Pool covers are a great way to save time and money. A swimming pool cover keeps your pool clean, reduces evaporation and saves on chemicals.
Maybe you’re thinking of getting a new one, or maybe you’ve just never really thought about it before. Either way, here is a breakdown of the most common types of pool covers and what they have to offer.
Types of Pool Covers
While pool covers come in many different shapes and sizes, they fall into one of six categories: winter, leaf net, mesh, solid, hybrid and automatic.
The following is a list of some of the most popular types of swimming pool covers:
Winter Pool Covers
Pool covers begin as plastic pellets that are extruded into sheets of polyethylene or polypropylene, two common plastics. These plastic sheets are cut into thin ribbons and woven into a sturdy interlocking fabric.
Winter pool covers protect your pool from dirt, leaves and other debris that could get in the water during the winter. They can also prevent algae from growing or chemicals from evaporating out of the water.
They are typically held down with water bags or other weights.
Leaf Net Covers
These are typically used as a precursor to winterizing a pool at the end of its season. Thinner than winter covers and made from a woven mesh material, leaf nets let rainwater filter through while keeping out leaves and other debris that might otherwise sink to the bottom of your pool during winter months.
Safety Pool Covers
There are two main types of safety pool covers: mesh and solid.
Solid Safety Pool Covers
These are the most common types of pool covers. They are made from a heavy polyethylene material that is also used for truck tarps. The polyethylene material is sealed together by a high frequency welding process which creates a completely watertight seal.
Solid covers keep debris out of the pool and reduce evaporation, while mesh covers allow rain and melting snow to pass through but prevent larger debris from getting in
Mesh Safety Pool Covers
Mesh pool covers offer many benefits over other types of pool covers. They’re light and easy to install, but most importantly, they allow water through while keeping leaves and other debris out. Mesh pool covers come in two varieties: micron mesh or diamond mesh.
Hybrid Pool Covers
A hybrid above-ground pool cover is more flexible than a solid safety cover because it’s made from mesh material that allows some sunlight and water to go through. While it isn’t as safe as a solid safety cover, it’s still safe enough to prevent children and pets from falling in. It also has the added benefit of allowing some sunlight into the water so that algae doesn’t grow.
Solar Pool Covers
Solar pool covers do a great job of heating your pool. They are also cheap to buy and install.
Solar covers work by using a layer of tiny air bubbles to trap heat in the water during the day and prevent it from escaping at night. They’re an easy way to maintain warmer temperatures without having to run your heater as much.
These covers are rolled up on a reel when not in use, and can be cut to fit almost any size or shape of inground or above ground swimming pools.
Automatic Pool Covers
Automatic pool covers are by far the most expensive pool covers, but for good reason. They can be operated using hydraulic mechanisms, or electricity powered motors that automatically pull the cover across the pool.
What Type of Pool Cover is Best?
When deciding on a pool cover, it’s important to consider what kind of pool you have, how you use it, and whether or not you have any children or pets.
Take your time when you’re buying a pool cover and make sure you get one that will meet all of your needs. There are so many types of covers made by so many manufacturers.
The table below offers information about each type of swimming pool cover, so you can consider what you want in a pool cover. Consider which factors are most important to you—heat retention, safety, or cost.
| Pool Cover Type | Advantage | Heat Retention | Safety | Cost |
| Winter Cover | Pool protection | Good | No | Average |
| Safety Cover (mesh/solid ) | Safety & protection | Good | Excellent | Expensive |
| Solar Cover | Heat Retention | Excellent | No | Inexpensive |
| Automatic Pool Cover | Luxury Protection | Good | Excellent | Expensive |
Final Thoughts
Swimming pool covers play a big role in helping to protect your pool and reduce the need for you to continually be maintaining it. They protect the water from contaminants while preventing evaporation, lowering heating costs.
In the end, the type of inground pool cover you purchase cans make your life a lot easier. It’s an investment that can make big savings when it comes to money, time, and wear and tear on your pool.
