Cover Up

Photo courtesy of Cover-Pools, Inc.

The right pool cover will save you time, money, and water.

Pool covers come in many forms and styles, each with their own strengths and shortcomings. For pool owners living in sunny, arid, or windy parts of the country, covers are essential to prevent water evaporation. But even those in more humid areas can benefit from covers that keep debris out of the pool and add another layer of safety to the backyard. Follow these guidelines to find a cover that fits your pool, budget, and preferences.

Solar covers represent the easiest and cheapest covers available. These covers, which typically retail for around $100, resemble giant sheets of bubble wrap that float on top of the water to help prevent heat, water, and chemical loss caused by evaporation. The low cost of solar covers is appealing, as is their ease of use (they can be moved on and off in seconds), but these covers are not designed with cleanliness or safety in mind. Therefore, families with children or pets (or leafy trees nearby) should consider alternatives.

Tie-down covers, as their name implies, stretch across a pool and are mounted to the deck or patio via a system of anchors and adjustable straps. Offered in mesh or solid fabric, tie-downs can cost anywhere from $500 to $1,500, depending on the size and materials. Because of their weight and size, tie-downs generally require two people to operate. The entire process only takes 20 to 30 minutes, and the extra effort pays off, as tie-downs catch debris and provide an increased level of safety over cheaper options. They can also be installed on nearly “any type of deck surface,” says LeeAnn Donaton-Pesta, president of LOOP-LOC, Ltd., “including decked aboveground pools.”

Track-mounted covers slide over a pool on a set of tracks, taking some of the physical effort off of the owner. With new construction, there’s also the option of installing an undertrack system. “Undertrack systems work great on pools with features like rocks and waterfalls, and they result in a more discreet look,” says Rick Clark, president of Cover-Pools, Inc.

Semi-automatic versions use electrical power to roll and unroll the cover, but require users to be on hand to guide the cover. Fully automatic versions are widely considered the most convenient style around—they do all the work. Simply push a button, and a permanently mounted motor-and-reel system covers or uncovers the pool, typically in less than a minute. You’ll pay more for that convenience, though. Semi-automatic track-style covers start at $3,000, and fully-automatic systems can cost as much as $15,000.

The U.S. Department of Energy estimates that pool covers can save hundreds of dollars every year in heating costs, echoing the sentiment long touted by manufacturers. “Most homeowners recapture their initial investment in about four to five years,” says Tom Dankel, Vice President of Aquamatic Cover Systems. Because covers can last up to 10 years, the cost benefits of a cover, not to mention the safety and energy advantages, are well worth it.

5 Things to Know Before You Buy

Try It Out. Manual covers typically require some elbow grease to operate and tend to work best on smaller pools. If possible, try out a manual cover before purchasing it.

Beware the Cold. Mesh covers keep debris out while allowing rainwater and snowmelt in. You may need to use a winterizing kit with a mesh cover when temperatures drop.

Solid Covers Need Help, Too. Solid covers keep both debris and water out of the pool, but a cover pump may be required to remove water and snow accumulation.

Leave Some Room for Ties. Tie-down covers require two to three feet of decking around the pool for anchor installation.

Don’t Fear Retrofitting. Almost any new or existing pool can be fitted with tracks, as long as the tracks run parallel.