Solar Cover in full sun and higher chlorine levels than manufacture will warranty

[gneissgirl]

I may have acted hastily when I ordered my bubble pool cover because I read it would help conserve the chemicals in the pool. Got the cover, and the warranty is voided if used in over 3 ppm FC. I am keeping mine above 7 to help with black algae treatment. My pool is in full sun and I am in north Texas, so in the summer the water is quite warm and I have to add chlorine every day. My pH goes up quickly, and I am adding acid every 2 -3 days. I got a clear cover thinking it would help keep the pool warmer in the cooler months, not realizing that is the worst color for keeping evaporation down.

Questions -
should I worry about the chlorine levels and just put the cover away for now until I can go to a lower level or should I just using knowing it has a limited life anyway?
and if I use it now, would I want to leave it on most of the time to limit evaporation?

Thanks!

 

[mknauss]

Use the cover. The FC limits they use are unrealistic and you will never achieve a warranty claim anyway.

It will reduce your evaporation and will also reduce your FC loss each day.

You do need to remove it for several hours every other day (daytime) at least to let the CC's burn off.

 

[Green Goblin]

Using a solar cover on a pool that is in full sun, already has water that is quite warm, in 100 degree weather, like is forecast for your area in this coming week, may result in a pool that you find even warmer, and may be uncomfortably warm.

A solar cover of any color when applied to the full surface of the pool will limit evaporation, and while that helps keep the water level up, that also will mean that the pool stays hotter, and may even become too hot for your liking.

I wouldn't worry much about the chlorine being 3 vs 7 with regard to using the cover, particularly if you're using it in full sun 100 degree conditions. The covers do have a limited life, and it may be hard to get more than a few seasons out of one anyway.

Marty may know more about this than I do-- I used a solar cover on my pool in Florida from around October to April for a number of years. I took the cover off once or twice per week to use, perhaps for an hour or two each time. I didn't have a problem with unreasonable CCs.

 

[phonedave]

Same story as above. You are not going to find a solar cover that allows any sort of useful FC level. Even if you did, if the cover failed, you are going to get a prorated warranty claim, after a boat load of hassle, if you even get it at all.

My cover is now on it's 4th season, and this will be it's last. It has seen FC levels that around consistently around 5.0 ppm. The cover is now starting to tear. I could probably get one more season after this out of it if I babied it, but I would rather just get a new one.

I take it off at least every 4 days or so, depending on the weather, schedules, and when we use the pool. I might see CC build to about 0.5 ppm, but nothing more than that.

-dave

 

[gneissgirl]

Thanks, everyone. I really appreciate the help.