esrosedotblog

WARM UP

I know the rest of the country is not thinking about this. Well, maybe in Florida.

But we have to get our pool ready for visitors in April.

The water temperature right now is 57 F. Not very good for swimming. We have to warm it up.

That means, for the first time in a long time, I will be using the "solar cover" instead of the solar heating.

Our solar system hit the skids last summer and after seven years would have to be replaced. The ultra violet rays are killer even on the nylon from which the solar mats are made.

I wasn't ready to cough up the 4,000 dollars plus to replace it.

We use a bubble wrap looking pool cover. It absorbs the rays in (radiation) but doesn't let the water's heat out (convection). Not to get technical but, actually, there is heat transfer from conduction too. The ground is not all that warm yet.

The pool cover lasts three years and costs about $200 to replace.

I will get a degree or two a day rise. Maybe three.

It doesn't sound like much but figure this. All the days are sunny. Most. In 20 days I will have a 20 degree rise which is just what I want. Actually it is not a geometric curve. It will tail off. Say 30 days. It will be 80.

Best guess.

By April, actually, the night temps will get to about 70 so it will be in equilibrium. Or something.

It is aqua incognita.

Labels: pool