Effect of an enclosure on air and pool temperature

• The polycarbonate panels act like a greenhouse. Direct exposure to the suns rays or, on cloudy days, the effect of diffused rays warms the air within the enclosure. At night or on cooler days the heat of the enclosed atmosphere is gradually lost.
• At the start of the season the water temperature in an unheated pool rises by 2^oC per day when exposed to direct sunlight.
• The water temperature also rises on clear days even when there is no direct sun.
• Evaporation of water from the pool leads to loss of heat. If the temperature difference between water and air is 3^oC, a 32 m² pool will lose 40 litres of water per day, and an 80 m² pool will lose 100 litres per day. An enclosure – by isolating the water surface from the external atmosphere and by decreasing the thermal gradient – slows down the evaporation of water from the pool.
• An effective additional method of reducing water evaporation is to spread a solar bubble or foam covers over the water surface. Solar bubbles directly exposed to sun and frost are not durable and become dirty easily. But when they are used under an enclosure they perform their function very well. The combination of a bubble or a foam cover with an enclosure is a highly successful way of reducing water heating costs.
• The use of a suitable heat retention cover is strongly recommended to reduce evaporation, which is the cause of condensation.
• If you get too warm inside, just move the segments of the enclosure, and in a few moments you will be swimming in the open air.