Solar Covers Lose Air

[Prostang]

This was originally posted in the AboveGround Pools section....

Hello all. I am desparate and seek information. Three pool stores I shop at and have asked for help could not find any problems or offer any advice. My chemicals are within desired ranges.

I have an ongoing issue since I setup this pool. EVERY solar pool cover I purchase loses air in every single cell within 8-10 days of placing it on my pool. They heat up the pool beautifully, but they all end up sinking and losing air.

This also happens with floating thermostats, and winter pool covers with the air pillows. I have searched the internet and have not found any suggestions. Please help. I worry about the water and what may be the issue. We have been using the pool and have not experienced any issues.

Thanks.

Prostang

[Romulous]

I have the exact same problem, it looks like someone took a syringe and pulled the air out of each bubble and caused it to invert. If you are getting 8 to 10 days from your cover you are doing better than my 2 - 3 before I fish it out of the bottom. I believe the problem is nitrogen and we are working very very hard to get this fixed. Does your pool seem to be going through chlorine at an advanced rate? If it does it could be.

This is from a friend who has worked with pools:

"Even though the chlorine level is good at the time of testing it... COULD BE the combination of Free cholrine and Combined cholorine this reacts with nitrogen in the water and as the cholorine levels increase so do the levels of dichloramine and nitogen tricholride. It has to do with organic material in the water that stay disolved until the Breakpoint Chlorination and achieved. There is a mathmatic equation that addresses how much chlorine to add. its hard to explain. check with your pool company to test for Free C, Combined C, caculate the Break point chlorination to remove all the organic levels that may be causing the nitrogen levels. ask about using a water clarifier, (liquid) flockulant might work and could be cheaper. The BPC will be the total choro - free choro x 10.. this could be adding enough choro to raise your choro level to 8-10ppm chloro.

if your pool company deals with residental pool only, try contacting a commercial pool company that handles water chemistry for some of the bigger city pools or ymca's."

I don't know if this will help and if anyone else has an idea of what it could be please POST. Unless you have had one of these mystery problems you have no idea how frustrating it is, I have been to 3 pool companies as well and have had the same response as you have Prostang that the levels are perfectly balanced and that I have done a lovely job in getting all the levels to this point. I will tell you that my wife and I are about ready to fill the pool in because we think we have it fixed and 2 - 3 days later we fish another solar cover out of the bottom!

Let me know if anyone has an idea!

Romulous