[billethkid]

We have a gas heater and a solar back up system. We elect to not use a solar pool cover as ours is very irregular in shape and a pain to put on and take off...plus it hides the beauty of the pool.

We pretty much use it right up until this week and will now lower the temps on the gas heater and just let the solar do it's thing. And in this mode the pool will not maintain a swimmable temperature during the current cold evenings and shorter sunshine days.

So we do without the pool for January and part of February.

The hot tub is used year around....it is a totally separate sstem from the pool.

What do others do with your pools during the cold months?

[keithwand]

We look at it.
Nice water feature.

[RedChariot]

Nice to look at but that's all. Don't use solar blanket. Too difficult. We tested it and only gained 2 degrees with it on. The solar is set for 86 degrees, but is only maintaining 75 at this time of year. We are disappointed and hoping the solar heating will get us into the pool earlier in the spring. Maybe? Do people in south Florida swim in their pools at this time of year?

[patfla06]

Have lived in Florida 16 years and have never heated the pool or used it in cool weather.
We just use our hot tub.
And the longer you live here the warmer you want the water!

[jblum315]

I don't know, Red. Our pool in south Miami was not heated and the temp this time of year was in the 50's. But most people with solar heating for their pools were able to use them.

[gustavo]

Originally Posted by RedChariot

Nice to look at but that's all. Don't use solar blanket. Too difficult. We tested it and only gained 2 degrees with it on. The solar is set for 86 degrees, but is only maintaining 75 at this time of year. We are disappointed and hoping the solar heating will get us into the pool earlier in the spring. Maybe? Do people in south Florida swim in their pools at this time of year?

We have a pool with a spa connected. The water can flow from the spa to the pool or, in spa mode, the water only circulates to the spa. Even in the winter the solar can get the hot tub up to 100 degrees in a few hours. That's because the total volume of this mode is about 500 gallons of water as opposed to the 11,000 gallons for the spa/pool combo. So in the winter, it's the spa with a quick dip after into the 77 degree water. Then the spa water is dumped into the pool and raises it about 1 degree.

[justjim]

Exactly what I see during the winter months is few people using their pools. However, the adult pools are open and WARM!

[shcisamax]

Originally Posted by keithwand

We look at it.
Nice water feature.

Ditto. Nice sound and nice to watch the waterfall. Nice just to see water that isn't ice