06/08/2026
Should you keep your solar cover or automatic cover on all the time?
Short answer: No
While covers are great for reducing evaporation, retaining heat, and helping preserve chlorine, keeping them on constantly may also have some downsides.
With less sunlight and airflow reaching the water, chloramines, oils, sunscreen and other contaminants can build up, and warmer water can create conditions that make it harder to maintain crystal-clear water if chemistry isn’t kept in check because there’s less natural off-gassing and dilution from rainfall. The water under the cover may not circulate as effectively, especially if pump run times are short. Solar covers are meant to trap heat, and warmer water can encourage algae growth if chlorine levels aren’t maintained.
✅ Keep it covered when:
* The pool isn’t being used for a day or more.
* You want to reduce evaporation (a major source of water loss in hot weather).
* You want to retain heat overnight.
* You want to keep out leaves, insects, pollen, and debris.
* You want to reduce chlorine consumption, since sunlight breaks down chlorine.
🚫Leave it uncovered when:
* People are actively using the pool.
* You want to cool the water down during very hot weather. A cover can trap heat and make the water uncomfortably warm.
* You need to improve air circulation and allow some combined chloramines (the “chlorine pool smell”) to dissipate after heavy use.
A compromise is to remove the cover periodically—especially during sunny days while the pump is running—to improve circulation and allow the pool to “breathe.”
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