Unless you live in a region of the world where you have warm weather all year round, you will need to cover your above ground swimming pool during the winter. Doing so will not only help to keep your pool clean so that you will have a far easier time opening it in the spring, it will also help to protect and maintain the condition of your pool so that you can use it for many years to come. Winter pool covers for above ground swimming pools are available in a number of different models and varieties, but all such covers of good quality offer a number of benefits and will provide your pool with a reliable and effective winter shield.
When choosing above ground pool winter covers, it's important to be aware of what you should be looking for. For instance, above ground winter pool covers should come with an anchoring system. Typically, such a system will include a cable designed to be laced through the cover's built-in grommets. These features will allow you to firmly secure your winter cover to your above ground pool so that it will provide effective protection during harsh and inclement weather. Another feature to look for when choosing winter pool covers for above ground swimming pools is a significant overlap. Above ground winter swimming pool covers should be approximately four feet bigger than the size of your pool. This excess material will allow you to firmly secure your cover without pulling the material tightly over the pool, which could result in damage to the pool liner and structure.
During the process of choosing a winter cover for your above ground pool, you should also pay attention to strength and durability. Quality winter pool covers will be made from super-strong fabric with reinforced borders that will resist rips and tears. UV resistant properties are also beneficial, as they will help prevent damage and deterioration caused by sunlight. Other great features that you may wish to look for when choosing above ground pool winter covers include a reflective silver top coating to speed the melting of snow to reduce the weight and pressure on the cover and a black underside to inhibit the growth of algae.
As for the various types of above ground winter pool covers that are available, you will need to choose between solid, micro mesh and fine mesh winter swimming pool covers. When solid winter pool covers are properly installed, they provide a solid barrier between swimming pools and the environment. Solid winter pool covers for above ground swimming pools prevent debris of all types and sizes from entering the pool water while also protecting the pool from cold temperatures and winter weather conditions. While solid winter swimming pool covers keep pools very clean, they can be quite heavy and require the use of a cover pump to remove the puddles of rainwater and melting snow that will accumulate on their surface.
For pool owners who wish to use a winter cover that does not require the use of a cover pump, mesh winter pool covers provide an excellent alternative. However, it's important to keep in mind that not all mesh winter swimming pool covers are exactly the same. Fine mesh above ground winter pool covers are lightweight yet extremely strong, and will allow rain and melting snow to penetrate the cover in order to prevent water accumulation on top of the cover. At the same time, fine mesh above ground pool winter covers prevent leaves and other large debris from contaminating the pool water.
Micro mesh winter swimming pool covers are very similar to fine mesh covers and provide all of the same benefits. However, the fabric of micro mesh winter pool covers features an even finer weave than fine mesh covers. Thus, while silt and other fine debris may be able to penetrate fine mesh above ground winter pool covers, such debris will not be able to penetrate micro mesh covers. While micro mesh winter swimming pool covers tend to cost slightly more than fine mesh covers, some pool owners find that it is worth the extra few dollars to keep their pool exceptionally clean for easy and convenient spring openings.
No matter which of the above types of above ground pool winter covers you ultimately choose, you may wish to consider also purchasing a leaf catcher. Ideal for pools surrounded by trees, leaf catchers are nets that lie over the top of winter pool covers, preventing falling leaves from landing directly on the cover. Once the leaves have fallen from all the trees, your leaf catcher can easily be removed from the pool, leaving you with a clean winter cover without any trouble or inconvenience. As with solid and mesh above ground winter pool covers, leaf catchers are typically secured to above ground pools with a cable, winch and fastening loops.