Even after you’ve closed your pool for the season, there’s still a lot of work to maintain it safely over the winter. Winter pool safety is a serious matter that should not be ignored.
Everything you do aims to prevent the freezing and thawing cycles that can harm your pool. How can you keep the cold weather out of your swimming pool? What is safeguarding your winter pool cover? Make sure your pool cover is up to the task all winter long by following these guidelines.
What is the purpose of a pool cover?
Let’s start by explaining why not having a pool cover is a no-no for pool owners. You must cover your pool in the winter to keep it safe from the cold and the debris that flies around at this time of year.
You want to avoid skimming and vacuuming the pool at all costs when it’s below freezing. This also reduces the amount of spring cleaning you’ll have to do. Branches, old leaves, and other debris can be tossed around by the wind during the winter, making it difficult to keep your pool clean.
How to Protect Your Pool Cover in Three Easy Steps
Pool covers may seem like a waste of time, but proper care will extend the life of your cover and protect it. Tips to assist your pool cover in performing its job are provided here.
- Invest in a high-quality duvetTo save money, you could try to use a basic plastic tarp as a temporary cover for a pool. This should not be done. Shopping for a proper pool cover is more appropriate. It is possible to choose from three main types of pool covers: a standard cover held down by water bags, a lock-in cover that clips into aluminum tracks to avoid using water bags, and a safety cover that extends across the pool.
- Protect it from wind and rain with a standard pool cover if necessaryWater bags should be used to keep your pool cover in place. Even if it seems like a good idea on a budget, do not use other weighted items such as coffee cans, bricks, or boards because they could damage the pool liner.
- When the cover is on, add a few drops of water to the top of itTo keep the cover from being blown away, add 1/2 to 1 inch of water to the top.
Factors to consider when protecting your pool coverMany factors must be taken into account when protecting an in-ground pool cover. Some things to keep in mind as you prepare your pool for the elements, such as ice over the winter and weather like wind, are listed here.
- Protection from iceDo not attempt to remove ice that has formed on your cover. The sharp edges of the ice can injure you, your pool cover, and your pool itself. Instead, wait for the ice to melt and use a cover pump to remove the water.
- Wind protectionIf you’re using a tarp, you can use water bags in addition to 1/8″ of water to keep it in place. Avoid using non-specific weights such as coffee cans, bricks, boards, and the like because they can damage your pool’s liner if they fall into the water.
- Tree protectionIt’s always good to keep the trees around your pool in good shape. Check your trees for overhanging limbs in the fall and remove them if necessary. Additional leaf protection is provided by installing leaf nets over your cover during the fall season.
- Animal protectionTo keep animals out of your pool, you’ll need to do regular upkeep. Debris that can attract animals should be kept away from your cover.
Don’t overlook any damage.
Keep an eye out for symptoms of wear and tear on your cover. Before it’s installed, it’s best to perform this. Attempting to repair damage in the winter might be dangerous. If your apartment/house needs specialty matches or a mesh cover, we can help you with that.
Call Comfort Spaces for help with winterizing or closing your in-ground pool.
