Nothing beats a pool cover for keeping a pool clean, warm and, most importantly, safe. A pool cover helps to block out UV rays, cuts down on evaporation and prevents expensive chemicals from being wasted. It’s estimated that you can save hundreds of dollars a year heating a pool, by using a pool cover. Choosing the right pool cover for your needs means understanding your options.
There are four different types of pool covers:
- Solar
- Track-style
- Tie-Down
- Safety
Solar Pool Covers
Solar pool covers, also known as solar blankets, lock in heat and are a great option for homeowners who simply want to keep the pool water warm. Solar covers resemble a giant sheet of bubble wrap that floats on top of the water to prevent heat, water and chemical loss through evaporation.
These covers are not primarily debris-blockers, nor can they be considered a safety option.
Track-Style Covers
Track-style pool covers are made of heavy-gauge vinyl and slide open and closed on tracks installed on the deck or under the coping. Some models are automatic and work at the touch of a button or the turn of a key. Semi-automatic track-style covers run on electricity to roll and unroll but need someone to guide the cover on and off.
The third option is a manual track cover that looks like the automatic version but has no hydraulic system. A crank is used to roll and unroll it manually.
A track cover can be installed either during pool construction on at a later date but ideally, builders can install undertrack systems that won’t protrude out of the deck during a new construction, which is ideal for pools with rocks or waterfalls.
Tie-Down Covers
Tie-down covers, either mesh or solid, are traditionally used for seasonal pool closures and must be securely tied to the deck in multiple places around the pool. However, with new lightweight materials, some tie-down covers can be used more often. It takes two people roughly 20 to 30 minutes to put this cover in place. These covers are less expensive than the automatic models and can be used with just about any type of deck.
Safety Covers
Track-style or tie-down pool covers may be considered safety covers, however, the cover must be able to hold at least 485 pounds within any three-foot diameter, have no spaces large enough for a child to fall through and provide adequate rainwater drainage to avoid a drowning hazard.
While some automatic pool covers are equipped with built-in rainwater removal features, most homeowners can turn to an cover pump to keep the surface free of water build-up.
Mesh tie-down covers catch debris but allow rainwater and melting snow to drain into the pool, while solid tie-down covers require a pump to prevent standing water from accumulating. Some now come with a mesh overlay to drain surface water.
Although pool covers are a safety option, they should not be relied on as your only source of protection. Use them in combination with a safety fence to help prevent children and pets from falling into the water and remember that there is no substitute for constant adult supervision.