liquid and solid pool covers research :)

Heyy everyone!!!! :)

Well over the past few days ive been doing alot of background research and posting all of my research and references up onto my blog. So this week ive done some research particularly on pH levels and surface tension. Today i thought id do some research on liquid and solid pool covers. Now i know quite a while ago on my previous blogs i posted some info on these things, but they were just a description because i was just getting started into the research component of the srp. But now since the srp report is almost due, i thought it would be a good idea to do some more in depth research on these things!

Liquid pool covers:
Liquid pool covers are a generally a mixture of Isopropyl alcohol and a proprietary ingredient. The liquid is added to a pool in very small amounts (Generally around 4 ounces per 1500 square feet of pool surface per day). The liquid spreads out and creates a thin invisible barrier covering the pool only a few molecules thick. This barrier acts like a traditional solar blanket to trap in heat and prevent evaporation of your chemicals, but since it's liquid it remains working even while swimmers are present.

Liquid blankets are ideal in commercial applications where there are swimmers present much of the time or whenever a traditional blanket would be impractical.
Liquid covers have been in use for years, and maintain a proven track record in commercial use especially. Most liquid covers are filter friendly, do not affect the chemical balance [PH, chlorine, alkalinity, etc.] of the water and will not damage vinyl liners or any other pool surfaces, it is also harmless to the skin and eyes, even in infants.
Many liquid cover systems also come with an automatic injector which will continually add the proper amount of liquid cover to your pool as needed.

How much evaporation exactly do liquid pool covers prevent?
The chemical forms a barrier on the water's surface which inhibits evaporation by up to 40%. It can either be added to the pool daily by hand or by using an automatic metering system.

Other:
Ok well also as i was researching on liquid pool covers, i came across the Heatsavr liquid pool cover, and i thought it would be interesting to include some info on this particular product, because they claimed to prevent 50% of evaporation, where as every other pool cover claimed to prevent 40% of evaporation. Hmmm....interesting. well anyway, here is some info on this product:

Heatsavr is a bio-degradable liquid, which forms a transparent monomolecular layer over the surface of a swimming pool whenever it is calm. This layer significantly reduces evaporation, which not only saves on water heating but with indoor pools can reduce the cost of humidity control and air heating requirements. An automatic dosing system ensures that the correct dose of Heatsavr is added to the pool at the same time each day.
· Proven Energy savings up to 50%
· Reduces humidity on indoor pools
· Transparent – More aesthetically acceptable than a conventional cover
· More hygienic - conventional covers require stringent and regular cleaning to avoid bacterial growth
· Far more convenient, simpler and easier to use than a conventional cover
· Greater flexibility – works whenever the pool surface is reasonably calm 24 hours per day - works to greater or lesser degree dependant on pool activity
· Equally effective on deck level pools
· Automatic dosing ensures correct and reliable application
· Fully and independently tested for Safety – Non-Toxic and Biodegradable
· Undetectable by pool users – tasteless, odourless, no residue on hair or clothing
· Saves water otherwise lost by evaporation

Solid pool covers:
These covers are generally made out of plastic, vinyl, or bubble plastic or vinyl. They have a roller for storage, and take some effort to roll out and put away. They have an added safety benefit as it is difficult to fall into the pool when the cover is in place.
How much evaporation exactly do solid pool covers prevent?
Solid pool covers prevent 95% of evaporation, which is a lot! In fact they prevent 55% more evaporation than liquid pool covers! Wow! :O

References:
http://www.savewater.com.au/index.php?sectionid=177
http://www.heatsaver.co.uk/

xoxo Mira