Once cooler weather moves into your area, you may have already stopped using your property's outdoor pool and are in the process of shutting it down for the winter. As part of this process, you may be tempted to cover the pool with the standard tarp that you may use during the summer months.
However, since wintry weather causes issues that do not occur during the warmer months, you should consider using a winter safety pool cover on your pool instead. There are a couple of benefits that come from doing so.
1. Keeps Both Debris and Precipitation out of Your Swimming Pool
One benefit of using a winter safety cover for your swimming pool is that it helps to keep both debris and precipitation out. While a standard tarp will keep them out to some degree, snow and ice are heavier than regular rain and the tarp may not be able to withstand their weight.
The problem with having rain or melted snow and ice filling your pool is not from the moisture. If the pool is full of water and the temperatures drop below freezing, the water will become ice, expand, and possibly crack the sides of your pool. A cover designed especially to withstand the extra weight can help keep out the moisture and prevent this issue from happening.
2. Blocks the Ultraviolet Rays of the Sun to Prevent Bleaching as Well as Algae Growth
Another advantage of using a pool cover designed specifically for winter weather is that it helps to block the ultraviolet rays of the sun which cause algae to grow and bleach your pool tiles. While you may not consider this to be a problem in winter, the UV rays of the sun can still be problematic.
If the rays are able to penetrate a thinner cover, the greenhouse effect they create will make the environment ideal for algae growth, even during cold weather. A winter safety cover is thick enough to block these rays to help ensure that this growth does not occur.
While preparing your property's pool for cold weather, using a solid cover designed to protect it from the wintry weather of the season can help to keep melted snow, ice, and vegetation from collecting and freezing, causing damage to the pool. It will also prevent algae growth or bleaching of the tiles. For more information as well as to find out your options, contact a pool contractor in your area that offers winter safety pool covers to discuss your needs with them.