Choosing the inground swimming pool safety cover that's best for your pool doesn't have to be a complicated process. The safety cover you choose will greatly depend on when you want to do the maintenance work. Would you prefer to do a little maintenance throughout the Winter (solid) or a lot of maintenance early Spring (mesh)?
Swimming pool safety covers come in two main types: mesh and solid. Both types of inground safety cover material protect your pool, guests, and family members (furry or otherwise).
Mesh safety covers are essentially a very large strainer. The strainer allows rain and snow to fall into the pool but none of the leaves, insects, or debris. However, run-off water, fine particles, and UV light from the sun will also find their way into your swimming pool.
These ingredients combine to make an algae/bacteria cocktail you'll be presented with come spring. I know what you're thinking, that sounds terrible.
Here's the advantage: Yes, you may have a few labor intensive days come Spring opening. However, a mesh safety cover requires much less maintenance throughout the entire Winter season. Because water passes through the safety cover, the cover rarely needs to be drained or pumped.
Common debris is usually blown off of the safety cover by the breeze. This will make your off-season routine easier! You'll only need to remove larger debris as needed. The bulk of your cleaning time will be spent during Spring opening.
Solid pool safety covers keep everything out of your pool (for the most part). The cover itself is a solid piece which doesn't allow extra water to get into your swimming pool. This means that your pool is highly unlikely to develop an algae issue come opening season.
A solid safety cover allows you to start swimming sooner once you open your swimming pool for the season.
And because UV light isn't getting into your pool, you'll end up using less chemicals over the Winter season. This will cut down on your overall maintenance costs.
The trade-off is that a solid safety cover requires a little bit of maintenance throughout the Winter. Since rainwater, snow, and debris won't filter into the pool, those items will have to be removed. Debris can be swept away and standing water will need to be pumped off of the cover.
Keep in mind that excessive weight will cause the cover to sag. A saggy safety cover is more likely to fail over time.
The difference between mesh cover types is primarily how much UV rays the cover blocks. The more UV blocked, the less bacteria and algae will grow. This means you'll be adding fewer chemicals to your pool.
Standard Mesh
Standard Mesh Safety Covers can also be referred to as 12 Year Mesh. This type of cover is the most affordable of safety covers.
This safety cover is recommended for pools in Winters climates that do not have heavy snowfall. Also, for people wanting to do the bulk of their maintenance in the Spring.
High Shade Mesh
High Shade Mesh Covers can also be referred to as Super Mesh or 20 Year Super Mesh. This type of mesh safety cover is higher quality and high UV blockage. This cover type has a tighter weave that blocks 99% of sunlight making it less likely for algae to grow. This results in an easier Spring cleanup than with a standard mesh safety cover.
This safety cover is best for mild to moderate Winter climates that experience moderate snowfall. Also, for people wanting to do the bulk of their maintenance in the Spring.
A solid cover is only considered a safety cover if it has a drain or a pump. This is because without one of these items, standing water on top of your cover can still pose a drowning threat.
Solid Safety Cover with Drain
A solid safety cover with a drain will reduce the amount of water weight that gets built up onto the cover. The downside is that water is drained into your pool through the drain.
This is a good safety cover option for someone who wants to spread out the maintenance over both Winter and Spring. i.e. a little bit in both but not a lot in either.
BONUS: Did you know that solid cover types have different kinds of drains available? Take the GLI Sure-Flo™ Full Length Drain compared to the GLI Klenn-Screen® for example.
The Sure-Flo™ drain uses a ProMsh fabric that runs the full length of the pool, right down the center of the cover. This increases the area of drainage all while still blocking sunlight, dirt, and debris from getting into your pool. The Sure-Flo™ option is ideal for customer shape pools or larger rectangles due to the amount of surface space the drain area covers.
Solid Safety Cover with Pump
The big kahuna of safety covers is the solid safety cover with an automatic pump. A solid safety cover with a pump provides all of the benefits of a solid safety cover with a drain. However, no water gets drained into your pool. Instead, it is pumped off of the pool cover completely.
No run-off water entering pool means that you have a cleaner pool come Spring opening. AKA less time/money spent getting your pool ready to swim in once the time comes.
Not recommended for climates with moderate or severe winters as the pump can freeze.
See what happens when you hold the different safety cover materials up to a light. This is a fair example of how much UV light enters your pool from one cover type compared to the next.
While shopping for an inground safety cover, you may be asked about your weight preference. The types of covers being referred to are LightWeight, HyperLight, or HeavyWeight covers.
The amount of Winter maintenance needed for your mesh safety cover is going to be determined by how much snow you get.
As with mesh safety covers, you’ll remove debris and clear ice/snow build up to avoid any damage. However, to ensure that the drain or pump continues to work properly, solid pool covers require more maintenance during the Winter.
If your goal is to have your backyard safe, a Mesh cover is the way to go! If your goal is to keep your backyard safe, your pool algae-free, and your chemical levels consistent, then a solid safety cover is your ideal solution!
Looking for more information on other types of covers? Check out these additional resources: