Mesh or Solid Safety Pool Covers

Mesh or Solid Safety Pool Covers

You need a safety pool cover if you have an in-ground pool in your backyard. You’re probably here because you need guidance on which safety cover is best for your pool. If that’s so, then stay on since I will take through what you need to know about buying the perfect safety pool covers.

A safety pool cover is essentially a safety device that prevents small children, pets, drowning from accidents and injuries. They also protect the pool from debris, dirt and insects. A safety pool can also prevent algae from growing inside the pool, especially in warm climates.

When choosing a safety pool cover, you need to understand your particular needs and circumstances. The purpose of buying a safety pool cover should guide you into making the right decision. Therefore, the choice between reliable or mesh depends on the intended use.

The following comparison of both covers with their pros and cons will help you make the right decision.

Mesh Safety Pool Covers

A mesh pool cover is made of fine, closely-knit fibres that allow water through but sieves any debris leaves or twigs.

Advantages of a Mesh Pool Cover

1. Though light in weight, a standard mesh cover can withstand thousands of pounds. It means that if a twig fell on top of the pool, it can stay there until you remove it.
2. It doesn’t need a pump since water doesn’t stand on top of the cover, so it doesn’t pose drowning risks.
3. They are light and straightforward to install and remove. If you own a mesh cover, the good news is that you can install it without much help.
4. Affordable

Disadvantages

1. Some sediments can pass through the mesh
2. While these covers disallow debris, small particles and rotten leaves could filter in and settle at the bottom. It means that you might need to clean and probably vacuum and scrub the pool when you open it in the spring.
3. It doesn’t block all the UV rays from the pool. In seasons when the pool is not being, sunlight can be detrimental. Sunlight is an essential element for algae growth. If the water has algae already, don’t close the pool until you get rid of it.
4. The exposure to sun rays typically lowers chlorine levels. Since chlorine breaks down in the presence of UV rays, you might need to keep adding more when you have a mesh pool cover. This is because this cover only locks 99% of UV light from entering the pool.

Solid Pool Covers

Characteristically, solid pool covers are made of plastic or vinyl fabric without holes. Without having to state the obvious, the cover is completely solid and soft to the touch.

Advantages

• Completely blocks sun rays from the pool water, meaning that you don’t need to add chlorine as often. Chlorine is a chemical that you add to water to get rid of bacteria and germs that cause illness.
• No dirt or debris gets into the water. Perhaps the most significant benefit of a solid cover is keeping the water clean. The cover allows nothing from the outside to get into the pool, including water. It’s a significant benefit since you don’t have to do the regular clean up and maintenance.
• There’s no growth of algae since there is no sunlight getting into your pool. Sunlight encourages the growth of algae.
• Chlorine levels remain constant and practical for long since the solid cover blocks 100% of sun rays.

Disadvantages

• They are relatively expensive to buy. Since a solid pool cover allows water to stand atop, a pump is required to pump the water away. A high cost will, therefore, go towards purchasing a pump.
• They are difficult to install and transport and might require more than one person to install, especially to get the right tension on the cords when installing. If you have no one around to help, you might need to hire a company to do it for you.
• If you don’t drain the water that collects on the cover, this can, ironically, pose a drowning hazard which is the very thing you’re trying to avoid after all. To deal with this problem, you can use a water pump to drain off the water.

What you need to know when installing a pool cover

It is important to note that the installation for the mesh and solid covers is the same. Ensure that your cover fits well on your pool so that the pool is safe when not in use.

Ensure that you take measurements for the widest and longest parts of the pool to get the right size and shape of the pool cover.

Both the mesh and solid covers use straps to pull the cover tightly over the pool. You cover It comes with a tool used to pull the ropes onto the anchor.

You should hook the straps evenly to recessed brackets on a deck surface.  It means that you need to leave two or three feet allowance around the pool. The initial straps are comfortable to hook, but the last few might need more tension to get them in place. The material that makes the decking surface can be concrete, earth, wood, brick or asphalt.

Conclusion

If you want an option that ensures your pool remains clean when not in use, without getting bothered about the bulkiness of removing and storing, then go for a solid cover.

If you want the benefits of both covers in one package, you can opt for a hybrid safety cover. The hybrid cover looks like the solid covers with mesh panels in the centre. It allows water to drain away without the need for a pump.

The mesh cover is right for you if you want something light and don’t mind the much work involved when opening the pool.

Aesthetically, you might find one pool cover more appealing than the other though this should not be a significant factor when choosing a pool cover. Regardless of the type that you want, it should ensure that your family and pets are safe.

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