater so I didn't need to deal with the cover/reel anymore.
 
In the past, I have used 12mil, 8 mil & 5mil without a noticeable difference in lifespan but a huge difference in handling. I also found that the lighter cover is less likely to snag or drag over the coping and rip.
 
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