We like our pool water to be warm so we use a solar cover. I'm the one who uses the pool the most and each year it's becoming more of a pita to use our solar cover. We need to replace our vinyl liner and redo the patio, but that's another story. I am looking into automatic solar cover reels. In my search, I've come across the following:
Do Auto Solar Blanket Pool Reels Work/Are They Worth It?
- Thread starter keagle
- Start date
Reeling the cover up isn't too difficult obviously.
Putting the cover back on however, no so easy.
I did exactly what you said and attached nylon webbing / strapping to the end of the cover. I had a 15x30 oval and made sure the strap was long enough to make it 5' longer than all the way across the pool. With this I could pull the cover over the water as I walked along the side of the pool. I just used the pole to fix the corners and it was done in less than 3 minutes. When I reeled up the cover, I just kept turning and wound the strapping up with the cover.
For the lazy L, you could leave the cover off or fold / unfold it over that section.
Putting the cover back on however, no so easy.
I did exactly what you said and attached nylon webbing / strapping to the end of the cover. I had a 15x30 oval and made sure the strap was long enough to make it 5' longer than all the way across the pool. With this I could pull the cover over the water as I walked along the side of the pool. I just used the pole to fix the corners and it was done in less than 3 minutes. When I reeled up the cover, I just kept turning and wound the strapping up with the cover.
For the lazy L, you could leave the cover off or fold / unfold it over that section.
I noted in the video they reeled the cover up but did not unreel it, when putting the cover on the leading edges must be pulled out to guide the cover or it bunches up so I do not know how they accomplish putting it on without any assistance. I did the pull cord also, Polypropylene rope floats so it makes a good pull cord and not much strength needed so it can be small diameter. However I do suggest manually unrolling the cover most of the way first, I tried unrolling the cover by pulling on cord and had 2 issues. the pressure will cause the plastic cover to rip at the attachment point over time and it pulls my reel over if I pull too hard/quickly. Also, in the video I saw the reel did not have wheels, I store my reel away from the pool when using the pool so large wheels that can go over grass are a necessity for me.