WINTER POOL COVERS
A winter cover is essentially an incredibly large tarp that goes over your pool and sits on the water in the winter time to help keep out debris. The cover is held in place by water bags, which will need to be replaced often.
Winter covers are initially the easiest to install and the most cost-effective choice upfront. However, these covers will only last between 1-5 years (depending on your environment and care) before needing to be replaced.
The key difference is, unlike safety covers, there are no safety benefits to winter covers. In fact, they can cause incredible safety concerns if a person or animal wonders onto the cover and becomes entrapped or ensnared once engulfed in the water.
Winter Cover Advantages
- Keeps the Pool Clean
- Blocks Out Sun
- Product Cost is Comparatively Low
- Easiest Initial Installation
- Quick and Easy Availability
Winter Cover Disadvantages
- No Safety Features
- Potential Risk for Children and Animals.
- Poor Durability.
- Both Water Bags and Cover Needs Replaced Often
- Visually Unappealing
NOT-SO-FUN-FACT: Have you heard of the Attractive Nuisance Doctrine? It states that landowners may be held liable for injuries to children trespassing on land if the injury is caused by an object on the land that is likely to attract children. That means that if your pool is not properly secured you could as a pool owner could be held liable for injuries or even accidental drownings of neighborhood youth even if they trespassed onto the property.
One of the main benefits of a safety cover (traditional or automatic) is the additional security that you provide for your family and pets but also to your neighbors, unintended guests, and wondering wildlife (which can claw/ruin a vinyl liner attempting to get out of the pool).
Safety covers are made of a stronger, more durable material than winter covers in order to ensure the desired safety components. These covers are able to withstand between 485 – 4,000 pounds! This makes any brand of safety cover much more likely to long outlast a winter cover.
Lastly, after initial installation, safety covers are very easy to remove and reinstall season after season, typically only taking a few minutes for average size pools. Let’s look at the two types of safety covers- traditional and automatic!
POOL SAFETY COVERS
Traditional safety covers are either woven mesh or solid vinyl which are secured to your pool’s deck with straps to anchors around the entire perimeter of your pool in order to close your pool for the cooler season. Safety covers also prevent accidents as they provide extra protection for children, animals, and unintended guests.
While winter covers may require maintenance during the winter to remove leaves and water, safety covers typically require very little attention.
The main deterrent for not purchasing a safety cover over a winter cover is almost always price. However, keep in mind that a winter cover is only initially more cost effective upfront. In the long run, a safety cover, which on average lasts 12-15 years, will cost about the same as needing to replace a winter cover over the same course of time. If you take into account the added expenses of frequent water bag replacements, cover pumps, and the increased labor of springtime cover cleaning, a safety cover can even be cheaper in the long run.
Safety Cover Advantages
- Keeps Out Large Debris
- Safety- Will Prevent Access to Pool
- Visually Appealing
- Low Maintenance
- Durable and Long Lifespan
Safety Cover Disadvantages
- Higher Costs Compared to a Single Winter Cover
- Custom Covers Can Take 3-4 Weeks to Create
- Installation Requires Tools and Moderate Labor
Pool safety covers come in two main types: mesh safety covers and solid safety covers. Both types of safety cover material provide protection for your pool and guests, however each has its own advantages:
Mesh Safety Cover Advantages
- Lighter and Easier to Handle
- Rain and Snow Pass Through the Mesh into The Pool
- Leaves and Large Debris Are Collected on Top
- Less Expensive Than a Solid Safety Cover
Solid Safety Cover Advantages
- Blocks 100% Of Sunlight Preventing Algae Growth Which Can Stain Your Pool
- Easier Spring Clean Up as Dirty Water is Kept Out
- Prevents Fine Debris from Entering the Pool
- Stronger More Durable Material
How to Install Your Safety Cover - YouTube
Installing A Safety Cover With A Paving Stone Deck - YouTube
Installing and Testing a Winter Safety Cover | #PoolGuys - YouTube
Measuring for your Safety Cover - YouTube
Impressions installting a Winter Safety Pool Cover - YouTube
Winterize an Inground Pool; Install a Safety Cover - YouTube
Pool Safety Covers vs. Winter Pool Covers: Which Cover Should I Get? (royalswimmingpools.com)