Swimming Pool Covers

With a swimming pool in your own back yard, it's tempting to think you can just dive right in without a moment's notice. In many cases, you can. But occasionally you'll want to cover the pool.

Swimming pool covers are used for a number of reasons, sometimes seasonally, sometimes not. Usually, swimming pool covers are used for two main reasons - to maintain water temperature or to keep out debris.

When water temperature is an issue, swimming pool covers to use are called thermal bubble covers. They're usually lightweight, floating covers that act as an insulating barrier between the water and the sun.

Thermal swimming pool covers are often used early in the swim season and again at the very end. They will keep the water warm when the air temperature is cool.

Australia is experiencing a severe drought just now so thermal swimming pool covers are required to minimize excess loss of precious water, as these covers also slow evaporation.

Keeping debris out of the water is the job for the other type of swimming pool covers. These covers don't provide a thermal or evaporative barrier but they do a great job of keeping leaf debris and other things out of the pool.

Debris-catching swimming pool covers can serve as a signal that the pool is not open for swimming. They offer a degree of safety for curious children and pets but should never be relied on completely to prevent pool entry.

In some warm climates, swimming pool covers are almost never used but in others they enhance the enjoyment of the pool. Where their use is optional, it's an idea to consider and perhaps invest in once the need is felt.