Inground Pool Covers: How To Choose The Best One For You – Forbes

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Theres nothing quite like taking a dip in crystal clear, refreshing water, especially on a hot summer day. Taking care of an inground pool does take time and effort. The last thing you want when you go to take a swim is a bunch of dirt and debris floating around.

An easy way to help keep your pool clean and efficient is with an inground pool cover. However, finding the right one can depend upon various factors including your pool shape, size and the intended purpose for the cover.

Although pool covers are not a required piece of equipment when owning a pool, there are many reasons why you should consider getting one. When your pool is not in use during prolonged periods, a pool cover will help save you time and money. Here are some more reasons why you should invest in one.

Keeping out twigs, leaves, toys, bugs or other random objects that may find their way into your pool is one obvious reason to get a pool cover. By covering the water when not in use, youll save time by not having to scoop the debris out of the water the next time that you want to swim. When you are ready to take a dip, just remove the cover and jump in.

Although swimming pools lose energy in various ways, evaporation is the largest source of energy loss. Covering up the pool helps reduce evaporation. According to the EPA, a typical uncovered pool in the United States can lose between 12,000 and 31,000 gallons of water due to evaporation every year. By using a pool cover, you can reduce evaporation by 95%.

For those who heat their pools, pool covers help retain heat after youve turned the heater off. Specialized solar covers help collect the suns heat and direct it into the water to warm it naturally for extra energy savings.Reduces Chemical Use

UV light degrades chlorine, the active chemical used in a pool to kill bacteria and microbes. Pool cover reduces the amount of UV light that comes into contact with the water, which means you wont have to use as much chlorine to keep your pool safe. Buying less chlorine also saves you money.

Some pool covers are designed to serve as safety barriers that keep people or animals from falling in. These covers are usually made from a sturdy mesh or solid material and have specific weight limits, depending on the cover. These covers are secured with sturdy straps to help prevent animals or small children from falling through.

Now that you know some of the benefits of having an inground pool cover, you can choose one that will help address your specific needs. There are four main types of pool covers:

Solar covers are an inexpensive way to keep your pool clean and heated at the same time. These covers are also referred to as solar blankets or bubble covers because they resemble a large sheet of plastic bubble wrap. Solar covers are available in various colors, thicknesses and sizes.

Most pool owners who use pool covers choose to use safety covers. These covers are designed to prevent drowning and are invaluable when you have young children or pets in the home. Safety covers are constructed from a solid, rigid material and typically have an anchor system around the pools edges to keep it in place.

Security covers come in both a mesh and solid form. Mesh covers are lighter in weight and allow rain and melted snow to drain into your pool. Despite their lighter weight, mesh covers can support thousands of pounds.

Solid covers are heavier and are an impermeable barrier on top of the pool. These covers do not allow water to seep into your pool, thus water must be pumped off the top of the cover regularly.

Also known as tarp covers, winter pool covers are the most basic type of pool cover. Made from polyethylene, this cover is used for protecting the pool during the cold season. This cover is the least expensive option.

Automatic pool covers use a series of interlocking gears to move over a pools surface. Once activated, it will start rolling on or off the pool to cover or uncover it. It does make covering a pool more convenient, but its expensive to install because it requires two parallel tracks to be mounted on the inside edge of the pool or pool deck.

Although pool covers have their advantages, using them properly will also help prevent accidents. According to Safety.com, drowning is the leading cause of unintentional death for young children ages one to four. However, keeping the pool covered is an excellent way to help prevent accidents. Pool covers should completely cover the surface and be securely strapped down so a child or animal can not slip under the sides. Rigid covers block water access better and automatic covers are often the safest and easiest to use.

The best pool cover depends on your most urgent needs. If you have small children or pets, a rigid or automatic cover is the best choice. For those who live in a cooler climate, a solar cover is a good choice. A basic security cover keeps debris out of your pool without breaking the bank. Consider your most essential needs, and pick a cover that addresses them the best. No matter your needs, its important to invest in a high-quality cover that will last you years to come.

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Inground Pool Covers: How To Choose The Best One For You - Forbes