Solar cover

[dkimble]

I have decided we need to get one. I see many thicknesses, from 8mil-16mil, blue or clear... Can anyone gove me some feedback/information on these. I still have not been able to get the pool temp above 80. Right now we are back at 79...burr

 

[JohnT]

Thickness only matters on how long they last and how heavy they are. All perform the same.

 

[JoyfulNoise]

Thin and cheap. Blue is fine. It won't last more than a year or two. If you cut it at all it voids any warranty.

 

[dkimble]

We had an intex one and it lasted 2 years. I was looking for a better quality one.

 

[JoyfulNoise]

We had an intex one and it lasted 2 years. I was looking for a better quality one.

While the manufacturers will tell you that thicker lasts longer, the experience here on TFP shows otherwise. Thick or thin, blue or clear, they all last about 2 years if you're lucky. That's why TFP recommends cheapest & thinnest - it costs the least and weighs the least when wet.

 

[dkimble]

Perfect! Thank You. Glad I found this place. My pool looks better than it ever has. I was just playing with the new phone APP. Its pretty sweet too!

 

[JoyfulNoise]

Perfect! Thank You. Glad I found this place. My pool looks better than it ever has. I was just playing with the new phone APP. Its pretty sweet too!

Be sure to give it a good review in whichever App Store you downloaded it from.

 

[dkimble]

I will. I was about to post a bug I found though. I was trying to enter some test results into the logs (premium version) and it won't take the specific time. If you reopen the log and change the date again, it saves correctly.

 

[dkimble]

Not date, the time!

 

[dkimble]

Thanks for the advice. I ordered an 8 mil one from Amazon. Can't wait to warm this water up!!!!

 

[dkimble]

So as a follow up. I got the blanket, and made a 20' PVC pipe to roll it up on.

Here is my problem now...

When the pump comes on the water circulates so much that it tries to spin the cover. After a bit of time it wads the cover up by the ladder and half the pool isn't covered.

Any suggestions on how to help keep the cover in place?

 

[keagle]

Do you turn the jets down?

 

[cvgnus]

I've had a similar problem. The only simple solution I could come up with is pointing my inlet directly across the pool rather than pointing the inlet to cause the water to move in a circular fashion. This sort of causes the water to hit pool wall and roll down instead of hitting the pool wall and the water rolling up. I hope that makes some sense.

Also, I normally use the cover overnight and on cool days. This way I can hold the heat in the water that was stored during the day and reduce evaporation.

 

[dkimble]

Do you turn the jets down?

Pointed down?

There is only one and it is pointed towards the bottom and to the side.

- - - Updated - - -

I've had a similar problem. The only simple solution I could come up with is pointing my inlet directly across the pool rather than pointing the inlet to cause the water to move in a circular fashion. This sort of causes the water to hit pool wall and roll down instead of hitting the pool wall and the water rolling up. I hope that makes some sense.

Also, I normally use the cover overnight and on cool days. This way I can hold the heat in the water that was stored during the day and reduce evaporation.

I am going to have to try that. I am keeping the cover on all the time right now. It hasn't gotten warm enough to swim yet. Still under 80 degrees. If this cold rain and hail would stop that would be great!

 

[LFrankow]

Have you tried removing your ladder when the cover is on?

 

[dkimble]

Have you tried removing your ladder when the cover is on?

It is a deck mounted ladder, so that's not an option. I think I am just gonna point the jet accross the pool. I had it pointed left to create movement so stuff would flow to the skimmer, but with the cover on that doesn't need to happen.