Choose the Right Pool Cover

August 2010

by Laura Schlereth

Pool covers are an important purchase for pool owners. According to the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), the right pool cover can help conserve water by 30 to 50 percent by preventing evaporation and heat loss. In addition, some pool covers can prevent dirt and debris from getting in, making cleaning easier. Others can even ensure safety by preventing people or pets from getting into the pool when you’re not home.

With so many different pool cover materials and variations on the market, you must consider several factors that will help you choose the right one for you:

Do you want to be able to cover your pool for the short term (i.e. overnight) or long term (i.e. winter season)?
What is your price range?
Do you have specific safety considerations, such as protecting pets or small children?
What is your pool’s size and shape?
Are you concerned about energy and/or water conservation?

After considering these questions, read on to find out which type of pool cover you need to meet your lifestyle and pool type.

Mesh/micromesh covers

These types of covers, which are made from a trampoline-like material, allow water and fine silt to pass through, but keep out large debris. And because water is allowed to pass through, excess rainwater doesn’t accumulate at the top making the cover much easier to remove. Since the water passes through the cover and into the pool, make sure to check the water level in the pool every once in a while or after a heavy rain to make sure water stays below the skimmer line and does not get into the skimmer. This is important in the areas where the temperature falls below freezing and any water in the skimmer or pipes could freeze and damage the pipes and skimmers.

These types of covers are typically anchored with springs or stakes in the ground or weighted down with water or sand that is filled in along the edges. However, some models can be attached to a reel that allows the pool cover to be rolled out like a carpet using a manual hand crank. These make spreading out a pool cover easier, but do require someone to guide the cover across the pool.

One thing to note: Many mesh pool covers will not support the weight of a person or large animal falling in, so are not ideal as a safety barrier. Check with your dealer for specific manufacturers of mesh pool covers that also double as a safety cover.

Also, many mesh pool covers are more practical for long-term coverage such as during the off-season because they are geared more towards preventing debris from accumulating in the pool than they are preventing evaporation.

In regards to price, mesh pool covers are fairly inexpensive if you have a standard-size pool. However custom pool covers for large and odd-shaped pools can retail for several hundred dollars.

Floating bubble covers or solar covers

This type of cover is similar to bubble wrap, except it is made from extra thick plastic and has UV inhibitors. The bubble material allows the cover to float on top of the water. Solar covers are great for water and energy conservation because they touch the water and prevent evaporation—which can lead to heat loss. The plastic air pockets trap heat and help keep the pool water warm.

Solar pool covers can also be attached to a reel and rolled out across the pool. But because the material is thinner, they can be disturbed easily by high winds. Since they float on the surface, solar pool covers are great for everyday coverage during the season, but do not make for great pool covers during the off-season. Solar pools are also not ideal safety covers, because they can easily wrap around a person who has fallen into the pool. Solar covers should be kept clean at all times since they are used on a regular basis to avoid contaminating the pool with algae, mold, or bacteria. Avoid dragging the cover off the pool to the ground around the pool, even if it is on the grassy area.

Solar pool covers can range in price depending on the size of your pool, but they average around $.40 per square foot. Custom solar covers can also be created for large or odd-shaped pools, but these usually come with a higher price tag.

Vinyl pool covers

Like the name suggests, vinyl pool covers are made from a heavy, vinyl material that is spread across the pool. Vinyl pool covers are probably the most commonly used and come in a variety of styles. Because they are solid, vinyl pool covers do not allow any dirt, debris or water to pass through—making pool cleaning an easier task.

They also provide superior protection from evaporation and heat loss, and last for many years. Insulated vinyl pool covers offer the most in evaporation and heat loss protection, because they have a thin layer of insulation sandwiched between two layers of vinyl.

Although owners can purchase vinyl pool covers that are tied down to the edges of the pool, many covers can be attached to a reel. Vinyl pool covers even come in automatic versions that run along parallel tracks over the pool. Although they are the most expensive option, automatic vinyl pool covers can open and close in as little as 30 seconds and are convenient for both long- and short-term pool coverage.

Although the majority of these covers can support the weight of someone falling, it is best to double-check with your pool dealer or pool cover manufacturer to confirm.

No matter what kind of cover you use for your pool it is important to chemically clean them every once in a while or at the beginning of the season when they come off the pools and before they are stored in the shed for the next time they are being used. Dirty covers can contaminate the pools that could be costly to remediate later.