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Pool Cover Guide
Heat Retention Covers and Solar Covers
These covers float on the pool surface and do not require fixing, and for easy handling a pool roller is recommended. These are primarily used to conserve heat by preventing heat loss from evaporation and cold winds.
There are several types, the most popular being the semi-transparent bubble cover, which saves heating costs by giving free solar heat through the cover to increase pool temperature. Floating covers do prevent a lot of debris from entering the pool but need careful handling when removing, or this debris will fall back into the pool. When using a roller never leave the cover rolled up on the roller without using the solar protection sheet provided by the cover manufacturer or the sun will overheat the outer layer, expanding the bubbles and leading to pre-mature failure. Strong sunlight will cause the cover to delaminate. (The bubbles will separate from the smooth underside) thus shorten its life. You can now get floating leading edges, which will make getting the cover on and off the pool easier if you are on your won and also prevent damage to the cover by pulling on the corners thus extending the life of your cover.
With the heat savings these covers provide they soon pay for themselves within a couple of seasons. Solar protection sheets are now available to help prevent overheating of the bubbles while on the rollers.
Solar covers and heat retention (indoor covers) come in different thicknesses and types and you need to choose one which covers the entire pool surface and if you have an irregular shaped pool the cover can be shaped easily in the factory or cut with scissors. The solar cover thickness is measured in Mil (ML) or Gauge and a thicker solar cover would be more durable, stronger and therefore last longer.
A winter debris cover is used to cover the pool when the swimming season is over and helps protect the pool throughout the winter. The winter cover is placed on the pool when your are winterising the pool in the late autumn and is taken off when you open you pool back up in the late spring/early summer time. The winter cover stops winter debris such as leafs from entering the pool and damaging the pool liner and are made from very tightly woven polyethylene fibres which still allows rainwater to seep through. The winter cover is made approximately 2 ft longer and wider so there is a 1ft overlap at all the sides and edges so that special fixings can secure the cover into place. The straps on the winter cover are attached to these pin fixings which are anchored to the ground.
There are two main grades of winter cover, the standard and the criss cross winter cover. The standard winter cover has the straps attached to the edge of the material whereas the criss cross cover has the straps in a webbed fashion that is sewn to the body of the cover which increases its extra strength and durability compared to the standard cover.
Very popular now in the UK are the Automatic Covers. They give added safety and ease of operation, power-operated lockable covers are available in either fabric or plastic slatted materials these slatted varieties can be fitted with solar slats so you can get free heat into your pool. Please contact us for further details and prices. The other advantages of automatic covers are:
Clean off any debris and allow the cover to dry thoroughly, if you have a roller then store the cover on the roller in a garage or outhouse where is no danger of frost damage. If you do not have a roller then try and store the cover in a rolled state because if you fold it the cover will tend to split along the folds.
Before storing, remove debris and clean cover, hose off and allow drying before storing in its bag and store away from excess heat and chemicals. Never clean your cover with solvents, as they will cause it to shrink. Get any small holes or damage repaired as soon as it is noticed this will cost you less than a new cover.
