Yes, You Need a Pool Cover

After purchasing a pool, chances are that you’re ready to stop spending money for a while. Unfortunately, though, most pools need quite a few extras and accessories to help them function properly. 

While you may be able to skimp on some of these items, there is one item that you absolutely do need. That item is a pool cover. And, you shouldn’t just buy any cover either. Cheap covers, such as tarp covers, can often do more harm than good by failing to do their jobs and lulling you into a false sense of security.

Thus, even if you skip out on all the other pool accessories out there, buy a good, high-quality pool cover. It will ultimately reward you in many ways.

Pool Covers Can Save Lives

First things first, a good cover can absolutely save lives. Children are notorious for trying to get into pools when they’re not supposed to. With a strong, solid cover in place, however, your pool can be completely sealed off and inaccessible to children and pets, even if they walk on top of the cover.

You’ll need a cover that is made specifically for safety and that is designed to hold weight. But, if you invest in a well-made one, you can protect those you care about most.

Pool Covers Save Water Too

While saving lives is the most important function of pool covers, they can save water too! By using a pool cover when the pool is not in use, water stays protected from the heat. This leads to less evaporation, which means you fill up your pool less often and waste less water. This can help you to save money and reduce the size of your carbon footprint at the same time.

Pool Covers Are Sanitary

Finally, a good pool cover can go a long way toward keeping leaves, dirt, bugs, and general debris out of your pool. This means less cleaning for you and less of an “ick factor” when you go for a swim. Even better yet, a cleaner pool protects your filtration system, which means you may be able to get more years of use out if it.

These days, all kinds of pool covers are available. You can choose one that works for you, but do make sure that it’s high quality and capable of meeting all your needs. As long as you select your cover with care, it should be one pool-related investment that’s truly worthwhile.

Understanding Your Pool Cover Options

Pool covers are a must-have accessory for any swimming pool. Not only do they keep a pool free from debris, but they can also help to conserve water by reducing evaporation. However, there are a great many pool covers on the market today, and deciding which one is the best fit for you can be confusing. But, if you take some time to understand the different types of pool covers, you can easily “uncover” the right choice for your needs.    

Basic Winter Covers  

Some pool owners choose to only cover their pools in the winter months. If you’re one of them or if you want a specialty cover specifically designed for winter usage, you should be able to find many basic winter covers.  

Most of these covers look and feel like a tarp, though they do vary in thickness. Fortunately, these covers also tend to be quite affordable. In fact, they’re so cost-efficient that most pool owners can easily afford a winter cover and an in-season cover as well.  

Automatic Pool Covers  

If you don’t want the hassle of having to switch out covers based on the season, consider an automatic pool cover. These covers are typically quite costly, but they’re worth it for the convenience. They are installed on the pool as a semi-permanent fixture. Users simply press a button when they want the cover to roll over the pool’s surface or retract.  

Safety Covers  

Safety covers, sometimes referred to as security covers, do everything a basic cover would do. However, they’re also designed to keep people and pets from getting into the pool when it’s not intended to be in use. These covers are anchored to the surrounding concrete. As a result, they can sometimes be a bit burdensome to take off, which is why they’re typically only used when the pool is not open and won’t be open for quite some time.  

As you can see, there are many types of pool covers to choose from. In fact, these represent just a few of many options. Plus, you have variations on each of the styles mentioned above. So, while you’ll still have a lot of covers to select from, you can at least decide what type of cover best fits your budget and your needs and then shop within that category. This strategy should make the selection process significantly easier for any pool owner.

Caring for Your Solid Pool Cover

Ideally, every pool should have a cover that is used regularly. However, if you have a solid cover, such as a winter cover or non-mesh security cover, understand that you can’t just put your pool cover on and forget about it the way you can with other covers. Instead, your cover will require regular, specialized care.   

Pumping

With solid pool covers, the most important care you must provide is to pump the water off the cover on a regular basis. That’s because these covers do not allow water to pass through naturally the way that others do, which can lead to a lot of water build-up on your cover over time.

When water builds up on the cover, that displaces the water inside your pool, which can make it

dirtier, colder, and, in some cases, dangerously low.

Mold Prevention

In addition to regular water removal, be sure to check your pool cover for any signs of mold growth, which can seriously damage the cover. If you notice mold in the early stages, you may be able to remove it by cleaning with diluted bleach and then rinsing by lightly spraying the cover with a garden hose.

However, if the mold is advanced or severe, you will likely have to replace the cover, which is why regular checks and, if necessary, cleanings are required.

Repairs

Not only should you check your cover for mold, but you should also be on the lookout for any rips or tears in the cover.

If you find any, you’ll either need to replace the cover or purchase and use a patch kit. Otherwise, the cover could become much less effective, which defeats the purpose of having it in the first place!

As you can see, solid pool covers do require some work and upkeep. However, the benefits they provide make them well worth any effort you have to put in. Remember, too, that you can reduce maintenance and its frequency by investing in a high-quality cover from the start and by using and storing it correctly at all times.