Pool cover tips

If you have an outdoor pool, installing a pool cover will not only keep the pool looking clean, healthy and inviting (eg keeping out garden debris, dirt and insects), it will reduce maintenance time and cost. Here we look at some of the other benefits and features of pool covers.

Conserves heat

Pool covers prevent water evaporation from the sun. Any water lost will need to be replaced and then heated and chemically treated, which increases servicing and maintenance costs. Using a pool cover will reduce water evaporation by up to 95% thus preventing unnecessary spend on heating and chemicals. Using a pool cover will also reduce the amount of time you spend removing debris from an outdoor pool.

Protects against sunlight

A pool cover on an outdoor pool reduces the amount of sunlight exposure to the water – too much sunlight can lead to algae growth, which is unsightly and can make surfaces slippery which can become a health hazard.

Style options

You can choose a manual or an automatic pool cover for pools – they come in a wide variety of materials, shapes, sizes and colours to fit the full spectrum of swimming pools. Because of the inbuilt technology, automatic pool covers are more expensive than the manual models, but the trade-off is that no physical labour is required to open and close them, they glide like magic.

Automatic covers

These provide extra safety and ease of operation. They are power-operated, lockable covers made in vinyl, fabric or rigid slatted materials and can be installed on indoor and outdoor pools. Slatted pool covers are not safety covers as the slats will depress into the water if weight is applied, so never stand on the cover or allow children and pets to do so as this could lead to an accident.

Vinyl safety pool covers

These can be used all-year-round and keep out sunlight, dirt and debris from the pool. While they can withstand the weight of humans and pets, it is never wise to treat them as a floor and stand or walk on them. The cover is there as a safety measure.

Solar bubble covers

The solar bubble cover allows heat rays to pass through it into the pool, preventing heat loss through evaporation. Bubble covers and similar heat retention covers float on the pool surface – are not safety covers. Take care when removing the bubble cover to ensure that any debris lying on top does not go into the water. A bubble cover should be removed, cleaned and stored in a secure place when the pool is closed at the end of the season, and a winter debris cover used until the pool is re-opened.

Mesh Covers

These lightweight, hard-wearing winter debris covers sit in the water, allowing water to pass through the mesh and prevents debris getting into the water.

Safety first

Never walk on pool covers. Always keep an eye on children and pets around pools, even when covered by a pool cover. For further information on making your pool safer, read our blog How to Make Your Swimming Pool Child Friendly