Pool Cover Buying Guide

There are many benefits of a good swimming pool cover. The right pool cover will save you maintenance time and can even save a significant amount of money on heating and chemical expenses.

The question is then, which pool cover is best for your pool? Our Swimming Pool Cover Buying Guide is designed to help you answer that question and make a wise decision.

The decision on what pool cover is best for your pool will depend on a number of factors including:

• Your budget
• Your preferred pool cover style or look
• Your pool’s shape and size
• Whether your pool is a new or existing pool because an existing pool may have some physical constraints that limit your choice of pool cover

Typically, you will have a choice of three types of swimming pool cover:

• Manual pool covers
• Automatic pool covers
• Solar Pool covers

A manual swimming pool cover works on a roller system which has a handle that is turned to retract the cover. The easiest way to put the cover over your pool is for one person to walk along each side of the pool while grasping a corner of the cover and pulling it along with them.

Because they sometimes require two people to cover the pool, manual pool covers are best suited to pools that aren’t used very often; although, they can be extended or retracted relatively quickly and with little physical effort.

A manual pool cover is also ideal if cost is a consideration. While the cover is as good as an automatic cover, it is quite a bit cheaper.

These manual systems are easy to install but can be quite bulky. They are often mounted on wheels which means they can be manoeuvred or pushed out of the way if they are not expected to be used for a while.

There are underground hidden pool cover options and even some models that are mounted below a seat to provide extra poolside seating.

Automatic pool covers are exactly what you’d expect – flick a switch or press a button and your cover unwinds or retracts. They are easy to use and convenient because one person can operate them with no physical effort whatsoever.

Compared to manual swimming pool covers, they are more expensive but, if you can afford the extra cost, the convenience makes them well worth the money. And don’t forget, you will be saving money on your heating, water, chemical and cleaning bills.

These automatic covers are most commonly used on rectangular pools. While it’s possible to install them on shaped pools, it can be difficult and they are easiest to install when the shaped pool is being built.

As with manual covers, there are a number of options for installing an automatic pool cover. Many people prefer to have their pool cover hidden. This is possible by having the cover mechanism underground or under the pool decking surrounds. A strong anodised aluminium lid that sits flush to pool surround is the only sign that the cover mechanism is there.

When selecting your automatic swimming pool cover you will also have to choose the type of track you prefer. Your swimming pool cover supplier and installer will talk to you about the type of tracks available.

No Pool Cover Buying Guide would be complete without mention of solar swimming pool covers. These covers look a little bit like bubble wrap. They are made up of air cells which absorb heat from the sunlight and transfer this to the water in your pool.

The heat transfer properties of these covers are an added bonus in any pool cover. Even a few degrees increase in your pool’s water temperature can make a huge difference to the number of days per year you are able to use it. A solar pool cover can give more than a few degrees increase, however. In the right conditions, it can raise the temperature of your swimming pool by up to 8OC.

Having purchased a solar pool cover, you will need to decide whether you want it to be on a roller. While not necessary, a pool roller does make it easier to extend and retract, however.

For more information on solar pool covers, see What is a Solar Pool Cover and How Does it Work?

Finally in our Pool Cover Buying Guide we need to mention colour. Pool Cover suppliers will usually offer a range of colours. For instance, Poseidon Pool Products offer:

• Clear
• Ocean Blue
• Blue Marling
• Caribbean Teal

Different colours vary very little in price and a pool owner’s choice will usually come down to personal colour preference.