Swimming Pool Cover

Why should I have a pool cover?

Swimming pool covers do more than just cover your pool. They can heat it; protect and shield it from the elements and from any debris floating around (especially important in Autumn); they can stop the younger (or older!) members of the family from accidentally falling in; and they can help to stop the wildlife going to bathe. They are available in a number of different colors, sizes, shapes and covers will probably be available to suit your every need.

Basic pool protection

Basic protection is provided by a basic plastic pool covering. If you are living in a temperate climate, and are sure that large items of debris are not going to be regularly trying to get into the pool, then this may well be the best solution. While it might not offer robust protection, it will keep the swimming pool covered and clean in more favorable climates.

Solar powered swimming pool covers

It is entirely possible to both protect and heat a swimming pool with a solar powered swimming pool cover. It uses the sun's energy to transfer heat that transmitted onto the cover into the water itself. In these days of energy crisis, a solar powered pool cover may well fit the bill perfectly for many pool owners; if you're looking for a solution that protects the pool and those who live around it, then why not harness nature's energy in a productive way while you're at it?

Material, girl.

Pool covers may be manufactured from a variety of materials. Which one is best for you depends on what you need from the cover. Net or mesh covers are lightweight and popular. They help to reduce debris, unwanted visitors (of both the animal and human variety), reduce evaporation, and reduce maintenance. Vinyl covers offer a more sturdy solution and as such offer improved performance in safety and security; heat insulation and prevention of evaporation of water and chemicals are also improved. The vinyl solution may be slightly more expensive, and certain they can be safely said to be more cumbersome than their mesh equivalents.

What to look for in a pool cover?

When looking for a swimming pool cover, there are a few things that you should especially pay attention to. Obviously the quality and suitability will depend on a number of factors - one important one is the price of the cover - and it is only in considering these together that one can get a feel of what is right for you.

The swimming pool cover should always adhere to local, state and country regulations and laws. Checking with the local authorities about the regulations affecting swimming pool covers before purchase could save a lot of money and hassle.

Strong and sturdy swimming pool covers are a good start - it should be strong enough to keep out debris, and strong enough to provide safety should anyone accidentally step out onto it. While both debris and people in the pool are undesirable, it is arguably the latter that must take precedence, and buying a good quality pool cover that could stop a fatal accident may be a worthwhile purchase.

Size is important, no matter what some people say, and it's imperative that you buy a cover that will overlap the sides of your swimming pool and still allow enough leeway to provide anchorage. Buying a pool cover with dimensions slightly over those of the pool will ensure that this overlap is achieved; without it the cover is likely worse than useless.

Anchors are mentioned above. Swimming pool covers may have anchors or straps with which to hold the cover in place. Pool covers can be heavy and a sturdy binding to solid ground will stop the cover making its escape when the weather starts to turn. If those Winter winds replace the cover with a layer of dirt and muck then it's safe to assume that the anchors were not sufficiently sturdy.

Warranties are available for pool covers, and it may be that paying a little extra for this piece of mind can save money in the long run. Having to purchase a replacement swimming pool cover every year is far from amusing, and cheap, poor quality, pool covers may be nothing more than a huge false economy. Warranties differ in how they deal with defects in the manufacture, and it is the shrewd pool cover purchaser that checks the 'small print' before buying.

Swimming pool covers: a summary

Buying and installing a swimming pool cover may well be a hassle, but it is a necessary evil. Paying a little more for the pool cover from the start can save a number of costly and time-consuming headaches in the future..