Swimming Pool Covers: The Pros and Cons

When you are putting in a swimming pool, there are many different add-ons to consider. Many people choose to install a swimming pool cover, but is that a good move? It can be a good investment, but there are disadvantages to a pool cover as well. Here, we look at the pros and cons so that you can make an educated decision.

Why would you want a pool cover? There are many reasons they can be beneficial.

• Pool covers help maintain a pool’s water temperature. In fact, they can even increase it slightly. If you prefer a warm pool, having a pool cover can cut down on your water bills.
• You can also minimize your water loss with a pool cover. In addition to leaks and splashing, evaporation is a major cause of water loss. If you’re not paying close attention to your water levels, evaporation can cause damage to your skimmers and pump system. With a pool cover, you won’t lose as much water when you’re not using your pool.
• A covered pool uses less chlorine. Because it reduces the UV light hitting the water, a pool cover prevents chlorine from degrading. That means you won’t need to add as much chlorine, which can save you time and money. Of course, if you really don’t want to have to add chlorine, consider a salt water pool, which uses a more energy-efficient chlorinator system.
• A pool cover can keep your pool cleaner. When your pool is covered, it’s less likely to accumulate leaf litter, and this means your automatic cleaner will work more efficiently.

With all those advantages, what’s the down side of installing a pool cover?

• Pool covers are not aesthetically pleasing. Unless you have a custom cover, your pool cover may be unsightly. What’s more, covering your pool keeps you from having a view of the water.
• A standard cover can be a hassle to manage. If you’re dealing with a manual roller over, it can take a lot of time and effort to put it on and off the pool. A motorized cover can eliminate this hassle, but will be expensive.
• Pool covers take up space. You may be able to store your pool cover under a deck, but if space is at a premium in your yard, it can be hard to find a place to store it.
• Your pool shape may require a custom cover. Pools aren’t just rectangular. They come in a wide variety of shapes and sizes, which can make finding one to fit your pool challenging.

If you do decide on a pool cover, you’ll have to choose between different types. The least expensive kind of pool cover is a standard winter cover, which needs a pump on top, keeps out sunlight and debris, and lasts for about one to three years. These pool covers do a great job of keeping trash out of the pool, but they hold very little weight, so if a person steps on this kind of pool cover, that person will end up in the pool. The next level up is a mesh security cover, which does not need a pump on top and keeps out debris but lets in water. This kind of pool cover can last 10 to 15 years. Solid security covers last for about six years, but their advantage is that they keep water out of the pool so it’s cleaner in the spring. An automatic cover only lasts about three years and is expensive, but it provides constant protection and heats the water significantly. In fact, sometimes these covers can make the water too warm! Automatic covers are typically rated to support up to 2,000 pounds. However, this is less than a heavy snow cover, so if you live in a snow prone area, you’ll need to make sure snow doesn’t accumulate too heavily on your cover. When you’re ready to own a pool, call Aaron Pools. Established in 1972, this family-owned-and-operated business has a dedicated, award-winning team with over 400 years of combined experience. We love to help improve the quality time that families spend together at home, and that’s why we’ve installed more than 2,000 swimming pools and hot tubs, from Cape Cod to Connecticut. For the best possible service from our highly experienced installation team, call 508.996.3320 or contact us today.