Winter Pool Cover

Doghouse Riley · 21-09-2011, 06:12 PM

I usually cover my pool in the winter with heavy duty bubblewrap, I have to use three sheets as the stuff is only four feet wide. I usually double up on it as well to give extra insulation.
It's always a bit of a performance getting it on and the stuff I use each year is getting a bit tatty.
It's difficult to find the really heavy duty stuff now in rolls that are shorter than enough to wrap the Queen Mary and it's got really expensive.

So I've just ordered a swimming pool cover, the sort that lets sunlight in but stops some of the heat getting out, in a size which I can cut down to exactly fit my pool. (rounded corners and a slight bend in one side).
I'll be able to create a "flap" to cover the "bridge" where the filter return comes under. I'm going to get some visqueen and make a "doubled up" piece for the end to create a "window" where the fish usually park themselves at night so I can see what's going on.

I will be using a lower rated filter pump, but I'll keep the air pump going.

Any thoughts on this?

Doghouse Riley · 23-09-2011, 12:56 PM

Hmm.. Plenty of views but no "thoughts"

So...Crashing on.....

My pool cover has arrived.
At 18' X 9' it's longer than my pool by about six feet but that will enable me to include a flap to cover the bridge.

It's as I expected, a heavy duty bubble wrap.

But for thirty quid including carriage, I'm not complaining. I'll lay it out on top of the net on a still day to cut it to size. It will eventually go under the net and float on the surface.
It came with a zip up bag, which will come in handy, as when I take it off in the late Spring of next year, I'll be able to pack it away after drying it out and sterilizing it.

Ant · 23-09-2011, 03:19 PM

Hi doghouse

I have a question. Is there a reason why you would be putting this directly on top of the water? when you could place it on top of the net across the pond......making you able to get a nice tight fit across the top. Allowing some gaps for any gas exchange?

Would this not keep the heat in better? I don't know the answer my self, so would like to find out

Doghouse Riley · 23-09-2011, 05:17 PM

Hi Ant,

Thanks for your interest.

If you look at the perimiter of my pool it's formed of irregular sized rocks with small gaps in between them. They are part of my "anti-heron defences." (they don't present a regular platform and there's a fair distance between the top of the rocks and the pool). Consequently there would be large gaps under the cover if I put it above the net. As the heat loss will come from the latent heat exchange between the water and the air "whistling" over it, I think it'd be a waste of time.
Also, in strong winds the cover on top of the net would act like a sail and despite securing it in several places it would attempt to take off in any sort of wind.
Enough air will be able to escape around the area of the bridge under which the filter return and the air lines enter the pool, I also doubt if the corners of the pool will be a "snug fit" for the cover.

Davej · 23-09-2011, 10:13 PM

Evening DHR

I suspect that you get a longer winter than I do down in Essex but that when we get that coold NE Easterly wind we encounter lower winter temps for a brief period.

Totally agree that if unheated then a cover on a Koi Pond is pretty much essential to avoid some of the wind chill and iron out the fluctuations in temperature.

Do your temps get that low that the pond ices over beneath the cover?

Dave

faz201283 · 23-09-2011, 10:17 PM

im not far from DHR and last year coldest i clocked in my car was -21, that was half 6 in the morning.

were did you get your cover from DHR

Ant · 23-09-2011, 10:25 PM

Hi Dave

Would you say its better to try and cover across the top of pond leaving an inch or two from the water surface or just directly on top of the water?

Doghouse Riley · 23-09-2011, 10:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Davej

Evening DHR

I suspect that you get a longer winter than I do down in Essex but that when we get that coold NE Easterly wind we encounter lower winter temps for a brief period.

Totally agree that if unheated then a cover on a Koi Pond is pretty much essential to avoid some of the wind chill and iron out the fluctuations in temperature.

Do your temps get that low that the pond ices over beneath the cover?

Dave

Hi Davej,

I've had snow on it, but no ice due to the fact that the pump is running and the filters are in the garage, in a part insulated room.

Quote:

Originally Posted by UKHCF FAZ

im not far from DHR and last year coldest i clocked in my car was -21, that was half 6 in the morning.

were did you get your cover from DHR

Hi Faz,

It got down to about -14 for a while last year. But I'm never up before 8.00am in the morning unless it's "a golf day."

"For everything else, there's ebay"

There you go, they do them in different sizes.

NEW Bestway Solar Cover For Up To 9ft x 18ft Pools | eBay

gaz 69 · 27-09-2011, 09:30 AM

So what is best on top of the water or above the water realy would like your advise guys

Doghouse Riley · 27-09-2011, 01:53 PM

Any cover where the air has a free passage under it won't be effective in reducing heat loss.

If you've a flat-surfaced surround to your pool, I suggest you could make a frame to fit over it out of 2" X 1" or whatever and attach the cover to it. This would be effective with say six inches of clearance under it.
But if you use a hand tacking gun to attach the cover to the frame, make sure the staples are really secure, if any fall off into the pool, your fish could pick 'em up.