What are the pros and cons of a pool cover?

[TFP_Addict]

I've tried to research this as much as I could, but I really want an answer to my specific situation...

No one has used our pool in 5-10 years. And just a constant bill for us with the water and chlorine. I've even thought about emptying the pool until we decide to just fill it up again.
It seems this year, We've consumed 2 or 3 times more chlorine than last year. And now with chlorine jumping in price by almost double I'm looking for more options to maintain this pool.

Recently I discovered we owned a pool cover or tarp that the old owners never used. Still brand new in the box from the 80s???

What are the pros and cons of having a tarp on the pool at all times unless we have visitors? Pool store owner claimed we would consume just as much chlorine as before (which I thought was complete ********, but didn't say anything). I'm sure it stops water evaporation dramatically. But what else?

Are the only downsides to having one is it being ugly and removing it and putting it back on? Because both of those are not a factor for us at this point.

Can someone give me a thorough breakdown of the pros and cons of having a tarp on at all times. I'm in SoCal. We don't experience 'winters'...

 

[an1vrsy]

If on a reel and you can put it on and take it off easily, that’s a plus.
FC degrades due to UV rays of the sun, if your pool is covered, then much less FC loss to UV, that’s a plus.
You’ve already mentioned less evaporation, that’s a plus.

You will have to uncover every other day or so, just to burn of CC, if your cover is manually put on without a reel, that’s a con. (Extra work)
If you have animals that would walk on it when covered, that could be an entrapment issue, that’s a BIG CON.

I am sure there may be more pros and cons but those come to mind quickly.

 

[randytsuch]

Big pro is it will cut way down on water use. I have a solar cover and still use water, but much less evaporation when most of the water is covered.

Depending on the type of cover, it should cut down on chlorine use too. Solar covers let the sun through, so they don't help as much. If the cover is solid, and doesn't let sun through, then less breakdown of chlorine from sun.

Cons are you need to take it off the use the pool (obvious). Need to take it off to clean. Also need to expose some water to test or to add chemicals, so little more effort.

Randy