Any swimming pool owner knows that cleaning your pool water is an important part of owning and looking after a pool. Like a solar cover, the pool pump and a pool cover are two of the main ways to keep your pool water clear, sparkling, and free of debris. But while the pool pump and a solar cover can help keep your pool clean, can you use both simultaneously?
The short answer is yes. But read on to learn more about the benefits of running a pool pump with your solar cover on.
Main Takeaways
- It is perfectly safe to run the pool pump while keeping the solar pool cover on.
- Keeping your pool cover on reduces water evaporation and electricity costs.
- Your pool pump should run for around 6 to 8 hours daily.
- You should cover your pool with a pool cover any time your pool is not in use.
Can You Keep Your Pool Cover On While Running the Pool Pump?
Yes, you can keep your pool cover on while running the pool pump. The pool cover does not affect the pool pump’s ability to circulate water underneath. In fact, keeping the pool cover on reduces the number of hours the pump must run, which increases the pump’s lifespan.
The pool cover and pool pump serve distinct functions. The pool pump circulates water in the pool to heat, treat, and filter. As the water circulates, debris in the water is trapped in the skimmer basket and pool filters. And in return, cleaner and healthier pool water is transferred back into the pool.
On the other hand, the pool cover protects the pool from contaminants and debris that may fall into the water. With the pool cover in place, debris such as leaves, bird droppings, grass clippings, and other organic matter will not enter the pool water.
Benefits of Using a Solar Pool Cover While Your Pump is Running
Using a solar pool cover while your pump is running is perfectly reasonable and provides many benefits to any pool owner. If used correctly with your pool pump, a solar cover can do much more than protect the pool water from debris and other falling items.
Energy Cost Reduction
The most exciting advantage to running the pool pump and keeping the solar cover on is that it holds water warm naturally without adding additional heating costs to your pocket. Pool heaters use the pool pump to pump cold water through to the heater to heat it up. You can reduce your pool pump’s workload by keeping your solar cover on.
If you live somewhere with a lot of sunlight, a solar pool cover can make a huge difference in keeping your pool water warm without adding to your energy bill.
Prevent Evaporation
Another benefit of using a solar cover on the pool while running the pump is that it reduces potential evaporation. Evaporation is the leading cause of heat loss in a pool. Keeping the pool cover on overnight with the pool pump running will prevent evaporation and keep the water warmer. This will also save you money on your water bill in the long run, as you won’t need to replace your pool water as frequently.
Keep Debris Out Of Your Pool
A solar pool cover will do more than heat the pool and save money on bills; it will also stop debris like leaves and insects from falling into your pool. Simply clean off the debris from the surface of the pool cover instead of having to fish through the pool water with a net. This will save you a lot of time and energy when cleaning and maintaining your pool.
Aid Your Pool Pump
Keeping your solar cover on will also make your pool pump’s job easier. With less debris entering the water, the pool pump won’t have to work as hard to keep your pool in tip-top shape.
Enjoy an Extended Swimming Season
When you insulate your pool with a solar cover, it helps maintain the pool water’s temperature, which can, in turn, help you enjoy an extended swimming season. A solar cover, in particular, can do an excellent job at extending your pool season by even a couple of months!
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Bottom Line
There are many benefits to running a pool pump and using a solar cover at the same time. Neither hurts the function of the other; in fact, using both will help you save money and energy on time spent cleaning. As a pool owner, it is your responsibility to ensure that your swimming pool stays in good shape throughout the year. And using these two tools can make your job infinitely easier. If you want recommendations on either piece of equipment, check out my articles on the best pool pumps and solar covers.
