Hi,
I have an Intex easy set up 15’x42″. I live in Seattle area where summer is quite short and not that hot. I put up the pool in the summer and by end of Aug, I put it away. I put my pool up in the backyard where it gets the direct sun starting around 1 pm until 5 pm. Kids play during that time when the weather hits at least 75 degrees. Still very cold no matter what. I have pine needles close by but it’s not windy here during summer. I don’t usually get pine needles in the pool that much. There are some but manageably skim them out. I am confused about the pool cover and the solar pool blanket.

My big concern is to use a solar blanket to heat up the pool and retain the heat somewhat and also keep debris out at the same time protect the air ring around the pool. I have an Intex blue bubble cover for 12′ from my old smaller pool. I am using that but it is too small. There are many covers with different materials and colors in the market. I am so confused.

1. Should I use both solar blanket that sits on the water and also pool cover that go over the ring (above water)? The solar blanket will warm up the water during the day and retain heat at night. However, if I also have the cover above water over the ring, how water will be heated. And if I don’t have cover above water, I will have debris on the solar blanket. How do I get both benefits of using both things?

2. If I use both solar blanket and pool cover, what color of the bubble solar blanket works best? They said clear heats up water the best but not the best to retain the heat. Black is harder to let the sun pass through but traps the heat the best. ????? so which color?

3. If I use both solar blanket and pool cover, what material of the cover (above water and cover the ring) should I use (vinyl or tarp-like) that won’t melt and ruin the ring? What color (dark blue, black, light blue)?

4. There are tarp like material (not bubble, not vinyl) that says it is solar blanket to put on the water. They come in blue, black, black one side and grey the other side, and blue one side and grey the other. It’s not bubble type, will it warm up the water and retain the heat? Which color should I go for?

5. Do you recommend use both solar blanket and cover? if not, which one should I go for, solar blanket or cover to warm up water and retain heat (number one concern) and what material? Will vinyl warm up and retain heat? Same thing as tarp like, will it warm up and retain heat?

6. Can tarp like cover (go over the ring) warm up water and retain heat if use by itself without solar blanket?

Thanks so much
Sorry for many questions. I can’t get the answer for my questions anywhere. No one talks about using solar blanket and pool cover at the same time. I know how each one works but I am confused when combine both.