In the Spring and Summer months you might not think you need a pool cover. The truth of the matter is, a pool cover does much more than just cover your pool in the winter. A pool cover can keep heat in your pool, leaves out of the pool, and save your chemicals in addition to its safety benefits. There are also different types of covers. These would include solar blankets, automatic covers, and reel covers.
When a cover is used, heat stays trapped in the pool and the water temperature stays higher than if the pool was uncovered overnight. This makes the water more comfortable to swim in during the day. Even on a cloudy day, it would be more convenient to swim because of the heat trapped by a cover. If the pool is covered overnight or even during the day when you aren’t swimming, leaves and other debris will stay out of your pool. In turn, you won’t have to spend time getting the leaves out. If you have a pool cleaner, it would reduce work for the cleaner and would reduce the frequency of backwashing or cleaning needed for your filter. Since all these pool accessories would be working less, intervals between maintenance would increase. With less debris in the pool, and less direct sunlight, chemical usage will be decreased.
A regular pool cover works well for trapping heat, but if you live in an area with a short pool season, a solar blanket may be a good option. A solar blanket is a blanket filled with thermal bubbles that is made to cover your entire pool. It heats and insulates your pool. When sun hits the blanket and bubbles they heat up the pool water. At night, the insulating characteristics of solar blankets keep heat in much better than a standard cover, resulting in higher water temperatures. A solar blanket could add several weeks to your swim season!
There are also automatic cover and reel systems that reduce the work necessary to cover or uncover your pool. Automatic covers come in several variations. They can be installed under the coping, providing a seamless, attractive appearance, or on the deck, using a bench-like box and rails along the deck of your pool. With a reel system, you would simply crank a handle to roll up your cover or blanket and pull the cover to the other side of the pool to cover it up.
Pool covers and solar blanket systems do require an investment, but the benefits can be very rewarding with the potential to save money, reduce pool maintenance, and make your pool more comfortable to swim in.
Here are some additional resources for swimming pool covers:
