Pool Covers
Swimming Pool Covers Reduce Maintenance and Increase Safety
Pool covers serve two main purposes. First, they can reduce your pool’s maintenance cost, and second, a safety cover can prevent a serious accident. There are a variety of covers available, and you should be able to find one that meets your needs. Or, you may decide to get two covers. Four main types of pool covers are Solar Covers, Winter Covers, Safety Covers, and Leaf Nets. They are made from different materials including mesh fabric and vinyl material. Leaf nets and winter covers protect your pool from accumulations of dirt, leaves, and other debris. Covers for in ground pools and above ground pools differ in use and design, but there are stock and customized covers that will fill the needs of most customers. Each type of cover serves a different purpose.
Solar pool covers or blankets help save energy and water. They will raise your pool’s water temperature by an average of ten degrees by absorbing sunlight during the day and keeping that heat in the pool at night. A solar cover will reduce your water and chemical evaporation by up to 70 percent which can save gallons of water each month. If you use a heater, the heat retained by a solar cover helps to reduce your heating costs which can mean a savings of up to 90% in the summer time. Another advantage of a solar cover is that it helps to keep debris out of your pool, and that saves run time on your filter pump.
Winter pool covers are used mainly to protect the pool from winter weather and to keep tree limbs, leaves, dirt, and other debris from falling into the pool. For an in ground pool, a solid winter pool cover is held in place with water bags placed around the edge inside sleeves attached to the cover. An above ground pool uses the same type of solid pool cover, but it is held in place by a combination winch and vinyl coated cable assembly that runs through grommets in the cover. Inflatable air pillows rest on the water under the cover to make stick and leaf removal easier and helps water to run off the cover. A winter cover also blocks sunlight and inhibits algae growth. A winter cover is an important part of winterizing your pool which makes your springtime opening much easier and less expensive.
So what does a leaf net do? Leaf nets are lightweight covers made of an open weave material that fits over your winter cover or solar cover and helps you avoid accumulations of wet, heavy, saturated leaves and twigs on top of your winter cover. These nets ensure a quicker removal of leaves and helps prolong the life of your winter or solar cover. They can be used in any season and are a big help if your pool is located in an area surrounded by trees. The open weave allows water to pass through the net but will block twigs and trash. Leaf nets make it easier to remove your pool cover.
Finally, we have safety pool covers which are the most expensive type of pool cover. A safety cover is a maintenance cover as well as a safety barrier over your pool. All safety covers must meet the requirements in the ASTM standards F1346-91 (1996); that means a cover must be able to support the weight of a small child or animal should they walk out onto the cover. A proper safety cover is securely anchored into the deck area surrounding the pool and lies flat so there are no gaps between the pool and the cover that could allow a child to get under the cover and into the water. Safety covers give the pool owner peace of mind that no child can fall into the pool. Sharp objects can create a hole in your safety cover, but a good cover is made from material that will not run, so the hole will not automatically increase in size. A hole can then be patched. Safety covers follow the shape of the pool and have a proper number of anchors embedded around the pool to hold the cover in place. Some covers require professional installation, but many can be installed by the owner. Safety covers are available in a mesh or a solid material. Mesh covers are lightweight and allow water, but not debris, to pass through. Some solid covers also contain a mesh area for draining.
It is important to remember these points. A covered pool will experience less freezing than an uncovered one. A covered pool will require less work, be less stressful and less expensive when you open it up in the spring time. And safety covers will protect children and animals from falling into the water. Check out the different types of covers and decide which is best for your pool. Look for a local professional if you decide on a safety cover and need someone to install it.
