Thinking of purchasing a 12 mil solar cover for a 20x40 unheated pool in SW FLA located inside a screen cage. how much of a temp &gt; can I expect?
1475626
It totally depends on a number of factors. How many gallons of water are in your pool? What's the starting water temp? What's the average outside air temp? How many hours of direct sunlight is the pool getting per day? In my old pool in AZ, when the water temp started at 70 degrees, and the outside air temp averaged about 70 degrees, and the pool was in full sunlight all day every day, the temperature rose to 80 degrees by the 5th day. The cover is also helpful in keeping the temperature steady after a pool heater is used. It took a full 5 days for the water temperature to fall from 86 degrees to 80 degrees with an average outside air temp of 70 with all sunny days. Without the cover, I don't know how quickly the temperature would fall, but I'm guessing within a day it would have been around 70. I have data from another day that showed the pool cover raised the temperature from 82 degrees to 86 degrees in 2 hrs when the air temp climbed from 67 to 83 over that span. I doubt the water temp would have budged much in that short time without the cover.
2032721
Our pool is only 18ft and it works well for our size, but I have no way of knowing if it would generate enough warmth for a 24ft pool. You could try using one panel and if it doesn't keep the water temp comfortable, you could add another panel, but that obviously takes up more space and more money. Sorry I couldn't be more helpful.
702101
No, it probably isn't wrong....my pool is 20 X40 and I purchased 15 of them to heat my pool. They work well, but can be damaged fairly easily....I had 13 of them by the end of the season and two that need repaired.
293619
Mine is installed outside. My pool is about 30,000 gallons. The rate of heat increase is about 2 degrees per 90 minutes. A larger pool will obviously take longer to heat. You might expect 1 degree per hour, possibly less with a 45,000 gallon pool.
1930993
Yes, but how much will depend on your location. An in-ground pool will generally stay 10 degrees warmer than the coldest nighttime temperature. I live in South Florida, so my cover will raise the temperature 6-10 degrees. Therefore, in May, when the nights are in the high 60's, I can get my pool up to the low to mid eighties. In August, when nighttime lows are in the mid 70's, I can get it up to 90 degrees. Of course, it also depends on how much sun your pool gets during the day. If you have the pool in a lot of shade, the cover will keep the pool clean and save you on chemicals, but it won't do much to raise the temperature.
406148
Yep! We have an in-ground pool 12 x 20 and it helps to keep the pool heat in. If there's sun, it seems to help heat the pool as well.
1479356
I think it's 12 mil, not really sure, just know that I wouldn't buy one again, did not warm our water on sunny days, and when we removed the cover even with adding the pool chemicals, the water had a sour smell to it.
1109011
I live in Los Angeles San Fernando Valley which averages between 94 and 100. I bought the pool set it up in the yard mostly full sun and after 3 days it was springing air leaks all over. Very very thin plastic panels!
766017
I'd honestly try to find a cover that'll cover the entirety of your pool. The point of solar covers is to hold heat in. If you use multiple panels to cover it, you'll have gaps (even if you overlap) in which heat will escape, ultimately lowering the effectiveness of the cover.
300811
No, and you do not want that in a solar cover. Get it large enough to fit to the very edge (trim if it you must) and if there is any overhang, flip it under, inside the pool. Lofting it over the edge means it can blow away, and reduces the warming power. The better it fits to the edge of the pool, the less movement and less debris. FURTHER I used one of those drawstring things. OKAY they don't work to keep debris out, for sure. If it rains, then you have 200 pounds of water in the center, no way can you get the thing off without dropping most of the debris. It cannot be pulled off with the water in it, and to drop that water in the pool means SCUZZ. Solar covers work 100 times better for debris, they can be lifted up, and debris simply blows off. Sign me: Learnt the hard way
2210990
It's tough to answer that with out seeing your setup. I have 6 panels on the roof (14' up).I took the outflow from the filter using 3' of 2" flex hose, plumbed into the hard 2" PVC pipe, up the wall, on to the roof. That then ties into solar panels. Same thing to returns to the pool. Works great in Los Angeles, my 17,000 gal pool is 85 degrees mid May! I have to get a cover to try and control the evaporation!
293617
Depends on where you are located. I'm in NW. Indiana with a pool of 25,000 gal. They recommended a 250,000 btu for my pool but in doing research it was said that you can not buy too small. I installed outdoors and am very happy with the results. I can increase pool temp. by atleast 1 degree an hour and can maintain with a short burst daily. You probably should go with a 400,000 if I were you.
805779
I think it run about $10 a day if you got it cranked wide open. The up side is, I and bring temp up between 8 to 10 degrees in a day. It's a 33,000 pool(20'+40') . I you were just trying to maintain a temp a $1 or 2 at best. It the best way to go. The heater is very good, it lets you know the in-coming water and the out going water temps. I would recommend putting a valve in on the in let side to chock the water down. I got that tip from the factory. Gary
2229703
It will work but you will see more heat loss at night because the pool isn't completely covered. I bought this cover because I thought it would be more durable than the thinner ones I have had in the past and it is already falling apart after one season. Normally they last only last two seasons anyway.
643379
You mean "solar" as in to heat the pool, above the pool ? Because my pool also came with the top cover for when not in use and mine stays plenty warm just from the sun. I live in California and I am actually thinking about putting a canopy over mine so it won't get so hot.
1898839
not sure the max but I have a 12mil pool cover and my pool is pretty big. It works no problem.
218470
i don't think so. our pool is 20 x 40 and we have about 6" of overlap on the width on each side. did't trim it and the overlap keeps more heat in. if you live in hot part of the country you may not care about a bit of heat loss. great cover!!!