Pool safety covers are protective sheets meant to cover swimming pool water when not in use, thereby preventing children from accidentally drowning in it. They are available in the mesh as well as solid type. Besides the manual covers, automatic safety covers are also available...
A swimming pool safety cover is a vital safety feature that helps prevent accidental drowning. According to a study conducted by the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), 'drowning is the second leading cause of death for children under the age of fourteen'.
Thus, a glorious, comforting swimming pool can become a death trap if precautionary measures are not taken. The best solution to prevent these accidents, is to invest in a swimming pool safety cover. There are various types of pool covers such as the winter covers, solar covers, and safety covers. Winter and solar covers cannot be used for safety purposes, thus, one must be careful to ask for a safety cover only.
Types of Swimming Pool Safety Covers
Swimming pool safety covers are mainly of two types: mesh and solid safety covers, which are anchored to the deck by straps that keep the cover firm over the water area.
Mesh Pool Safety Covers
These safety covers are customized to fit a pool of any size and shape, and can be availed in no time. They are considered as the best option to keep the pool safe and covered. Mesh covers are characterized by double-reinforced, heavy-duty stitching, polypropylene 2-ply webbing, and stainless steel tension springs. The webbing has a minimum break-strength of 2,200 pounds. Mesh covers are able to withstand over 250 lb per square foot and serves as a safety device, by preventing the children from coming in contact with the water. The strong strands of polypropylene fabric are capable of resisting heavy rain and snow.
These covers require very little maintenance and are lightweight, thereby easy to carry, remove, and put on. Mesh covers are perfect while closing the pool for the winter. These covers prevent debris, leaves, and other pollutants from entering into the water. Since, it is a mesh, a little dirt may seep into the water, however, most of the debris gets blown off its surface. Rain and snow drain away into the water through the mesh, thereby preventing any collection of water on the cover. Mesh covers are not only available in various shapes and sizes, but are also available in different colors. Available in brown, black, blue, green, etc., these covers camouflage with the tree color, tiles, water, etc. Most of the mesh covers come with a 12-year warranty.
Solid Safety Covers
Unlike the porous, mesh-like material of mesh covers, solid safety covers are made of hard plastic. The hard plastic prevents rainwater and snow to drain through the cover into the swimming pool water. These covers are not as beneficial as mesh covers and have several drawbacks. They are prone to sagging after a heavy rain. This is because the rainwater collected on the cover does not get drained. The retained water causes the cover to sag down into the pool's water. Rainwater, dust, leaves, and other debris also get collected on it, giving it an unsightly look.
Moreover, the formation of shallow water can be dangerous to children and small pets. Solid covers with built-in automatic cover pumps are available in the market, so as to drain the collected water off the cover. Separate cover pumps are also available, which when placed in the center of the cover, and connected to a garden hose can pump off the collected rainwater. There is the dome cover, which is a transparent dome-shaped structure built around the pool. However, this is quite bulky and cumbersome to store in the summer months. Solid types are not preferred for long-term purposes.
Automatic Swimming Pool Safety Covers
These covers are usually built into the pool, but can be retrofitted into existing pools. They are typically used all-year-round, for safety purposes. They require a cover pump in order to drain the rainwater and snow off the cover surface. Besides safety, these covers also help retain heat in the pool and also prevent pool water from evaporating, thereby keeping the pool chemicals in the water.
Automatic pool covers fit into a track on the pool sides. There is a basin with a long tube at one end of the pool, which rolls up the cover as it opens. The advantage of this type over the other manual types, is that the pool is ready to use at the flip of a switch. It eliminates the wrestling over the cover to remove as well as put it on. These covers increase convenience and last for about 10 years. They can be renovated for less than half the cost of a new installation.
Installing a safety cover will solve the tension of children accidentally falling into the swimming pool. One can opt for pool fencing to ensure protection, however, getting a fence installed is quite expensive. Unlike fences, covers can be removed whenever required and don't come in the way. Swimming pool cover is not an accessory, it's a necessity!
