Winter Safety Covers For Swimming Pools - Quick Buyers Guide

by Linda Gordon⁽¹⁾
SpecialtyPoolProducts

When it comes to preparing your swimming pool for the winter season, there are several factors to keep in mind, including protecting your pool from damage and keeping your pool clean so it's easier to open in the springtime. One of the most crucial factors for every pool owner to address is safety. While swimming pools are a source of great fun and enjoyment, they can also pose a serious drowning and accidental submersion risk during the off-season, especially for young children, pets and area wildlife. This is why pool safety covers are becoming a popular choice among inground pool owners as a winter pool cover option. Available in both mesh and solid varieties, winter safety covers for inground swimming pools provide peace of mind as well as superior winter protection.

Safety covers have attained a solid reputation in the residential swimming pool industry. Safety covers have been recognized by the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) as preventing accidental entry to swimming pools, when properly installed. In order for a winter pool cover to qualify as a safety cover, it must be able to support up to 4000 pounds in weight. In addition to providing outstanding safety features, winter safety pool covers are also designed to provide swimming pools with superior protection against harsh winter weather, and to prevent leaves and other debris from entering the pool while it is closed for the off-season. Furthermore, because they are designed to fit each pool like a glove, safety covers offer a more tailored and aesthetically pleasing look than standard winter pool covers can.

As previously mentioned, winter safety covers for inground swimming pools are available in two varieties -- mesh and solid. Mesh winter safety covers are constructed from commercial strength porous material, which allows rainwater, snowmelt and other surface water to drain through the safety cover and into the swimming pool. At the same time, the woven mesh construction of safety covers prevents leaves and most other debris from entering the pool. When considering whether or not a mesh safety cover is the right choice for your inground swimming pool, it's important to keep in mind that some pool owners do not like the fact that mesh safety covers allow fine silt and debris to penetrate the safety cover. However, there are also several advantages to using mesh safety covers that you should consider.

For instance, mesh safety covers for inground swimming pools are relatively lightweight and easy to handle. This means that you should not have much difficulty installing these covers and preparing your pool for the winter season. Also, by allowing rainwater and melting snow to penetrate the cover, mesh safety covers reduce the need to use tap water to refill your pool in the springtime. Allowing water to pass through the safety cover also prevents water from pooling on top of the safety cover (eliminating the need for a cover pump). Of course, as safety covers, mesh safety covers also provide a strong barrier between the water and your family, neighbours, pets and local wildlife, thereby offering a high level of peace of mind.

Solid safety swimming pool covers make up the second category of winter safety covers for inground swimming pools. In contrast to the construction of mesh safety covers, solid safety covers are typically made from solid vinyl, and some feature a small, sealable drainage panel. As a result, once these covers are properly installed, they allow practically nothing to penetrate the safety cover, including rainwater, debris and sunlight. Accordingly, the main advantage of using solid safety covers is that they keep your inground swimming pool incredibly clean, by preventing dirt and algae from accumulating in the water.

Yet, while solid safety covers keep water extremely clean and provide similar safety features as mesh safety covers, there are some disadvantages associated with this type of safety cover that you should take into account. To begin with, solid safety covers tend to heavier than their mesh counterparts.. This can make them more difficult to handle and deal with. In addition, rainwater and water from melting snow can accumulate on top of solid safety covers, creating puddles of standing water. This means that a cover pump may need to be used to remove any accumulated water.

Considering the above information, it's clear that both mesh and solid winter safety covers provide a great way to protect your investment and to safeguard your family, friends and pets from accidental submersion. However, the differences between the two types of covers and the various advantages and disadvantages associated with each cover are what will help you determine whether you should use a mesh or solid safety cover for your specific inground pool. In particular, if you are concerned about keeping your pool water sparkling clean, a solid safety cover is probably the best option. On the other hand, if you live in a region that receives lots of rain or snow and you don't want to be bothered with the use of a cover pump, a mesh safety cover will likely work best for you.

Linda Gordon is swimming pool owner with more than 12 years experience of pool maintenance. She explains importance of using winter safety covers for swimming pools. This quick buyer's guide explains why winter safety pool covers should be used to avoid any accidents during the off-season.

Article submitted Wednesday, October 14, 2009 & read 62 times.

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