|
"Pool Safety Covers Information"
Safety, Security & Convenience at the touch of a button.
The Pool & Spa Informational Website
askalanaquestion.com |
Affording Safety, Protection & More
|
Scroll down to browse
through some archived SWIMMING POOL questions and answers.
Please access the Pool Problems Page and other links, at the top of
every page, for additional information.
|
Safety
pool covers are an increasingly popular way to provide backyard security for
children and animals, by covering the pool. This can be done, without
unsightly and clumsy rollers, at the push of a button or the turn of a key.
Pool safety covers can be built for a natural, uncluttered look and provide the
additional benefits of reduced water loss through evaporation and big savings on
pool heating costs.
Clicking
on the underlined and highlighted
"keywords" or "catch phrases," in the archived answers will
give you access to additional information on that topic or product.
Please refer to the Glossary, if
there are terms or phrases that require explanation. For an alphabetized listing
of the entire contents of the website, use the
Table of Contents link, on top of
every page.
( Click the
Picture.)
|
More information about Safety Pool Covers can be found on the
Cover Pools, Inc. Preview Page
in the "Pools & Equipment" Product Information Section.
Links are available to connect you to their website.
|
►
Covering Up?
I'm looking for a pool cover to
cover a swim / spa 8ft x 24 ft long. To keep out leaves. Can you help?
Barry
W., 5/3/2007
There are lots of
choices. You can purchase a lightweight laminated pool cover and cut it to
size. You could have a cover made to order. You could use a safety
cover that will keep the dirt and the kids or dogs out of the pool. There
are
automatic pool covers, as well. It boils down to a matter of budget
and needs. I suggest that you pay a local pool professional a visit, in
order to help your decision making process. Good luck and I hope that I
have been of assistance.
Sincerely. Alan
Schuster, 5/3/2007
►
Pool Safety Concerns?
We have an inground pool and
are concerned about our toddler son. Are there safety devices that could
put our mind at easy? Thank you.
Jennifer S., 5/23/2009
There are
several choices: pool alarms, portable safety fences and enclosures.
From the point of view of safety, perhaps the best are
pool safety
covers. These covers seal off the surface - you can actually
stand on the cover - and can be operated manually or automatically. As a
bonus, they will reduce water loss through evaporation and keep the water
warmer. While it may not reduce the local requirements for a fence, it can
be a real life saver. Good luck with your decision.
Sincerely.
Alan Schuster, 5/23/2009
►
Pool Safety Nets?
I just found your website and
see that you give very good answers. So I thought I'd email you my question. We
have a couple of neighborhood ducks that love our pool. At first we thought it
was cute but then we found some droppings and lots of fuzz on the water surface.
Also, people said that duck droppings are not good because it produces some kind
of organism that borrows into your skin. So now the visitors are not as cute any
more. Do you know where we can get a big net so that they can't get in? Or
do you have any other ideas we can try? Thanks much.
Angel, 6/27/2004
Ducks do two things. Eat and
.... I had a boat so I know all about them. Duck dropping, people and
pools are not a good mixture. There are safety nets that you can place
over the pool to keep the ducks out. It will also act as a pool safety barrier
for small children. Good luck and I hope it all works out.
Sincerely. Alan
Schuster, 6/28/2004
►
Out Of Sight?
We are planning to redo our
16' x 36' inground pool next year and are definitely going to add an automatic
pool safety cover. The remodeling will include a new finish, tile work and
coping. Most covers, that I have seen, are on top of the coping. Is
there another way to do this?
Dennis B., Sanford, NC,
9/14/2004
Being that you
are planning on replacing the coping this should not be a problem.
Federal Stone Industries makes a pre-cast stone coping that will
allow you to attach the cover on the hidden underside.
Cover Pools
has a cover that can be installed in that manner. Push a button and the
cover will retract to one end. The track will not be seen. At least
you know it can be done. I suggest that you work out all the details with
the contractors, so there are no surprises. I hope that this information
will prove to be helpful.
Sincerely.
Alan Schuster, 9/14/2004
►
Solar Cover
Alternative?
Hi Alan. I use a heat
pump on my 15x30 built in pool. I use it year round in South Florida and have a
solar cover. I find the cover awkward to use and was wondering what alternatives
that you could recommend. My wife and I would appreciate your prompt response.
Thank you.
Dick S., Florida, 9/18/2003
Without
a doubt the easiest pool cover product to use is the
automatic
safety pool cover. It can be operated automatically, by a
remote control or a keyed switch. It covers the pool and reduces heat
loss, acts as a solar cover and provides safety. The heating cost savings
are considerable. More information on this product can be found at
www.coverpools.com It can also
serve as a winter cover, but I don't think you really care!!! It can be part of a complete
pool automation, that can include an
automatic pool vacuum, a salt chlorine generator, pool security and more.
I hope that I have been helpful.
Sincerely.
Alan Schuster, 9/18/2003
►
Safety Cover Algae
Cleaning?
I have been through chlorine
purgatory trying to rid my pool of a constant low chlorine problem. I have
switched companies that test and the new company advised me how on how to treat
my pool problems and they are suggesting that I have Mustard algae, which I
would agree with after reading your advice column. Can't keep the chlorine up
regardless of what I do and every time I shock the pool it turns to white foam
on the surface and the next day the water is clear but there is a brown silt on
the bottom of the pool that looks like dirt or sand but when brushed floats away
like a cloud. When it is vacuumed it goes away but is back on the bottom the
next day in smaller amounts. I am treating it with a copper algaecide and I am
wondering how to clean the bottom of my automatic cover to make sure it is not
on the cover also. Or is this step even necessary? I am brushing the
sides rigorously and vacuuming and washing filters almost daily while keeping up
the Chlorine to 5+. Am I doing it right and is this the way to rid the
problem. Thank you.
Jack M. 6/18/2008
You
seem to be on the right track and adding a copper algaecide could help
make
the difference.
Cleaning the
automatic cover might be helpful. You can raise the water
level and make sure
the free chlorine
level is elevated and let the chlorine reach the underside.
There
is a product that can be used
for
this purpose, as well of lots of other uses, as
well The
Water Broom
will
use pressurized water streams to clean the cover and wash the debris out.
Unfortunately, it will end up
in the pool. I would suggest
having the free chlorine at 10 PPM, before this is done and be prepared to
add more chlorine, if required. This sort of thing, might need to be done
yearly, when the pool is opened. Poor circulation can make algae
growth more likely. You might consider adding
THE CIRCULATOR.
The easy to install device will eliminate the dead spots that can promote
algae growth. I hope that this information proves helpful.
Sincerely.
Alan Schuster, 6/18/2008
► Cleaning The Automatic Cover?
I read through many posts but I
couldn't find anything on this issue. I have a vinyl liner pool with a manually
operated an in track safety pool cover. Every time I open the pool cover, the
pool has more dirt settled on the bottom of it. I vacuum it and get it nice and
clean, and then the next time I open it (usually the next day) it is dirty
again! The cover is supposed to help keep dirt and debris out of the pool, but
I am wondering if the dirt that settles on top of the cover is being rolled onto
the water wide of the cover when it is rolling up on its spool, and then
dropping that dirt into the pool when I close the cover again. Is this what is
likely happening, and if so, what is the best solution to cleaning the top of my
pool cover off? Or is there likely something else I am missing entirely.
Thanks for you help!
Derek, Clovis, NM, 5/16/2009
I
don't think you're missing anything and you see it for what it is. Dust and
dirt settles on the cover and eventually ends up in the pool. If it were
not covered, the same dirt would enter the pool in small amounts.
I suggest that you clean the cover, periodically, and deal with this dirt
all at once, rather than daily. A
Water Broom
will help wash down the cover and will be useful around the pool deck,
walkways and more. I hope that this
information will prove helpful.
Sincerely.
Alan Schuster, 5/16/2009
►
Heater Cost Savings?
1st, your site is very
helpful and informative. I have used it time after time for questions
pertaining to my pool. Your answers have always been exact and have helped me
solve my problems. My questions pertain to Pool Safety Covers: How
effective are they? Are they cost effective? I would like to use it all year
round. Are they easy to operate? Do you have prices for various sizes?
Thanking you in advance.
Mike, N.Y., 9/28/2003
I assume
that you are referring to an
automatic pool safety cover.
This type of cover can be used year round, as a safety cover, a solar cover and
as a winter cover. There is a cost savings, associated with pool heating
costs, that can be considerable. The cover can be operated at the press of
a button and can be part of pool automation. For more
information on safety pool covers go to
www.coverpools.com
There is a dealer locator available that should help you obtain more information
and pricing details. Thanks for visiting the website and I hope that I
have been helpful.
Sincerely.
Alan Schuster, 9/28/2003
►
Savings, Costs &
Benefits?
Your website is awesome. Can
a pool safety cover pay for itself in heater costs, over a period of time? Can
it be used with a solar cover? Thanks
Austin, 1/11/2005
It is
unlikely to completely pay for itself in heater costs, but it will make a
considerable difference. This type of cover is not generally used with a
solar cover, as that would eliminate some of the convenience. It, however,
does act as a solar blanket to help retain heat, reduce evaporation and raise
the water temperature. One thing it does extremely well is to provide
safety and piece of mind. The closing of the cover helps protect
children and animals from falling into an unattended pool. How do you put
a price on that? For information on safety
pool covers go to:
www.coverpools.com
I hope that I have been helpful.
Sincerely.
Alan Schuster, 1/11/2005
►
Reducing Heater
Costs?
I
was browsing through your website for information on mustard algae and came
across a reference to pool safety covers reducing heating costs. I am involved
in the management of our home owners association pool - Olympic size - and was
wondering if this type of product can be used in our pool. Any idea as to
possible savings? Costs? Does it operate manually or can it be done
automatically? If the cover is a safety cover, is there any insurance savings?
Thank you for any assistance that you can offer.
Irving S., Delray Beach, Florida, 10/8/2003
Considerable cost savings can be had by reducing the overnight heat loss due to
evaporation and radiational cooling. This type of
cover
can be operated manually or automatically and it can locked in place for
additional safety. I have no information about potential insurance
savings: you need to discuss this with your insurance agent. In
order to determine costs, possible savings and practicality, I suggest that you
visit
www.coverpools.com
This website will be able to provide you with additional information and dealer
locations. I hope that I have been of help. By the way, it seems to
have been a bad year for mustard algae problems! Good luck with the
project.
Sincerely.
Alan Schuster, 10/9/2003
►
Considering A Safety
Cover?
I am installing a 16x40
inground fiberglass pool in New York. I would like to know if an automatic
safety cover is worth the investment and, if so, which brand is the best (Cover
Pools,
etc.)
Dale P., 10/31/2003
Cover
Pools has the most experience and, from what I have seen or read, it
sets the standard. There are variations that are suitable for all types
of pools, shapes, new construction or old. As a bonus, it will act as a
solar cover and even as a winter cover.
Good luck.
Sincerely.
Alan Schuster, 10/31/2003
►
Wintering With A
Pool Safety Cover?
Our pool is a 16' X 36' and we
had it built with the intention of adding an automatic safety pool cover in the
future. My question is can the safety pool cover be used as winter cover?
Thanks for the help.
Dawn & Jim, Fayetteville, NC,
6/3/2003
In many areas
a
safety
pool cover can be used as a winter cover. However, the
procedures for winterizing are different. The water level must be dropped
below the skimmer, the lines blown out, openings sealed off and ice compensators
or Gizmos, added to the skimmers. Afterwards, the water level is raised so
that it will help support the cover, in case of major accumulations during the
winter. It is still possible to use a conventional winter cover on out, in
order to completely seal off the pool for the winter months. A lot depends
upon where in the country you are and the type of winter conditions. Your
dealer or installer should be able to provide you with specific instructions for
you area and for your specific needs. I hope that I
have been helpful.
Sincerely.
Alan Schuster, 6/3/2003
►
Evaporation Loss?
How much water might a pool lose
due to evaporation? Can you tell if it is due to a evaporation or a
leak? Thank you.
Jim N., Bloomfield Hills, MI,
8/2/2004
Put a piece of tape or mark,
at the water line, to use as the starting point. Measure the water loss,
daily. How much water a pool will lose, due to evaporation, will depend
upon several factors: water temperature, air temperature, wind speed over
the water surface, relative humidity, agitation, splash out, backwashing of the
filter, exposure to the Sun, duration of sunlight, etc. These variables
will cause changes in the evaporation losses to vary throughout the season, even
at the same location. The use of a
pool safety cover or solar blanket will reduce evaporation
and water loss. So how much is reasonable? A loss of 1/4" per day,
more or less, depending upon the actual or seasonal conditions is a reasonable
starting point. Less in Bangor, Maine and more in Tucson, Arizona!!!
It is not unexpected to have to add a couple of inches of water per week, in the
absence of rainfall. A couple of inches per day is another matter. A
loss of inches per day could involve a leak. There are products available
that can help detect and locate leaks, with the use of a dye solution. In
addition, there are leak specialists. Good luck and I hope that I have
been helpful.
Sincerely. Alan
Schuster, 8/2/2004
►
Cost Savings?
Hi there. I have what I
consider to be a lot of pool equipment: an automatic pool vac, a salt chlorine
generator and a pool heat pump. We are thinking about getting an automatic pool
cover. Do you have any information as to the savings in heating costs and
chemical costs. We like the idea of the safety factor and the possibility of
complete automation and the cost savings would be a bonus. Thanks for any help
that you can offer.
J & A, 9/13/2003
P.S. GGGGGGreat website -- keep it up.
You could except a
considerable savings on the cost of heating the pool: up to 70% based on
materials that I have read. However, the actual savings will depend upon
your pool location, exposure and how you use the cover. Evaporation will
likewise be reduced and you will save on water. The
safety pool
cover will reduce the effect of the Sun on the chlorine level and
should make a noticeable savings. The cover can, also, help keep out
debris, which otherwise might reduce the chlorine level. How do you put a
price tag on safety and time saved? With a salt
chlorine generator, an automatic pool vacuum and a pool heater, you are really a
candidate for pool automation. I hope that I have been helpful.
Sincerely. Alan
Schuster, 9/13/2003
► Corrosion And Salt Chlorine
Generators?
I have been using salt chlorine generators for several years and love the water
quality. I have installed many with the auto vinyl covers and have not seen any
problems, but I hear people saying that this is not a good idea as the salt will
corrode the aluminum track that the cover rides in. Any comments on this?
Michael T, Dix, Hills, NY, 1282008
Some dealers just don't like
salt
chlorine generators. I had one of the
first installed on LI, back in the late 70's. I was co-founder of Hydrology
Labs (Swim-Free) and we were the LI distributor for the first unit sold in the
U.S.. A lot has been learned since then. Manufacturers discovered that
equipment with two dissimilar metals, in immediate contact, are subject to
corrosion. One day my underwater light floated up. The chrome plated brass
screws that held the stainless ring in place, dissolved. Simple solution, use
stainless screws or plastic screws. A SCG popularity increased, the
manufacturers redesigned their products accordingly. So long as there are
no dissimilar metals, corrosion should not be an issue.
If a pool owner adds too much salt, that increases the
risk. One great thing about a SCG is that it makes for a more controllable
level and avoids high chlorine concentrations and the corrosive effects of low
pH. Pools using regular chlorine are at greater risk, if they allow the free
chlorine to get too high and the pH too low: common problems with trichlor. The
salt content or TDS of pools with SCG is not all that different from pools in
the Sunbelt that use liquid chlorine and have hard water. And no one is
worrying about corrosion, in these pools. Make sure that the grounding is
right and that the
pool
safety cover tracks is hosed out
periodically. Good advice, no matter how the pool is sanitized.
I hope that this information is helpful.
Sincerely.
Alan Schuster, 12/8/2008
►
Keeping Leaves Out?
Dear
Alan, I have a 20' x 40' inground pool that is surrounded by trees. I spend way
too much time removing leaves from the pool instead of swimming in the pool. I
don't want to cut down my trees. Do you know of a product that can operate as a
summer leaf cover? Thanks.
Joan F.,
5/6/2004
You could cover the pool
with an
automatic pool cover.
It will keep things out of the water, provide safety, reduce evaporation and
warm the water.
Have a happy swimming season.
Sincerely. Alan
Schuster, 5/6/2004
► Cover Repairing?
I have an automatic pull cover that has two tears along the
track. The group I bought the cover from won't repair it by stitching a patch
(around the rope so it can move within the guide without catching on the tear),
because they say the cover has become too stiff. I don't think the vinyl is as
degraded as the pool cover people describe and would like to wait to buy a
replacement cover until next year, after the winter. On a side note: do you
think that the owner of that company would be pleased to learn that the tech
refused to do a $150 repair and, as a result, lost the customer who would soon
be purchasing a new cover and carriage system. Anyway, any suggestions.
Christopher S., Indianapolis, IN, 7/3/2009
This topic doesn't register,
as something that has been asked before. So I asked someone at Cover
Pools, a manufacturer of this type of product.
The need to repair the
webbing that is on the sides of an automatic pool cover and slides in the tracks
is a common repair for all brands of covers. The common and proper fix is
to sew in a patch. The sewing is done by hand with a sewing awl on the job site
and an experienced sewer can sew 2-3 feet per hour. Our position is that
we have a duty to inform the consumer of all of the costs and consequences and
then it is the consumers decision of how they want to proceed. We would never
tell a customer that we would not sew in patch. However, we might express
the opinion that we think the cost of the repair is disproportionate, compared
to the condition of the vinyl and, then, let the customer tell us how they want
to proceed. Since Indianapolis is one of the largest automatic cover
markets in the country, Christopher should have no trouble finding other
servicemen that are more than willing to sew his cover. If interested I would be
happy to walk through the process of Christopher sewing it himself.
Thanks.
Rick Clark, General Manager,
Cover-Pools Incorporated
I hope that this information
will help you get the repair work done.
Sincerely. Alan
Schuster, 7/6/2009
►
Keeping The Water
Warm?
I heard that there is a product
that you can add to the water that will help keep the temperature from dropping
at night. It that true.
Brenda, R.,
6/16/2003
Strange, but true. The
product works by forming a mono-molecular layer on the pool surface and is used,
at night, after the filter is turned off. Does it work? In theory,
if you reduce evaporation, you will reduce heat loss. I've never tested
the practicality of the theory, myself.
A better and reasonably
inexpensive method of warming the pool water is the use of a solar blanket.
These are plastic sheets (sized to completely cover the water) filled with air
bubbles, that are used as a cover on the pool surface.
Solar
blankets are not safety covers! Put it on after the pool is
finished for the day and take it off when you are about to resume swimming.
If left on during sunny periods, it will cause the pool temperature to rise
significantly. Reels are available to remove and store the solar blanket,
until it is used again.
Safety pool covers are available that are either manual
or automatic and can help reduce heating costs or help keep unheated pool
warmer. Enjoy the summer.
Sincerely. Alan
Schuster, 6/16/2003
|
Proper water chemistry will help to better control and avoid algae problems
and maintain more optimum swimming conditions.
More information about Pool/Spa Water Testing Products can be found in the
Test Equipment Store. |
(Click on any image for ordering and information.)
▲
Return To Top Of Page
▲
Thank you for visiting
AskAlanAQuestion.Com. If you found the website helpful, please
tell your
friends and dealers. If not, please tell us.
Your suggestions are
appreciated.
Aqualab Systems.,
Inc. does not make any warranty or representation, either expressed or implied, regarding
the accuracy or completeness of the information provided by this website; nor does Aqualab
Systems., Inc. assume any liability of any kind whatsoever related to, or resulting from,
any use or reliance on this information. The content of this website
should not be used, if it is conflict with any applicable federal, state or
local regulations or guidelines.
©,
2002-10,
A.S., Inc. All rights reserved.
|
