Winter Pool Cover Tips and Tricks

Purchasing a winter pool cover is the obvious next step if you care about your pool and getting maximum usage. From deciding what cover to use to retrofitting it to your pool, this is a great resource for you. Here are five tips and tricks for your winter pool cover.

1. Purchase the right cover. There are a couple of options out there for your winter pool cover. Getting the best option really depends on what you like. Mesh covers will keep debris out of your pool and you will not need to pump off the top. Dirty water will get in the pool, however, so you will need to use more chemicals. Solid covers keep your pool much cleaner, but you will need to pump off the top. You can get a very sturdy solid safety cover or a solid tarp. One will be more expensive but it will last a lot longer.

2. Measure your pool and give yourself extra room. Unless you are having someone come out and custom-fit your winter pool cover, you will need to take the measurements yourself. A big mistake people make is forgetting to include the steps or any large arches in the pool measurements. You can get away with a slightly too-small cover if it is a solar pool cover, but for a winter pool cover you really need to have extra room. Aim for 3’ to 5’ feet all around the pool.

3. Make sure to winterize your pool. Getting your pool ready for the cold winter months takes more than buying a cover and slapping it on your pool. You will need to lower the water level in the pool to below the filter, use special winter chemicals, and blow all of the excess water out of the pipes. If you forget any of these steps, you can cause costly damage to your pool.

4. Buy the highest quality winter pool cover you can afford. Sure, it is tempting to buy a cheap tarp cover, but as the saying goes, “You get what you pay for.” A swimming pool is a huge investment, and think of the winter pool cover as a protection policy on that investment.

5. Buy a leaf catcher, even if you do not live around a lot of trees. You would be amazed how many leaves can get on your winter pool cover. This is bad for a couple of reasons. One, leaves will get very heavy and damage your cover, and two; they can get stuck in the water pump that is getting the water off your pool.

Buying a winter pool cover is the next step to protecting and enhancing your investment, and will allow you to enjoy your pool for many years to come.