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—Heating and cooling

How a cover affects pool temperature

Most of a pool’s heat is lost through its surface. A cover changes that more than any other single measure.

An uncovered pool loses heat through evaporation, radiation to the night sky and wind. In winter, covering the pool overnight keeps much of the day’s heat in the water and reduces how hard a heat pump has to work. Covers also reduce water loss and debris.

Temperature guides explain how pools in a hot climate are heated in winter and cooled in summer.

In summer, covers behave differently depending on type. Some solar covers increase heat gain in the sun, which is useful in winter but unhelpful in summer. Opaque or reflective automatic covers can reduce gain when closed during the day. Choosing a cover with the season of use in mind avoids surprises.

01Summary

What matters most here

  • Surface losses dominate

    A cover reduces them.

  • Winter benefit

    Holding heat overnight.

  • Summer depends on type

    Some covers add heat.

02Detail

Cover types and effects

  • Solar covers

    Gain heat in sun; useful in winter.

  • Automatic slatted covers

    Reduce losses; effect on gain varies by colour.

  • Insulating covers

    Reduce heat transfer both ways.

  • Evaporation

    All covers reduce water loss.

03Before you start

Using a cover well

  • Cover at night in winter

    To hold heat.

  • Consider summer use

    Whether the cover adds heat.

  • Store safely

    Away from sun when off.

—In practice

How to use this

Use a cover overnight in the cooler months to keep the day’s heat in the water, and consider how your particular cover type behaves in summer sun. Match cover use to your heating or cooling strategy, and make it easy to put on and take off, so it is actually used rather than left folded.

Mistakes worth avoiding

A solar cover in summer
Some covers are designed to add heat. Left on in summer, they push water temperature further up when cooling is wanted.
A cover that is never used
A cover only helps when it is on the water. If it is awkward to handle, it will stay in storage.

04FAQ

Common questions about this

Does a cover save energy?
Yes, by reducing heat lost from the surface.
Can a cover make summer water warmer?
Some solar covers can; choose with summer in mind.
Does a cover reduce evaporation?
Significantly, while it is on.
Is a cover worth it with a heat pump?
It usually reduces how much the heat pump needs to run.

05Read next

More pool guides on this

Filed under heat & cool system installation. Every pool guide is listed on the pool guides page.

—NEXT

Choosing a cover?

Tell us when you swim. We will suggest a cover type.

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