Im also in Raleigh, my pool temp has settled around 48-50 the past few weeks. Can you share your pool size/volume and how much gas your using? Propane or Natural? I'm wondering how much it would cost me to do what your doing.
Thanks! I have been meaning to add that info to my signature since the pool was finished. It is 21,000 gallons and i use a Pantair 400,000 btu natural gas heater and a medium quality solar cover. The solar cover is something i think could be much better, but i can't seem to find any options for what i want out there. It seems the higher quality/price solar covers just increase the thickness of the flat plastic and i don't believe it helps much if any with heat retention. So the only reason to get a higher price/quality one is for wear and tear. I am taking mine off every day at least once, so you would think quality would be something i would be interested in, but from reading the reviews on here it seems the bubbles are the part that wears out first. So not sure if that portion is improved in the higher quality product and is what is scrapped along the edge of the pool everytime it is pulled off. I figure i will just get a new cover each year or if possible every other year. But what i want and can't find is a double layer solar cover. I'd love there to be one available that was basically the equivalent of two sandwiched together. The increased air pockets and space i think would increase the insulation potential of the cover and help me retain more heat overnight.
As far as the cost of heating, i didn't say it was cheap, but i am hoping the trend continues and it won't be much more than the three pool/gym memberships i was able to cancel when this pool was finished. After factoring the difference of what my gas bill was last year (i am using natural gas from Dominion Energy) i estimate it was ~$362.78 in November and ~$669.43 in December to heat the pool. I'll know more when i get my next bill as to if my hopes are met. I feel like this winter has been cooler than last year, so might not be a complete one to one comparison as that my home and inside water heating might be costing me more this year and would decrease the pool cost amounts a little.
It may make a difference, but i am only uncovering the swimming lane each day, so about half of the pool is staying covered all the time.
Hope that helps and let me know if you want any additional details.