We recommend it, yes. A pool cover does much more than just cover your pool in the winter. It can keep heat in your pool, keep leaves out of the pool, and save your chemicals and water from evaporating.
Covering won't lower the temperature of your pool drastically, but it will prevent the water from getting warmer. If the water is at the temperature you want, make sure to keep it that way by covering it up tightly whenever you're not using it, especially during the day.
In dry and/or windy conditions, the evaporation rate of the pool increases. Therefore, it is generally beneficial to have a transparent or bubble cover on during daylight hours. In warm, humid conditions the evaporation rate decreases. In this case, it may be more beneficial to leave the cover off during the daytime.
In high summer it may be necessary to remove the pool cover (particularly at night when the air temperature drops) for the pool water to cool naturally. The cover should not be continually left on for more than 7 days continuously. Pool covers are very effective at reducing chemical usage.
A cover over your pool will keep the water at a warmer temperature than an uncovered pool. Not only does this mean you can jump in earlier in the day, but it also reduces heating costs. Whether you use a heat pump, solar, or gas system, a pool cover will increase heat retention by up to 75%!
Keep it covered.
Covering the pool is a good way to prevent algae growth. The right cover keeps algae from entering the pool, but it also keeps leaves, bugs, bacteria, and dirt from decomposing in the pool, providing algae with food.
An average pool will heat up about 0.7° per hour under the noontime sun. But the downside to that sun? Evaporation. Evaporation can cause the same pool to lose 5°F for every quarter inch of water evaporated.
When winter is near its chilly end, it can be tempting to want to take the cover off of your swimming pool. While there's no exact date when it comes to the best time to re-open your pool after the winter season, it's best to wait until the temperatures in your area are at least 50 degrees or above.
3. Sun cover. Covering your pool from the sun's heat is another effective option for maintaining the pool's temperature. By installing a canopy over your pool, you'll stop direct contact of the sun with our pool's water, preventing it from getting warm.
A common reason for high chlorine can be the addition of a pool cover. Leaving the pool cover on for extended periods, can dramatically increase the chlorine very quickly. Sun will "eat" away chlorine fast, however the pool cover will prevent this from happening.
If a major storm is in the forecast, it's best to skip the cover altogether. Automatic covers are even less advisable because they are costlier, and you can't “secure” them any more than the original design. So, don't use the pool cover in heavy rains and major storms.
You can close your pool once the temperature of the water remains consistently below 65°F.
Stains, scaling, algae growth, and imbalanced water chemistry are just a few dilemmas that can arise if you don't use a winter pool cover. Pool covers block both debris and sunlight from entering your pool — conserving winter chemicals and protecting the pool's structure.
Cool Your Pool
The simplest, most cost-effective way to keep your pool a few degrees colder is to run your pump at night, when the air is cooler. The effect won't be drastic, but this should still make a noticeable difference. Another effective way to cool your pool is to install a reverse-cycle heat pump.
Provided you have a cover, whether automatic or solar, leaving your pool heater on overnight is okay, as the cover will help trap in heat and prevent evaporation. This will mean you're not trying to heat a pool overnight that's simultaneously competing with cold temperatures.
Water temperatures are slow to heat up, and just as slow to cool down. Water is very "stubborn" to change temperature. It takes 4 times the energy to heat up water than to heat air. Water also "feels" colder because water is a more efficent medium than air to cool our body down.
A pool that is uncovered can lose up to 5° F overnight; a good cover can cut that loss by half.
Branches, rocks, and sticks can fall onto the pool cover, resulting in a hole. As you pump the water off of the pool cover, you may be actually pumping out the water from the pool via the hole in the cover. Examine the pool cover for any rips or holes to prevent the pool from losing any more water.
On average, you should run your pool pump around 6-8 hours per day during winter and 10-12 hours per day during summer.
While vacuuming alone probably can't remove all of the algae in your pool, it does help with algae prevention: By promptly removing debris like leaves and other organic matter, you're keeping your pool water clean and discouraging algae growth.
Many pool owners even choose to put chemicals into the pool water at night as the cover prevents the loss of chemicals through evaporation. Keeping your pool cover on overnight will prevent debris from falling in your pool as well, leaving you with less cleaning to do in the morning.
It is not recommended to go above 30 degrees due to the fact that this is the temperature at which bacteria or pathogens can start to develop, also requiring more sophisticated maintenance. Water that is too cold when it comes to using the pool for fun and relaxation.
If the water is too warm it invites bacteria and algae to grow and bloom. Water temperatures in the 85 degree range is an invitation for bacteria to curl up in a corner of the pool and begin growing.