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By: Jocelyn Cardenas, Wed Jun 30th, 2010
Some people may have the idea that anything they can cover their pools with is already a pool cover. Technically it is; however, in order to ensure optimum protection for your pool, you will need to use covers that are specifically made with the intention to cover swimming pools and protect it from various things. Everything else cannot perform the as well as a real pool cover.
Even real pool covers have different types, each with their own pros and cons, but nevertheless cover and protect you and your pool. These kinds of specialized functions cannot be simulated by any other substitute cover.
Pool net cover for one are like the safety nets we see hovering below high wire acts in circuses. Its purpose is to catch the circus performers in case they fall. The net cover’s purpose is the same, to catch people, more particularly children, who might accidentally fall into the pool and would otherwise drown. It does not, however, do a good job in keeping other debris out of the pool, but at least you know your kids are safe.
Another type of pool cover is the pool mesh cover. A pool mesh cover is like a net cover, only a lot denser. This time, it can catch not just kids, but also a bunch of other debris like dried leaves and twigs, small rocks, toys, shoes, paper, etc. It cannot however filter out foreign liquids and microscopic dirt. Then again, that’s what its intended purpose is. Water will not accumulate and weigh down on the pool mesh cover, thus saving its user from having to drain it every so often unlike with solid pool covers. Just hope that your pool chemicals and filters can handle the foreign water and microscopic debris that the pool mesh cover cannot filter out.
Since I already mentioned it, pool solid covers, unlike the previously cited pool covers, are completely solid. It totally seals your pool and prevents any kind of foreign matter, solid or liquid, from entering your pool. A drawback of this however, is that all these debris, if not routinely removed will keep accumulating, thus weighing down heavily and will eventually damage the pool cover. You will need to regularly pump water and remove debris off of it to prevent this from happening.
Given all these, selecting a pool cover you will need will have to depend on various factors. You will have to determine what these factors are and then decide which type of pool cover is necessary for you and your pool.