Do you have to use some type of pool cover overnight with this heater in order to keep the water from cooling too much?
1116350
Use solar blanket when not using the pool will retain alot of the heat gained during the day, and using it during the day when not in use it will add to the heat. To retain max heat turn your pump off at dusk and back on a hour or so after dawn with solar blanket on. Just depends on how warm you want your pool. late spring mine is about 80-82 summer around 86. Also I live in the pacific NW.Pool is 48" deep by 18' round, I have 2 of these solar heaters and a solar blanket, 1hp pump, 16" sand filter, and salt water system. I will be experimenting with using separate pump for heaters on a timer(Dawn til dusk) with main pump running 18-24hrs a day. Use solar blanket when not using the pool will retain alot of the heat gained during the day, and using it during the day when not in use it will add to the heat. To retain max heat turn your pump off at dusk and back on a hour or so after dawn with solar blanket on. Just depends on how warm you want your pool. late spring mine is about 80-82 summer around 86. Also I live in the pacific NW.Pool is 48" deep by 18' round, I have 2 of these solar heaters and a solar blanket, 1hp pump, 16" sand filter, and salt water system. I will be experimenting with using separate pump... » Read More Use solar blanket when not using the pool will retain alot of the heat gained during the day, and using it during the day when not in use it will add to the heat. To retain max heat turn your pump off at dusk and back on a hour or so after dawn with solar blanket on. Just depends on how warm you want your pool. late spring mine is about 80-82 summer around 86. Also I live in the pacific NW.Pool is 48" deep by 18' round, I have 2 of these solar heaters and a solar blanket, 1hp pump, 16" sand filter, and salt water system. I will be experimenting with using separate pump for heaters on a timer(Dawn til dusk) with main pump running 18-24hrs a day. « Show Less
1116351
A pool cover is the best way to retain heat and slow evaporation. This solar heater isn't worth the effort to be honest with you. I didn't have much luck with it. Just not enough surface area to provide much additional heating of the water.
1116352
I do use a pool cover but it also servers as a thermal blanket. I bought it from Walmart. It's a blue cover with air bubbles and advertised as a heating/thermal blanket. Hope this helps.
1116353
You can use a solar cover to help retain the heat. The clear covers work the best. Another way to help is to by-pass the heater at night. We have used this heater for 3 years now and we do like it. In the summer when it gets really hot, leave it running at night to cool the water back off.
1116354
I didn't use one. My water didn't really cool down too much overnight. I like my pool temp between 78-82 degrees and as long as the days were sunny I didn't have a problem.
1081687
My pool is cleaner than without the cover; I use the same amount of chemicals as before. It is sparkling. However, I live at the beach and the pool doesn't get terribly warm - 6-7 degrees more than without it. Been using a cover for over 15 years. Wouldn't be without it.
465143
If the water gets very warm under the cover and not enough chlorine/shock is used, it can grow algae. I think this would be true with all types of pool covers.
1153308
I live in Surprise AZ and we purchased our last fall. Put it on and left it until March and we were able to get in the pool in March with no heater. We will leave it off until Fall again and then put it back on. It also helps keep leaves out of the pool all fall. I highly recommend it.
1777633
I use it for a pool cover pump. It uses the liquid it's pumping to cool but I have accidentally left it on all night(a couple of times) and it was fine. It's a great pump.
1732211
This cover just sits on top of the water. You need to get one the same size diameter or smaller than your pool. Laying flat like it does, the wind never seems to be able to get underneath it. Just vision, Blue Industrial Strength Bubble Wrap. Heats the pool up nice, helps keep the warmth in at night. Even helps with chlorine retention.
1861034
According to my pool guy, absolutely. BUT, I live in East Texas where the weather doesn't get that cold in the off-season. The user manual suggests that if the temperatures where you live in the winter get down below 41 degrees on a regular basis, then they suggest putting the pull up to avoid damage to the materials. So this depends on where you live. If you live in an area like the one I live in then there are winter conditioners you add to the water before putting your cover on and slipping into non-usage until the next warm season. If you do have to take it down at the end of each season, it might ease your mind to discover that the take down and assembly isn't that bad. Filling the pool is the most time consuming part.
1194487
Even though the water heats up, it's trapped under the cover which minimizes the evaporation rate. (It would reduce it completely if it was totally sealed) There will be minimal evaporation around the sides, and if there are any holes that allow water to come to the top, but my "refill" rate has been cut at least 75-80%. Here during the summer, I used to have to refill every 7-10 days. So far I've done it only once in the last few weeks. Not sure if I can share links, but there is an article on energy (dot) gov on Swimming Pool Covers and it references some good stuff.
1417445
Considering that the cut out for the heater to stick through the cover is right near the cut out for the filtration system, I think it wouldn't be an issue with the water not being properly circulating around the heater. We haven't had an issue with ours.
1956099
Yes I think you should be able to cut it down. This item does make the water warm and too hot for us so after 2 days we stopped using it. this is a solar heater not a cover.
2233681
Our pool was averaging 76-78 degrees before the cover. Now it averages 82-84 degrees.Hope this helps!
1844509
When the sun is not out, you need to stop water from going through the heaters. It will do the opposite if the sun is not out and cool the water. Hope this helps.
2153653
In my experience, basically no. But... if I keep one half of the insulated cover on the hot tub, the temperature will keep above 100 for over 20-30 minutes in 20 below zero temperatures (I live in Montana). I have also found that the wind is a major factor in cooling the hot tub. If I keep the wind down, the temperature stays up much longer. This is not perfect but I find that it is OK for me, especially at the price I paid. I have enjoyed the hot tub tremendously and have had no problems with the unit in almost a year. Take care.
552158
No, not at all. After it cools off, just put the cover on and leave it. I have two of them and leave both outside. They work great.
643378
The pool we bought came with a cover and it seems to do the trick! The water temperature is around 82 degrees just with the cover. We live in ohio and the temp averages 90 degrees.
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.
178392
No. If you want temp in your tank to be higher than room temp, use an additional heater.