Why your pool can't do without a winter cover (and what to consider)

Winter cover for your pool: it's actually the last step you need to go through to make sure your pool makes it through the winter. But why is it so? And is winter cover really that important?

In this article, we first explain why, and then go through the various considerations you should make when choosing an appropriate cover for your pool. Finally, we provide some recommendations for general winterizing your pool. This way, that winter may come!

The importance of a solid winter cover for your pool

The two main reasons for purchasing a solid winter cover for your pool are to monitor water quality and to keep leaves and other debris from outside.

First, water quality is monitored because a good winter cover prevents algae and mold from developing in your pool water. For this purpose, winter covers are often treated against mold, algae and UV.

In addition, it goes without saying that such a winter cover acts as a barrier to swirling leaves. Through this combination of factors, a winter cover ensures that your pool remains optimally clean during the winter period.

The top 7 considerations to make when choosing your winter cover

To help you choose the right winter cover for your pool, we have listed 7 points for you to consider. Those points are as follows:

1. Will the winter cover fit your pool?

For now, the winter covers you can purchase from us are designed for pools with dimensions of up to 5.50 x 12.00 m or 6.00 x 14.00 m, respectively. If you have a pool that exceeds these dimensions, it may be necessary to have your winter cover custom-made.

It is important to note that these dimensions are for excavated pools, not attachments. They are not suitable for this purpose. It is better to empty such above-ground pools, unless you intend to use them in winter as well.

2. How easy is the winter cover to attach?

Undoubtedly, you want fixing the winter cover to take as little effort as possible. Depending on which winter cover you choose for your pool, you have several options here. Of these, the simple anchor bolts (P or O) are the most common. These should be drilled into the ground, after which the pool cover is secured manually with safety springs. This may require some pulling force, as the safety springs should be tight.

For added convenience, however, it is better to choose a telescopic anchor. Here you do not have to pull the safety springs yourself, but you can let the anchor do the work for you with a simple turning movement. An additional advantage of such a telescopic anchor is that it is also easy to unscrew when you want to remove your winter cover.

3. Is the winter cover treated for mold?

A good winter cover is treated against mold by default. Otherwise, these organisms would begin to multiply in the pool's still water or during prolonged rain. This is because mold spreads its spores via (the moisture in) the air, and thrives best under humid conditions. The fungicidal effect of a treated winter cover therefore gives fungi no chance. This is good for the hygiene of your pool, but also for the life of the cover itself!

4. Is the winter cover translucent/resistant to UV?

Microorganisms such as algae can also continue to develop in the pool water itself, especially under the influence of UV. For this reason we prefer a winter cover that is treated against UV, and which does not let sunlight through. Because the algae cannot get free rein, you will have as little work as possible after the winter to get your pool ready for summer.

5. Should the winter cover be extra secure?

When choosing a winter cover, you have a choice between secured and non-secured attachment options. By default, the non-secured options are a little less tight, making these winter covers a little easier to attach. However, this could cause them to loosen slightly faster, or rainwater could possibly seep into your pool anyway, should the winter cover not be completely tightened. So, if you value a hygienic pool, a secure attachment may be preferable. Consider this carefully, as all the different fastening options will affect the price.

6. Does it snow a lot in your area, and can your winter cover withstand it?

Especially in Western Europe, there has been very little snowfall in recent years, so it may not occur to you to consider this factor. However, if there is a chance that you will have to deal with heavy snowfall, it is important to take this into account when choosing extra security for your winter cover. This is because in that case, you will need support cables to prevent any damage to your cover.

The reason for the need for support cables is that snow can become very heavy, and a thick layer of snow can cause your winter cover to collapse. In doing so, both your cover itself and the attachments are put under severe stress, which can result in irreversible damage. So if there is a high risk of snow, support cables for your winter cover are highly recommended.

7. What do you think is a nice color for your pool cover?

Of course it is very important that the winter cover for your pool is solid, but of course you also want it to look beautiful in your garden! For this reason, winter covers are available in different colors, from natural-looking shades of green to hygienic blue or sober gray. If you are going for tropical atmospheres, an almond-colored cover would be a great addition. If you prefer a more modern look, you may be more interested in a pool cover in gray or anthracite. With this variety of options, you can always choose the winter cover that best matches the style of the rest of your garden.

Winterizing your pool: a side step

Now in the past, we have already published our article 10 steps to winterize your pool. In it, we tell you all about how to prepare your pool for a long, cold winter. For example, it is important to clean your pool properly, increase the chlorine levels and stop the filter pump. After all, it would be disastrous for your pipes if the water in your pool were to freeze, so you don't want to skip all these steps! So make sure you are well informed about what winterizing your pool entails before you start winterizing.

Get through the winter well with swimming pool winterization products from Pool.shop

Reading this article has hopefully given you a better idea of the importance of properly preparing for winterizing your pool, including choosing the winter cover that best suits your situation. Furthermore, if you make sure that you follow the steps from our other blog post properly, you are pretty much guaranteed a trouble-free winter for your pool. In doing so, be sure to take a look at our pool winterization products. Do you have more specific questions, for example about the winter covers offered by Pool.shop? Do not hesitate to contact our customer service; we are happy to help you!