Got It Covered
Choosing the right pool cover for your backyard oasis
By Terri Shields
When it comes to keeping a pool clean, warm, and more importantly, safe, nothing beats the versatility of a pool cover. By helping to block out UV rays and cut down on evaporation, pool covers prevent chemicals from dissipating. They also act as insulators to maintain water temperature; in fact, the U.S. Department of Energy estimates that a pool cover can save a homeowner a few hundred dollars in heating costs per season.
The first thing a pool owner needs to understand, however, is that all covers are not created equally. Basic solar covers lock in heat, automatic covers add convenience, and some track-style and tie-down covers can function as a safety barrier.
Solar Covers
Solar covers, also known as solar blankets, are a great option for homeowners who simply want to keep their water warm. Not a safety cover or primary debris-blocker, a solar cover resembles a giant sheet of bubble wrap that floats on top of the water to help prevent heat, water, and chemical loss caused by evaporation. Easy to pull on and off, this option is the least expensive.
Track-Style Covers
Made of heavy-gauge vinyl, track-style covers slide open and closed on tracks installed on the surrounding deck or under the coping. Automatic models work at a push of a button or the turn of a key, which is great for those who use their pools often. Semi-automatic models run on electrical power to roll and unroll the cover but require users to guide the cover on and off the pool. A third option is a manual track cover that looks just like the automatic version, but has no hydraulic system; therefore, it must be rolled and unrolled manually, using a crank.
Track-style covers can be installed at any time—either during pool construction or on an existing pool. During new construction, builders can install undertrack systems so the tracks do not protrude up out of the deck; this is ideal for pools with rocks or waterfalls.
Tie-Down Covers
Mesh and solid tie-down covers must be securely tied to the deck in multiple places around the perimeter. They are traditionally used for seasonal pool closures; however, with new lightweight materials, some covers can be used more often. Tie-down covers are less expensive than automatic models and are ideal for just about any type of deck. You will need another person to help get this cover in place, which usually takes 20 to 30 minutes to complete.
Safety Covers
Pool covers meeting the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) International F1346-01 performance standards are considered safety covers. (They may be either track-style or tie-down.) The ASTM standards require that the manufacturer tested the product to demonstrate that the cover can hold at least 485 pounds within any 3-foot diameter, has no spaces large enough for a child to slip through, and provides adequate drainage of rainwater on the cover’s surface to avoid a drowning hazard.
Some automatic pool covers are equipped with built-in rainwater removal features, but most homeowners can turn to an automated cover pump to keep the surface dry. Mesh tie-down covers catch debris and allow rainwater and snowmelt to drain into the pool. Solid vinyl tie-down covers require a pump to prevent standing water from accumulating, although some come with a mesh overlay to drain out surface water.
Keep in mind that even though these covers are a safety option, they cannot be your only form of protection. Used in conjunction with a safety fence, safety covers can help prevent children and pets from accessing the water, but there is no substitute for constant adult supervision.
Spa Covers
Covering your hot tub or portable spa is just as important as covering your pool—and for the same reasons. By protecting your spa with a cover you can retain heat and chemicals, keep debris like leaves, twigs, bugs, and other undesirables out of the water, and provide a safer environment for those around you (including pets).
Hot tubs are fully insulated on the bottom and along the sides, so most of their heat loss occurs through the water’s surface. By covering the spa immediately after using (and keeping it covered anytime the spa is not in use), homeowners can save both heat and money.
When looking for a new hot tub cover, remember to look for one that is made from mildew-resistant, marine-grade vinyl with a high-density foam core wrapped in moisture-barrier plastic. These materials prevent water absorption by the cover, which would make it too heavy to move. Also, if you live in a cold climate, look for a product dense enough to support a heavy snow load. A cover lift is a helpful accessory to consider because it handles most—if not all—of the cover’s weight during removal.
Photo courtesy of Aquamatic Cover Systems