Finding dirty, green, algae-filled water in your pool when you get ready to open it in the spring is a real headache (see Parts 1 & 2). If you want to avoid that type of problem, adding an isolation cover to your pool is a great idea. Here are some of the most popular types of isolation pool cover options available. Each one requires a certain method if you want the water underneath to stay as clear and clean as possible. There’s one type of isolation cover, however, that you should avoid using in the wintertime.
Don’t Count on an Automatic Pool Cover to Keep Your Pool Water Clean in the Winter
Automatic pool covers are extremely beneficial for use throughout the swimming season. They promote safety, they’re convenient, and they can help retain heat and chemicals in your pool. So why shouldn’t they be used in the winter? It’s because water tends to pool on the cover which can cause a weight-related failure. This is especially true in areas that see a significant amount of snow throughout the winter.
You could try to use a pump system to remedy this problem, but the pump most likely will not be strong enough to keep up with all the accumulated water. If your pool has a leak or gets a leak in it at some point throughout the winter, the trouble will get even worse when the pool’s overall water level starts to drop. The water that used to support the cover drops to a lower and lower level inside the pool. This lack of support often causes the various components of the cover, including the pulley system, lead bar, coping, and rails to suffer serious damage. The cover will definitely need to be repaired and might be so severely broken that it needs to be completely replaced.
As you can see, there are plenty of reasons not to use an automatic pool cover as a winter cover for your pool. Thankfully, there are plenty of other options that do a much better job of keeping your water clean and clear throughout the winter months.
When Using a Tarp & Water Bag Cover, Inspect It Carefully Before Use
Tarp and water bag pool covers have been around for a very long time. Originally, the bags were filled with sand, not water. Pool owners soon found that the sand was messy and difficult to deal with, leading to the innovation of putting water in the bags instead.
Though the change from sand-filled bags to water-filled bags is arguably a positive change, both the water bags and tarp covers have gone down in quality over the years. That’s why it’s important to always thoroughly inspect your tarp pool cover before you put it over your winterized pool. If the cover already has a hole in it, you can’t expect it to keep your pool water clean and clear throughout the winter. If you do see holes in your winter tarp cover, it’s time to get a new one. If you look online, try to find one with great reviews from verified purchasers.
Since these covers only last a few years and the bags and tarp quickly need to be replaced, you may want to look into a more durable option for your pool. In our next article, we’ll look at some of the other types of covers you can use to keep your pool water clean over the winter.
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