Summer has come to a close, and fall is in the air. It’s once again time to close your pool for the season, and you’ll need to do a few things beforehand to keep your pool healthy and clean during the offseason.
Typically, after adding winter chemicals, the last step in closing a pool is installing a safety cover.
But which safety covers are best for your pool needs? Let’s (swan) dive into some of the options available today.
First Things First: Why Do You Need a Safety Cover?
According to the CDC, “Every day, about 10 people die from unintentional drowning. Of these, two are children aged 14 or younger.” Sadly, drowning is a leading cause of unintentional injury death in the U.S., with approximately 3,536 accidental drownings per year.
But even if you don’t have small children, you may have friends and family who bring small children to gatherings at your home or neighbor children who wander into your yard.
That’s why pool safety covers are a must for conscientious pool owners.
Additionally, a pool cover not only prevents things like twigs and leaves from landing in your pool, but they also provide a layer of protection that safeguards your pool from things like animals or large tree limbs that could fall during a heavy storm.
Three Best Options for Pool Safety Covers
Until recently, pool owners had just two options for covers: mesh and solid. Now what’s called a “hybrid” cover is available that blends features of both.
A word of caution: Finding the right fit and installing a pool cover correctly may be best left to the experts. Even weekend warrior DIYers might find this task tricky.
Let’s take a look at each pool cover type in more detail.
Option 1: Mesh Covers
Made of tightly woven material, these safety covers are designed so that while rain and snowmelt may get through, twigs, leaves and bugs will not.
A note for those who live in particularly snowy climates: It’s important to clear away any snow that accumulates during the offseason because, particularly if the bottom layer freezes, it can get heavy enough to cause tears and do other damage to the cover. And the weight of accumulated snow can also put stress on the anchors.
Pro: These covers are the most affordable of the three, and because they are lightweight, they’re easier to store and maintain.
Con: The mesh itself isn’t fine enough to prevent fine sediment from getting through, so come spring, you’ll have some vacuuming to do.
Good to Know: Be sure to check the specs before purchasing a mesh cover since they can vary in terms of how much sunlight they allow in and what kinds they block. (Remember, sunlight can breed algae.)
Option 2: Solid Covers
These are the heavy hitters of pool covers. They block all sunlight and keep all sediment from accumulating at the bottom of your pool.
But because they are so effective, a large, heavy pool of water can build up in the middle, which has to be removed to prevent damage to the cover and anchors.
Pro: A solid safety pool cover is ultimately a time saver because it blocks all debris, dust and sediment from building up in your pool. So come spring, the water will be clearer and cleaner than if you had used a mesh cover, keeping the need to vacuum minimal.
Con: Solid covers come with a bigger price tag, primarily because they require a pump to remove the aforementioned buildup of water, which can damage the cover and its anchors and also presents a safety hazard. They are also the heaviest of the three, making them more difficult to maintain and store.
Good to Know: If you live in an area of the country where temperatures regularly drop below zero, you’ll need to bring your pump indoors to prevent ice damage.
Option 3: Hybrid Safety Covers
This option combines the best features of both solid and mesh safety covers. With hybrid covers, you get the hard-cover benefits with their heavy-duty capabilities but without the need for a pump since the mesh portion allows rainwater and snowmelt to drain directly into the pool.
Pro: Because they don’t require a pump, these covers are usually less expensive than solid ones.
Con: While protecting your pool from leaves, twigs and bugs, the mesh portion of the cover allows some dust and fine sediment to accumulate at the bottom of your pool.
Good to Know: Because it is lighter, removal, cleaning and storage are much easier with this option than with its solid cousin.
Partnering With Professionals
Spartan Pool & Patio provides worry-free pool ownership, and we can help you choose, install and maintain your pool safety covering. Why not give us a call today to find out how we can help you experience all the joy of pool ownership without the hassle?
