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Investing in an automatic safety cover for your swimming pool is a good thing that you can do for your family, friends, visitors and for your pocketbook. These covers can prevent unsupervised access to the pool by young children, pets, wildlife and visiting animals and also minimize water and heat loss which costs you money. In order to get the most return for your investment, you need to take good care of your cover so it will last for many years. Now, we share a checklist and expert tips for pool auto cover maintenance.
1. Keep It Out of Direct Sunlight
Solar pool covers are made for the outdoors, but UV rays can really mess them up over time. When you’re not using the cover, stash it in the shade or throw a protective cover over it. This will help it last longer.
2. Store Swimming Pool Cover Right
After cleaning, let the swimming pool cover dry completely before you store it. Air-drying is the way to go. Once it’s dry, fold it into four-foot sections, then roll it up from one end. This helps avoid creases. Wrap it in a big plastic bag or its original box if you’ve still got it. Store it in a cool, shaded spot where it won’t get too hot—think below 120°F. If you’ve got a solar roller, you’re golden. Just roll up the cover and put it on a protective sheet. Make sure the roller’s in a shaded spot, though
3. Keep Swimming Pool Cover Clean
The best way to keep your polycarbonate plastic swimming pool cover clean is to keep it clean from the start. Sounds obvious, right? Avoid letting it touch grass or dirt. Trim trees around the pool to stop leaves from falling on it and piling up. If you see any debris, clean it off right away to avoid stains and mold.
Follow these steps to clean your automatic pool cover:
1) Remove leaves, water, dirt and debris from the cover.
You can wash the cover with a mild hand dish washing liquid every 3 to 6 months to remove the accumulation. Do not use laundry detergent or any other chemicals.
2) Clean the swimming pool cover guides.
Retract the cover from the pool and clean the cover track rope and slider channel. You can use a high-pressure nozzle on a garden hose and spray directly into the aluminum tracks to remove built-up dirt and debris. You also want to spray into the pulley housing at the end of the tracks to remove any dirt from the housing.
3) Check the housing drains.
You want to make sure the housings drain completely and do not allow water to stay in the housing area, as this can cause damage. Damage to the electrical or mechanical components from standing water is not covered by warranty. Run the cover over the pool, prop the housing lid open (or remove it) and remove the debris in the housing.
4) Check the mechanism and pulleys.
Clean all rotating surfaces using a hose nozzle. You want to clean these at least every three months. Use the hose nozzle to completely wash all surfaces of the mechanism to prevent sand or dust from accumulating.
4. Balance Your Swimming Pool Chemicals
Unbalanced pool chemicals are a cover’s worst enemy. Make sure your pool’s chlorine and pH levels are just right. If your pool’s super chlorinated, take the cover off right away. Wait until the chlorine levels are back to normal before you put it back on.
Here’s another tip: Solar covers can make the water underneath warmer. When that warm water rises, it can bring up more chlorine with it. To avoid issues, run your filtration system to mix the warm and cool water efficiently.
5. Fix Damages Right Away
See a tiny tear? Don’t ignore it. Fix it right away with a repair kit. It’s way easier to patch up a small tear than to deal with a big hole later.
6. Winter Care
Winter is tough on pool covers. Solar pool covers aren’t made for the cold, so don’t leave them out during winter. Switch to a winter-specific cover that can handle the harsh weather.
Conclusion
Solar pool covers are super easy to maintain. Just follow these tips, and you’ll enjoy all the benefits for years to come. Need a new cover? Order early to avoid the rush and make sure you’re ready when the season ends. Happy swimming!
