A swimming pool cover is often overlooked. While they may not seem like much, pool covers are an integral part of keeping your pool clean, safe, and running efficiently.
In this guide, we’ll cover all the different aspects to consider, when picking your pool cover, from thickness, bubble shape and colour. Get in touch with the team at Go Aqua, to install your perfect pool cover today.
Over the cold weather? Check out our guide for summer pool covers instead!
Why Should I Install a Pool Cover?
Did you know that a pool cover can prevent up to 98% of water evaporation from your pool? It’s not something that is often thought about, but pool evaporation can affect your water level quite noticeably when the pool isn’t in use for months.
During the Winter, your pool is also susceptible to cracking from the freezing temperatures and debris in the water, but this can be significantly reduced by covering the surface. If you have a pool cover in place, it’ll speed up the reopening in the Spring too, with reduced cleaning required and hopefully less chance for damage.
Aside from all this, a pool cover can also be a brilliant safety tool for any household or business with pets or young children too and are worth having when the pool is out of use. We’ll break down each element to consider in any pool cover, to help you be as informed as possible when installing yours.
The diagram below should act as a handy guide to the shapes and measurements of pool covers.
Have you got your winter maintenance procedure in place yet? If not, check out our guide on the best practices to put in place. We are also creating a handy guide on reopening your pool in the Spring, which will be coming to the blog soon.
Pool Cover Bubbles: Thickness and Shape
All pool covers are comprised of separate layers, with rows of bubbles used to keep the water warm. By having these in place, the sun heats the trapped air inside the bubbles and transfers this to the water below. So, what makes the perfect bubble to do this?
The main factors to consider are the shape and thickness of the bubble. For instance, if you compared a cover with diamond bubbles, to one with round bubbles, you’d notice that the shape allows them to be a little more tightly packed and therefore more efficient.
The thickness of your pool cover is a good indicator of how durable it should be, but the weight should be thought about in relation to the system used too. While it may seem best to source the thickest cover possible for longevity, you wouldn’t want it to be too hefty to run, if you’re using a reel system to operate your cover. GeoBubble has a great guide on the thickness and shape of pool cover bubbles, so be sure to check out their blog if you’d like to learn more.
At Go Aqua, we will visit to measure your pool and advise you of the best options to fit your needs. Then, we’ll source the most suited materials for your cover, so don’t worry too much about the array of options. Our experts have 55 years of experience in the trade, so can assure you of quality service. Book your visit today!
Preparing for your Pool Cover Installation
Before installing your cover, it’s best to clean the pool thoroughly, to make sure that no debris can clog the parts while it’s inactive and covered. You’ll also want to use algaecide to avoid any build-up and keep it hygienic. We’ve talked about this process in much more detail in a previous blog, so please read through it if this is something you’d like to learn more about.
As a top tip, we recommend adding bottles of water to your pool to keep the flow of water going.
If installing a tarp pool cover, it can be worth putting a small amount of water on the top to weigh it down in the wind. This mustn’t be excessive, however, as too much water may damage both the cover and the pool. Generally, 2 inches is considered an acceptable amount, but this step isn’t required if using a sturdy automatic cover.
We created our definitive checklist to reopening your pool this Spring, for anyone who is eager to get back into the water soon.
Get in Touch
At Go Aqua, we pride ourselves on our expertise and adaptability. With regular training for the latest industry regulations, we are confident in delivering high quality and attention to detail as a standard for all our customers. All our pool covers are chosen to suit individual needs, so regardless of any unique features of your pool, we are confident in sourcing the right cover for you.
Visit our pool covers page to find out more or get in touch today.
Worried about your pool’s efficiency during the Winter? Check out our blog discussing why energy-saving heat pumps are the way forward in this modern world.
Read our latest article, talking about the benefits of cold-water swimming and how to make the most out of your pool facilities over Winter.