Posted by Marcus Sheridan on Mon, Sep 07, 2009 @ 02:16 PM
Solid Vinyl versus Mesh Inground Winter Pool Covers: Which is Better?
During this time of the year when pool owners are sadly at the end of the swimming season, the topic of pool covers is one that is often discussed, with many pool owners electing to upgrade from their standard ‘tarp' style winter cover to a stronger, more permanent ‘security' style swimming pool cover. This desire to upgrade is very understandable considering tarp covers are poor winter covers, requiring a pump on top to keep any water off and only last 1-3 years before they need to be replaced. Once someone has decided to go with an upgraded winter cover, the question then turns to whether a solid or mesh cover will suit their needs the best. The following is a list of the advantages and disadvantages of each type of security-style winter pool cover:
Mesh Cover Advantages:
-Mesh covers typically cost less than a solid vinyl pool cover. In most cases, the price difference between the two is $200-$600.
-Mesh covers typically last longer than vinyl covers. I've found the average lifespan for a mesh cover to be 10-15 years whereas a solid cover will typically last 7-11 years.
-Mesh covers do not need a pump on top because they just let the pool water pass through. This is nice because the submersible pumps used with solid vinyl covers usually only last about 2-4 years before they break down. These pumps can be rather costly, often times around $200-$250 each.
-Because a pump is needed with a solid winter cover, mesh covers generally require no work during the offseason.
-With their light-weight material, mesh covers can be taken on and off by one person in most cases, unlike solid covers which generally require at least two persons to take on and off.
Solid Cover Advantages:
-The main advantage to a solid vinyl winter pool cover is the fact that it does not allow sunlight to pass through. This is important because in the Spring when the pool water starts to warm up, algae will grow on the walls if it has contact (as it does with a mesh cover) to sunlight. This is also why people with mesh security covers tend to open up their pools a little earlier (before it gets too warm) than those with solid covers.
-Along with keeping sunlight out, solid vinyl covers keep water out of the pool as well. For example, when leaves fall on your pool cover during the winter and it rains, the leaves will cause the rain water to become very dirty. With a mesh cover, the dirty water will just pass right on through to the pool water, whereas with a solid cover it will be kept out, allowing the pool water to stay much cleaner. This cleaner water usually leads to very little brushing, vacuuming, chemicals, etc in the Spring to get the pool swimmable, unlike a mesh covered pool which will likely need a few days of vacuuming , brushing, and filtering before it is ready for the new season.
So there you have the advantages and the disadvantages to the two main types of pool security/winter covers. Knowing the benefits of each, cover manufacturers like Loop Loc and others have now begun to produce hybrid style covers that share some of the best features of each. For example, Loop Loc makes a cover that is solid vinyl with a small mesh opening in the middle. With such a design, this cover now prevents most sunlight from passing through to the water but it also does not have the need for a submersible pump on top.
Further questions or comments regarding pool covers? Just leave a comment below and as always, don't forget to subscribe to our blog to receive all the latest news, tips, and information for swimming pool owners.
Marcus Sheridan
http://www.poolschool.us/
Posted by Marcus Sheridan on Mon, Aug 31, 2009 @ 05:32 PM
Swimming Pool Solar Covers: Prices, Usage, and Longevity
By Marcus Sheridan, www.PoolSchool.us
Construction:
A swimming pool solar cover is a thin plastic blanket that floats on a pool's water surface and has the appearance of bubble wrap. Typically they come available in navy blue, black, and forest green colors and are cut to conform to the shape of the pool.
Do they work?
Despite what one might think, solar covers usually work very well. In most cases, they will warm the pool water temperature 4-8 degrees. Although this may not sound like much, it makes a huge difference in terms of the comfort level of the water temperature. This is also why in many climates pool owners only use their solar cover at the beginning and end of the season, as the cover can cause the pool to get too hot during the heat of the summer.
Is a reel necessary?
Absolutely. In fact, I won't even sell a solar cover without a reel because they are just too big and cumbersome without one. I've seen many cases where a person bought a solar cover without a reel and after trying to take the cover off the first time they simply stored the cover away because they felt it was too much work. This is why having a reel that allows the cover to roll right up without any mess or hassle is imperative. These reels typically come with casters so that they can be removed during the hot part of the season when the cover is not in use.
How long do solar covers last?
Solar covers do not last very long at all, especially the cheaper one. I have found that a solar cover with a 6-year warranty will last only one season, an 8-year warranty cover will last about two seasons, and a 10-year warranty cover will last about 3 seasons. Now you may be asking how this is possible. The answer is that all solar cover warranties are quite prorated and are worth very little after the first season. Most solar cover reels last 4-8 years.
How much do they cost?
The price range of most solar covers is $75-$225. As you can imagine, this price varies based on the quality of the cover and the size of the pool. The main expense when buying a solar cover though is the reel, which in most cases will be in the $200-$500 range.
Do they keep debris out?
Although solar covers do help keep some debris out of the pool, I would not suggest buying one with the hopes that it will greatly lessen maintenance. The amount of vacuuming or leaf skimming one has will not be greatly impacted with a solar cover.
So there's your quick 101 on swimming pool solar covers and as always, don't forget to subscribe to our blog in the upper right hand corner of this page so as to always be updated on news and tips for the swimming pool industry.
Posted by Marc Sheridan on Wed, Mar 04, 2009 @ 06:19 PM
Pool Covers: The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly
By Marcus Sheridan
With the summer soon coming to a close, the time to cover your pool for the winter months soon approaches. Many of you may already have a winter cover that you're happy with, others may be curious as to the other options that are available. This article will talk about the three main types of pool covers and the pros and cons of each.
Standard Winter Cover: Price Range $75-$225
The Good:
This cover does a nice job of keeping out sunlight as well as other debris.
The Bad:
Standard covers are made of a "tarp" like material and are held down with water bags. This material only lasts between 1 and 3 seasons before it has to be replaced. One of the other main drawbacks of this type of cover is the fact that it holds very little weight. In other words, if a dog, animal, or person attempts to walk on the cover they will get very wet. Standard covers also require a pump, which means that one must be vigilant throughout the off-season as to ensure too much water does not build up on the top, causing the cover to cave in.
The Ugly:
Other then the fact that their longevity is so poor, standard winters cover can be hard to look at for seven months out of the year, as their appearance is not what I would call "aesthetically pleasing".
Security Cover: Price Range $1200-$3000
The Good:
About 90% of our inground pool customers utilize a security cover. These covers have somewhat of a trampoline appearance, with spring-loaded straps connected to the cover, and anchored into the concrete, to hold it in place. There are two types of security covers. The main type we offer is made of a mesh material. This cover is very effective in keeping leaves and debris out, and can also support a great amount of weight, including heavy snow loads. Because it is mesh, no pump is required on top(the rain water just passes through), and so once it is on for the off-season, there is typically no additional upkeep to worry about. These covers normally last between 10 and 15 years. The other type of security cover consists of a solid vinyl material. The main benefit of a "solid" security cover is that does not allow any water to pass through, which means that the water should still be clear in the spring opening season. Solid security covers normally last between 6 and 10 years.
The Bad:
The main drawback that some find with mesh security covers is that they allow water to pass through, which means the pool water can be very dirty when it comes time to open it in the spring. This cloudy/murky water is usually clear within 2-5 days of opening, but it does take some work getting it back to normal. On the flip side of this discussion, solid covers, although they allow for a much prettier opening, require a pump on top (which have to be adjusted periodically throughout the off-season). These cover pumps, because of the wear and tear of the cold months, usually only last 2-4 years before they quit working, and their replacement cost is around $225. Solid covers also do not last nearly as long as mesh covers.
The Ugly:
Based on my experience, I really can't classify any of the drawbacks of security covers as "ugly".
Automatic Covers: Price Range $5000-$15,000
The Good:
Automatic covers come in many forms, and this is the reason for their broad price range. Their two biggest benefits are the fact that they are wonderful solar covers and they offer constant protection against unwanted guests/swimmers. They also help keep leaves and debris out of the pool during the season, potentially cutting down on time spent cleaning/maintaining the pool.
The Bad:
Auto covers are made of a vinyl material that typically wears out after five years or so. The cost of replacing this material is quite expensive (2-4k), and considering their initial cost, can be quite frustrating for homeowners. Another problem with these covers that many people don't realize is that because they are such good solar covers, sometime they can heat the water too much. This especially occurs during the months of July and August when most pool owners do not want their pool water to be any warmer. I have seen cases where auto covers will cause the water to get over 95 degrees, which feels like taking a bath at that point and is not very refreshing at all.
The Ugly:
The biggest problem with auto covers is their propensity to break down. With so many components (motor, ropes/pulleys, vinyl, aluminum track, etc.), there are many parts that can break down. We find that after about 3 years auto covers can break down quite often, which can be very frustrating, especially if the cover breaks and it can not be taken off the pool, disallowing anyone to swim. I have seen this occur many times and it's never a pleasant experience. The other big problem with auto covers is the fact that they are not "true" winter covers. Although they are rated to hold about 2,000 lbs, a heavy snow load can cause these covers to cave-in. In some cases, it is necessary for homeowners to open their cover before a major snow storm as to eliminate the potential of any cave-ins from happening.