Pool Covers in Alamo Keep Water from Evaporating

Water evaporation is a common problem among pool owners, especially during the hot season or in arid regions. The best way pool owners can do to minimize evaporation is to install pool water covers in Alamo. 

Just imagine how much water you can save when your pool is covered, depending on several factors, such as the pool surface area, water and air temperatures, wind, and shade.

How to detect unusual water loss

If you notice that your pool’s water levels are significantly dropping, do the following steps:

1. Bucket test: Place a bucket filled with water on a pool step. Mark the water levels inside the bucket and in the pool. Compare the levels after 24–48 hours to differentiate between evaporation and potential leaks.
2. Check for damp spots: Look around the pool area for consistently wet spots, indicating underground leaks.
3. Inspect equipment: Check the pump, filter, and plumbing for signs of leakage.

If your pool has no leaks or plumbing issues, but its water levels continue to drop, evaporation is likely the culprit.

How much water does a pool lose to evaporation every day?

The amount of water an uncovered pool loses to evaporation depends on ambient temperature, humidity, wind, and pool size. Here’s an estimate of water loss for each scenario:

On an ordinary day

• Evaporation rate: A typical uncovered pool loses ¼ to ½ inch of water daily due to evaporation.
• Volume loss: For a 20×40 ft pool (800 sq ft), this equates to:
  • 50 to 100 gallons per day.

During summer or in an arid region

• Evaporation rate: Uncovered pools can lose ½ to 1 inch or more per day.
  • Volume loss: For the same 20×40 ft pool:
    • 100 to 200+ gallons daily.
• Extreme conditions: Hot, dry, and windy conditions can cause even greater losses, sometimes up to 300 gallons daily for large pools.

How does a pool cover work in reducing evaporation?

Using a pool cover dramatically minimizes evaporation, conserving water and reducing the need for frequent refilling. This is especially important in hot or arid climates, where water conservation is crucial.

A pool cover acts as a physical barrier between the pool water and the surrounding air and sunlight. Here’s how it works:

Reducing exposure to air

• Evaporation occurs when water molecules on the surface gain enough energy to escape into the air as vapor.
• A pool cover blocks the interaction between the water surface and the air, minimizing the energy exchange that causes evaporation.

Retaining heat

• Heat accelerates evaporation, especially during hot days or when the water is warmer than the air.
• Pool covers, especially solar covers, retain the pool’s heat, preventing the temperature gradient from driving evaporation.

Reducing wind impact

• Wind increases evaporation by removing the humid layer of air above the water surface, allowing more water molecules to escape.
• A cover prevents wind from reaching the pool, maintaining a stable layer of moist air under the cover.

UV protection

• Direct sunlight heats the water, increasing evaporation rates.
• Many pool covers are designed to block or reflect UV rays, reducing the heat absorbed by the water.

Maintaining humidity

• The cover traps moisture that would otherwise escape, maintaining a humid microclimate just above the water’s surface.
• This reduces the energy driving further evaporation.

As a result:

• On an ordinary day – A pool cover reduces evaporation by 90-95%, so water loss with a cover is negligible, often less than 1-5 gallons daily, mostly from handling the cover.
• During the hot months or in arid regions – Pool water loss is still reduced by 90-95%, even in extreme conditions. Daily water loss might be 10-20 gallons or less.

By reducing evaporation, pool covers help conserve water, save on refilling costs, and minimize the need for chemical balancing since fewer chemicals are lost to evaporation.

A pool cover also keeps your pool water clean by blocking off debris, minimizing algae growth, and retaining sanitizing chemicals. You don’t need to clean the pool water or replace it with clean water.

Final words

While there are other ways to prevent evaporation, pool covers in Alamo are still the most effective. Covering your pool when not in use is the single best thing you can do to combat water loss. Install a quality manual or automatic pool cover from Pool Covers, Inc., save a lot of water, and enjoy a longer swimming season! Get a free quote today by contacting us at 707-864-6674 or customerservice@poolcoversinc.com.