Winter Pool Covers

It is that time of year when a solar pool cover will not do you much good. For that reason, we decided to do a little research on winter pool covers. It is important to have a good winter pool cover to keep your pool clean during the months you cannot use it. There are many varieties of winter pool covers: tarp covers, mesh covers and vinyl covers. You will also need to decide if you want just a functional cover or a safety cover.

Both in-ground and above-ground pools can benefit from a winter pool cover. They usually come with a large overlap so there is plenty of cover material to fit the pool. Remember that the water tends to drop in the winter by about a foot to a foot-and-a-half, so make sure you account for this when you get a cover. The most common type of winter pool cover is a tarp cover. These are by far the least expensive, but bear in mind they do not last as long, so they will need to be replaced every couple of years.

You want a cover that will prevent algae from growing on the underside, and you will want a cover that can withstand the elements, especially snow landing on the cover. This can be done by getting a high-quality vinyl cover. Since they do not allow sunlight in the pool, no algae will grow in the spring. They will not allow water into your pool, so you will have a lot less cleaning come spring when you are ready to use your pool. Since water will tend to gather on the cover, you will need a pump to run this water off. This is the winter pool cover for you if you want the least amount of work when getting your pool ready for swimming season after winter is over.

Nothing is more irritating than having to stand in the freezing cold and skim your pool every day. Even though tons of leaves have fallen off the trees already, this does not mean they will not find their way into your pool. For winter, you can get a leaf-catcher cover for your pool to make sure you are not skimming your pool every day. Mesh covers let water into the pool, but not debris. These winter pool covers require virtually no work during the winter, and do not require a pump, but they will cause you to have several days of vacuuming and scrubbing your pool to get it ready for swimming season do to dirty water and algae growth.

You should always consider a higher quality safety cover made of mesh or vinyl if you do not have a pool fence. A tarp cover simply will not keep anyone from falling in the pool.

Winter is upon us and it’s time to get a winter pool cover to protect your investment. Whether you choose a simple tarp cover, vinyl or mesh, they all do their job to keep the elements from destroying your pool.