Snow Can Cause Pool Repairs
Heavy amounts of snow caked on top of the cover can cause the material to stretch and break. If the cover punctures, it can spark a domino effect of damaging consequences to the pool. Furthermore, heavy snow could also pop out the pool's coping or the cover anchors.
While covered throughout winter, water is sure to build up on the pool cover. This is when a cover pump is essential to keeping water off the cover. Automatic pumps can be left on the cover. But Aqua Pools recommends removing the pump, including the hose, and bringing it inside during freezing weather.
With spring on its way, it's time to open up your swimming pool once again. A lot of debris can accumulate on top of your pool's safety cover during winter. As the snow melts, there will likely be all sorts of leaves, twigs and other debris that will need to be cleaned from the cover.
We use our pools all summer long, but if there are extended periods when you don't have time for a dip, it's extremely important to still remove your pool cover for a minimum of 1 day per week.
Use long, soft-bristled broom to push new, fluffy snow off the cover. Use a pool cover snow removal tool for older, heavier snow; it's made specifically for that purpose. DO NOT use a shovel or anything with sharp edges; this can tear the cover.
The standard that the pool cover industry references is from ASTM, a company known and referenced widely for safety standards for many industries. The ASTM standard for pool covers requires the ability to hold at least 435 pounds.
Automatic pool covers are rated to hold around 2,000 pounds, which is a lot of weight. However, snow, ice, and water can be very heavy, too, especially if it becomes concentrated in one area.
Most automatic safety pool covers on average last 4 to 6 years if you maintain them properly. We recommend that you buy a pool cover that comes with a pro-rated warranty. That way, you can always ask for a replacement if you notice issues within a few weeks of purchase.
The official standard states, "In the case of a pool with a width or diameter greater than 8 ft. from the periphery, the cover shall be able to hold a weight of 485 lbs. (2 adults and 1 child) to permit a rescue operation." In certain unusual circumstances, the weight may be even greater.
How Tight Should a Safety Cover Be? Safety covers should be drum-tight, with only a slight deflection in the middle. When covers are too loose, leaves can blow under easily, and a high water level in springtime quickly traps leaves and turns your cover into a giant tea bag.
In short, pool covers do not need to be kept on pools during the day. By covering the pool at night and uncovering it during the day, you can save time heating your pool's water. Because dry, windy weather may increase evaporation, it is recommended to remove the cover only on humid, sunny days.
Some of the causes of pool covers sagging include snow on the pool cover, dirt and debris on the pool cover, a low water level, and a poor installation of the pool cover. A torn pool cover can also easily sag when the water seeps to the top of the cover.
For safety reasons; if someone should end up under the pool cover, air will come in through the holes. These small holes prevent a large pool of water from getting on the pool cover.
So while a solar cover won't actually 'turn your pool green', it will warm your water by up to 8 degrees, so if the other conditions are right, adding a solar cover can easily accelerate algae growth, very rapidly. You need to get the water balance in your pool right before putting the cover back on.
Air bubbles in the pool cover act as an insulator in a similar way that your thermos would keep water warm. A pool cover will, therefore, keep your pool water warmer for longer.
You should cover your pool every night for several reasons. First off, a pool cover saves energy and conserves water by decreasing the amount of make-up water. Also, it reduces the consumption of chemicals, and finally, it saves a lot of cleaning time since it keeps the debris out of the pool.
Winter Covers
A winter cover is essentially a large, oversized tarp to prevent debris from getting into the pool, and minimizes algae growth over winter. Winter covers can last on average 3-5 years and will then need to be replaced with new.
The cover is designed to touch the surface of the water. So your pool should always be filled when covered, and the water level should never go below 18 inches from the top of the pool. Check the water level of the pool and fill it up if it goes below 18 inches.
If you have a vinyl-lined above-ground pool, leaving it full for the winter will protect the vinyl liner from shrinkage and other damage. Since these pools are above ground level, keeping them full ensures that the wind will not damage the walls, liner, or frame.
The important thing to make sure that a pool cover is able to hold that much weight is that it should float on the water and evenly distribute any weight that is put on it. Saying that, it is NOT ADVISABLE to stand or walk on the pool cover, however durable it is, except in cases of emergency.
A pool winter cover protects your water and ensures an easier time opening your pool in the spring. Unlike safety covers, winter covers provide no additional security or safeguards against accidental injuries or drownings.
A winter cover is essentially a large tarp that goes over your pool in the wintertime to help keep out debris. They can protect against damage to the pool as a whole, which will help things run more smoothly during come Springtime. Winter covers: HELP KEEP THE DEBRIS OUT OF THE POOL.