Swimming Pool Covers – Dos and Don’ts

Swimming Pool Inspection Service gives you a rundown on the different types of pool covers and why you need one on your pool.

Swimming Pool Covers – What You Need to Know

Swimming pool covers are extremely important for maintaining your pool and preventing damage from occurring. Having a properly installed and utilized swimming pool cover will ensure that your pool is protected from the elements and ready to use when uncovered.

Pros of a Swimming Pool Cover

Here are just a few reasons why a cover is an absolute necessity for a well-maintained pool:

• Reduces evaporation: Every day your pool is exposed to the air, evaporation occurs. This results in higher water costs. Additionally, a lower water level can cause damage to the elements of the pool that are exposed to the air. Tile, plaster, and vinyl in your pool should not be exposed to air; doing so can cause them to crack, dry out, and become brittle.
• Keeps debris out of pool: One of the best features of a cover is that it keeps leaves, twigs, and other debris out of the swimming pool. Allowing this debris to remain in the pool can cause the pool to develop algae and staining to the pool liner.
• Heat retention: A pool cover will help your pool water remained heated. This is great for people who don’t have a heated pool. And for those with a heater, a cover will cut down on your energy costs because you won’t have to heat your pool as aggressively.
• Chemical use: Keeping your pool covered when not in use cuts down on the chemical consumption of your pool, which not only saves money, but can also save your pool! Overuse of chemicals can damage the lining of your pool. Aggressive chemical use can cause your pool liner to age, warp, and become brittle.
• Winter protection: Winter is difficult on pools, especially in areas with freezing weather. Allowing the water in a pool to freeze can cause severe, irreparable damage to the liner, which will likely need to be replaced. Protecting your pool in the winter with a secure cover will ensure your pool is in good shape when you open it the following spring.

Swimming Pool Safety Covers

A safety cover on your pool is essential if you have children. They are sturdy and can generally hold the weight of a person or animal. However, this is only true for safety covers. Other cover types can increase the risk of drowning because of the risk of someone being trapped underneath the cover. A safety cover is a necessity to protect your family and friends from the risk of drowning, and to protect yourself from the liability of a terrible accident.

Swimming Pool Cover Don’ts

A pool cover should never be held in place with cinder blocks or other materials not made for that purpose. Not only can doing so damage the pool cover, but it can also damage your pool and pool decking. Holding a cover in place incorrectly can also increase the risk of someone being trapped under the cover, and generally just makes the cover less safe than it should be. Pool covers should be installed by a professional, and regularly maintained to ensure that they remain intact and operating correctly.