Has anyone used one a liquid solar blanket in their swimming pool? Do they work?
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I have one of the solar fish in my pool. I put it in about 3 weeks ago. It has helped somewhat (I don't have a thermometer in there, so I don't know exactly what temperature rise I've gotten, but I can feel the difference). My pool only gets full sun for about 4 hours a day, so if yours gets more, I'm sure it will do better.
Addl.
My experience in the swimming pool industry is on the residential end. Being certified as a CPO myself, I understand that there is a world of difference between residential and commercial pools (as my colleague here obviously has the advantage over me in this area.).
I agree with what he is saying about how they work and what effects they would have on the water (since they primarily work by cutting down on evaporation), but I believe these effects would be more pronounced in a much more heavy-usage commercial application. (Since residential pools will generally have a much lower bather load, and as one of the consequences, generally produce lower chloramine levels.)
As far as the chlorine demand issue goes, I know already that it is going to increase my chlorine demand simply if it does what its intended to do; raise the temperature of the water. As far as the chloramine levels go, I haven't seen any appreciable difference so far (by testing), but we'll see how it goes.
I've never found they work worth a darn and actually cause gummy problems in the filters. If you use a DE filter they really mess with them. There might be some changes over the last ten years in the chemistry of these things but I would highly recommend not using them.
*EDIT*
Two different results to choose from here. I'm not sure of Mikes credentials in the industry but I have been administrating public and semi-public pools for over ten years now. I stay away from any "optional" chemicals in a pool for sake of sanitation and because I'm subjected to monthly health department inspections. So my advice is based on this. I have seen pools that have used these chemical blankets and have noticed very little difference.
One thing I do know about them for fact is that they interfere with the gas exchange at the surface of the water by their nature. This means that your chlorine isn't going to work as effectively as it would if you didn't use a product like this. Without having the ability to gas off the chloramines you will find your pool harder to maintain sanitary and may even encounter increased chlorine demand on the pool.
As a regular pool owner, I've used the bubble solar cover type and found that they did help quite a bit. We live in Northren N.Y. so any help is welcomed.
They are a pain though if you don't have the roller for them.
Very bulky and difficult to store.
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