By Francis Lowe

The use of a Swimming Pool Winter Debris cover helps to keep your pool clear and clean during the winter. The prevention of leaves and dirt entering the water plays a big part in how easy it is to re start your pool in the Spring. A pool which has been “put to bed” properly in the Autumn is much easier and cheaper to get going again.

A range of winter debris covers are available to suit different applications and budgets.

Probably the cheapest is the water bag cover for in-ground pools. This is basically just a tarpaulin fabric, stretched over the pool, so that it does not sag into the water, and held in place by water bags around the edge. This cover is cheap but unsatisfactory because it seldom stays where it should. These type of covers are often supplied with little or no drainage. Rainwater accumulates in the centre of the cover, until the weight causes it to collapse into the pool. It then takes all the built up rubbish with it.

A much better alternative is the mesh winter cover. This is also stretched over the top of the pool, but this time is held in place by stainless steel fittings which are drilled into the pool surround and attached to the cover with straps. This makes the cover much more secure. The mesh effectively acts in a similar way to a filter. The water is allowed through, but the dirt remains on the top. The mesh cover can be tailored to fit different pool shapes. The spacings between the straps will depend on the size and shape of the cover. More straps and at closer intervals, will be put on to the cover for more highly shaped or large covers. Consequently they are more expensive, per square foot.

Covers which are commonly called solid covers are in fact large sheets of industrial PVC. These are usually secured either with stainless steel fittings in the same way as the mesh cover, or with aluminium bars. These are very effective and often sold as safety covers, as access to the pool is very difficult. Unfortunately this same access problem makes the cover difficult to move when covering and uncovering the pool. These covers are much more expensive than the traditional mesh ones.

Genuinely solid covers are available which are made using a slatted, rigid PVC. These covers float on the surface of the water, creating an impermeable seal, and will take the weight of an adult. Although these covers are by far the most expensive option, they are safety covers that can be used during the summer too.

Whichever cover you choose it is essential that the manufacturer is provided with accurate measurements. Apart from the slatted pvc covers all covers must have an adequate overlap to prevent dirt from blowing in under the sides. Most winter covers have special hard wearing protection sewn in to the cover at certain points. The manufacturer needs to know the pool dimensions in order to position these correctly. Slatted covers need to be sized exactly. If it is too big it will not fit between the pool walls, and if too small will not be supported correctly on the edges.

Francis Lowe is a leading expert in swimming pool maintenance with a huge wealth of experience developed from 40 years in the industry.
To see a full range of pool equipment, including swimming pool covers and solar covers please see the website of specialist supplier poolwarehouseuk.com