Foam cover?

[Mebunkeryou]

Curious if anyone has thought to use XPS foam as a cover for an above ground pool. Similar to a hot tub but not nearly as thick. Could be sectioned off to keep the weight down. Reinforce the seems with thin steel or even 1x2s. Bungee the edges down or throw a rock on top for wind. Wonder if it would insulate as well as a solar cover? It would keep a lot more debris out of the pool and would be easy to leaf blow the top off before removing it.

 

[Newdude]

Wonder if it would insulate as well as a solar cover?

Seran / cling wrap would stop as much evaporation as a solar cover, but good luck unfolding that.

Evaporation is about 70% of heat loss.

The impermeable barrier is all that matters. Thickness and material doesn't. As much as i hate them, solar covers got it right balancing durability and function.

 

[phonedave]

Seran / cling wrap would stop as much evaporation as a solar cover, but good luck unfolding that.

Evaporation is about 70% of heat loss.

The impermeable barrier is all that matters. Thickness and material doesn't. As much as i hate them, solar covers got it right balancing durability and function.

I do like the idea that you could just blow the debris off of a rigid cover. My solar cover does a great job of stopping stuff from getting into my pool, until I take it off of the pool, and then it all drops in.

Maybe I could just float a giant tarp from Harbor Freight on top of the pool, and let it overlap the sides. They have a 29' x 49' - that would work.

 

[Newdude]

Maybe I could just float a giant tarp from Harbor Freight on top of the pool

Tarps don't float well once they're good and saturated, but if you applied tension to it, it'd probably work.

I don't see any benefit to not dumping the cover though. You'll just dump the tarps worth instead.

 

[phonedave]

Tarps don't float well once they're good and saturated, but if you applied tension to it, it'd probably work.

I don't see any benefit to not dumping the cover though. You'll just dump the tarps worth instead.

My though being that the tarp would overlap the edges, so I could blow or rinse the debris off. The solar cover is inside the pool walls, so if I blow or rinse it off, it all goes in the pool.