The Pros and Cons of Swimming Pool Covers

The Pros and Cons of Swimming Pool Covers

How great is it to have a swimming pool? There’s nothing better than relaxing in or around your backyard pool on a warm summer’s day, watching the kids splash about. Until you see that thin layer of debris hanging out in the deep end. And this is after you had to wake up early on a Saturday to clean leaves out of the pool! You think,

‘Maybe I should have bought that pool cover after all.’ But are they worth the hassle and investment?

This blog weighs up the pros and cons of having a cover for your swimming pool. For further information or personalised advice regarding your pool, contact us at Supreme Heating today.

If you’re thinking about getting a swimming pool cover, you already know they keep out the leaves and gook and all the other stuff. A pool cover will keep bugs, dirt, and anything else from crawling in and dirtying your pool before you can use it for the day, so a pool cover will allow you more time to enjoy your backyard oasis. But in addition to cleanliness, there are many more benefits you haven’t even thought of yet! Pool covers also:

Keep the water temperature warm

A cover over your pool will keep the water at a warmer temperature than an uncovered pool. Not only does this mean you can jump in earlier in the day, but it also reduces heating costs. Whether you use a heat pump, solar, or gas system, a pool cover will increase heat retention by up to 75%! Plus, when you do run your heating system it won’t need to work as hard, meaning you’ll save further on costs and the time it takes to heat up. In fact, for homeowners wanting to use their pool year-round with a heat pump, a pool cover is a non-negotiable. Read more about the impact of a pool cover on the size of a pool heat pump.

Reduce chemical and chlorine consumption

A pool cover reduces the amount of UV that reaches the water, which means your chlorine doesn’t need to work as hard to sanitise the water. In saltwater pools, your chlorinator will use less energy. Additionally, if you use liquid chlorine a pool cover will decrease the amount of chlorine you need, reducing costs and increasing time in the pool. In the same vein, a pool cover will reduce the loss of salt and other pool chemicals by up to 50%.

Reduce evaporation

Sun + water = evaporation. Utilising your pool cover whenever your pool isn’t in use will reduce evaporation significantly, as it stops excess heat from reaching the water. With your pool retaining as much of its water as it can, this will help reduce your water bill as well as the time it takes to refill the pool.

Reduce your chances of flow blockages

As well as simply looking unsightly, leaves in your pool don’t always reach the skimmer basket. This means they can gather and cause flow blockages if you don’t keep an eye out. Over time, this can lead to your filter, chlorinator, and pumps needing to work extra hard. As well as turning your pool a greener shade than you’d like, the extra load on your pumps can lead to equipment failures, meaning more frequent issues and possible replacements.

Increase your pool time

With your pool cover helping to keep heat and chemicals in, and leaves and bugs out, there’s so much less maintenance for you to do. This allows you and your friends and family more time to use it over the summer. Plus, it will need less supervision when not in use, so you can relax at your holiday accommodation pool without needing to worry about the one at home!

The Cons of Swimming Pool Covers

Everything has its downsides. Despite the many positives a swimming pool cover will offer you, here are a couple of things you may also need to consider:

The Look

Traditionally, pool covers have been regarded as unsightly. While today’s are much better looking, some still prefer the look of an uncovered pool regardless.

Hassle And Energy

Even with all their great benefits, having a pool cover means you need to take it off whenever you want to use the pool. This process is made much easier today with roller systems and the like, any pool cover will require a small amount of manual labour.

The Space Required

As blocks of land become smaller, it becomes harder to find space for everything in your backyard. This includes the pool cover and its rolling system. With pool fences and other laws regarding pools, sometimes you end up with even less space than you think, meaning there’s not much room left over to store a pool cover and its accessories.

Hard To Find For An Odd Shaped Pool

If you’re lucky enough to have a custom-made pool or any that isn’t the traditional rectangular shape, you might have more difficulty finding a cover that fits. Luckily, there are companies that produce custom-made pool covers for this very reason!

Want to Reduce Dirt and Increase Your Pool Time?

For anybody considering purchasing a cover for your swimming pool, we hope this article has helped you to weigh up their pros and cons. At Supreme Heating we offer custom-made pool covers so that no matter your pool’s shape, we’ve got it covered (literally)! With options like Diamond Pool Covers and pool roller systems, you’re spoilt for choice in Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane, Adelaide, and Perth. For a free quote give us a call on 1300 787 978 or send us an enquiry.