Above-ground Winter Pool Covers For Swimming Pool Closing

Failing to cover your above ground swimming pool for the winter can cause your pool to become damaged by the elements and can also cause evaporation and deterioration of important winterizing chemicals. Moreover, algae blooms and significant amounts of leaves, twigs, and dirt will likely accumulate in your pool, causing your spring opening to be time consuming and unnecessarily troublesome. On the other hand, by securely covering your pool with a winter pool cover, you will be helping to ensure that your pool stays in good shape while also keeping the pool water cleaner for an easier spring opening.

Above ground pool winter covers are available as solid winter pool covers and as mesh winter pool covers. Solid above ground winter pool covers are typically constructed from heavy-duty polyethylene and are designed to provide an impenetrable barrier between your pool and the elements. For enhanced strength and durability, these winter swimming pool covers commonly feature characteristics such as double stitched borders to prevent rips and tears and UV inhibitors to prevent damage caused by sunlight. Since solid winter pool covers for above ground swimming pools provide a solid barrier that lies across the surface of your pool, they are highly effective at preventing rainwater, debris and sunlight from reaching the pool water.

It is this ability to keep everything out of the pool that is the most popular advantage associated with solid winter pool covers. When leaves and other debris are kept out of the pool, the water will be very clean come spring and less vacuuming will be required. Furthermore, by preventing sunlight from reaching the water, solid winter swimming pool covers help to inhibit the growth of algae. On the downside, however, the impenetrable nature of these covers causes rainwater and water from melting snow to form puddles on the top of the cover. Unless removed by the use of a cover pump, these puddles can cause significant difficulty when it comes time to remove the cover in the springtime.

For owners of above ground swimming pools who don't wish to deal with water accumulation on the top of their winter cover, there is another option available. Mesh above ground pool winter covers differ from solid winter swimming pool covers in that they are porous covers. The mesh material of these winter pool covers for above ground swimming pools allows rainwater and melting snow to pass through the cover while still preventing leaves, twigs and other large debris from entering the pool water. As a result, there is no need for a cover pump when using mesh above ground winter pool covers.

Mesh winter pool covers for above ground swimming pools also offer additional benefits. For example, as rainwater and melting snow can still enter the swimming pool, mesh covers reduce reliance on tap water for raising the water level in the springtime. This is particularly advantageous in regions where water use is restricted or costly. In addition, mesh above ground winter pool covers tend to be more lightweight than solid covers, making them easier to handle when installing or removing them. However, it's important to keep in mind that mesh covers will allow silt and other fine debris to enter the pool, causing some cleaning to be necessary during the next spring opening.

Whether a solid or mesh winter cover will be the best choice for you and your pool will depend on your personal preferences and the region where you live. For example, if you receive a lot of rain or snow during the winter and don't want to use a cover pump, a mesh cover will likely be best. On the other hand, if your primary concern is keeping your pool water clean so that you can enjoy an easy spring opening, a solid cover will probably be the right option for you. Either way, however, using a quality winter cover for your above ground swimming pool during the winter months is an excellent way to protect your investment and keep your pool in good condition.

Of course, in order to get the most effective protection out of your winter pool cover it's important to install it correctly. Most winter pool covers for above ground swimming pools come with a rope or cable that will need to be laced through the built-in grommets. After laying the cover over the top of the water rather than pulling it taut, this rope should be tightened to securely anchor the cover. In certain regions where winds are prevalent, you may wish to take extra measures to prevent wind whip, which can cause winter pool covers to rip and tear. If this is the case, you can use winter cover accessories such as cover clips and cover seal to hold your winter cover firmly in place.