Experimenting with pool cover fabric

[spannertech]

I bought a sheet of pool cover fabric

Amazon.com : In The Swim 24 x 44 Foot Rectangle Premium Plus Pool Solar Blanket Cover 12 Mil : Swimming Pool Solar Blankets : Patio, Lawn & Garden

Amazon.com : In The Swim 24 x 44 Foot Rectangle Premium Plus Pool Solar Blanket Cover 12 Mil : Swimming Pool Solar Blankets : Patio, Lawn & Garden

www.amazon.com

My pool is a very irregular shape and there's no chance of doing anything like a roller at one end. So I trimmed it to size, about 2" smaller all around, as best as I could guess, than the pool. I swim laps every morning and for now, until I get sick of doing it, I haul it to one side, do my laps and then put it back. I'm in LA where we are facing an acute water shortage and pool covers are encouraged to reduce evaporation.

My question/problem is this: first, after a week, I still see some reduction in water level where I was hoping for next to none, and (related) the cover fabric doesn't quite all just float on top but there are puddles of water on top which get super-heated from the warm fabric, evaporate and leave salty deposits on the fabric (I have a salt pool). I also get air pockets underneath which contribute to the formation of the puddles.

My instinct is to make a bunch of small holes it it to let the air out and the water to drain under the cover again. Anyone been there done that and can confirm if this is in fact something that would work?

Thx much in advance - OP

 

[ajw22]

I don't think making holes will let water drain any better. The holes can also let the cover sink down and water from the pool cover the cover.

I would have suggested you make the cover larger then the pool so the edges of the cover sit on the coping and will tend to hold the cover above the water.

I think your DIY cover is about as good as you will get.