Category: Pool Covers

The Difference Between Closing a Pool and Winterizing

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Having your own pool at home is fun. You can swim and play anytime in it, use it for exercise, have a party, or simply lounge and relax. The downside, however, is that all of these activities for enjoyment are seasonal.  

Unless you have an indoor or heated pool, you can only really enjoy it for about half the year, maybe even less. Even though you may not use it all year round, it would still need to be properly maintained, especially during the colder months. 

Pool owners have two options: to close the pool or to winterize, and each has pros and cons. Let’s take a look at the difference between the two. 

Closing a Pool

To close a pool simply means to use pool covers on it to literally close the surface. This is, in fact, something that you can do at any point in time, regardless of the season. For example, if you’re going away for a while, you could put the pool cover on to keep it relatively clean from outdoor dust and debris.

Closing a pool also means turning off the power. Flipping the switch saves on electricity too, so this is something you can definitely consider. Closing a pool, therefore, is something more of a temporary fix that you can do as often as needed, without any major obstacle to your enjoyment of the pool should you want to start using it again.

Winterizing a Pool 

On the other hand, pool winterization involves preparing the pool for a complete shutdown throughout the cooler seasons. This means that all equipment is turned off, water is drained from the lines and vessels, and the accessories are removed. 

Basically, a winterized pool is completely out of commission for the next few months. Especially in places where it gets really cold, it’s crucial to winterize a pool because some real damage could occur otherwise.

For example, if the water lines or vessels are not drained, the water left inside could freeze and expand, leading to vessel damage in the long run. To prevent this from happening, your pool professional will use an air blower to make sure that the insides of the pipes are all dried up once it’s shut down.

Winterizing a pool could also make use of pool covers. However, it’s going to be a bit different from the regular pool covers that you simply roll over on the surface when you want to temporarily close it. A winterizing pool cover comprises either a solid material or a mesh type that you attach over the entire pool surface. 

These materials are specifically made to withstand the cold and the weight of the snow, so it’s definitely a great idea to invest in these for your pool, particularly for those who experience heavy winters. 

 

Do I Really Need a Pool Cover?

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Do I Really Need a Pool Cover?

Pools require maintenance all year round. However, what do you do with your pool during the offseason? Many pool owners are unsure whether they should use a pool cover during the winter. You may even have other questions regarding pool winterization. When it comes to choosing the right cover for your pool, there are certain things you should consider and additional factors that should help give you some clarity about the process in general.

Pool Covers

If you reside in a climate where you have to keep your pool closed during the winter months, or for a long period of time, having a pool cover is a must. Some climates that are warmer can opt for lighter covers or various protection styles. However, regardless of your climate, you need to make sure that your pool is covered when it is not being used. This will protect your pool from debris. Additionally, the liner and other equipment will remain protected from various weather elements during the off-season.

You can also choose from a variety of pool covers for the winter depending on your needs. Be sure to weigh all of your options to find the most appropriate coverage.

Choosing a Pool Cover

How can you make your pool cover installation easy? You can do this by choosing the right cover for your needs. This is mostly a personal choice, but you must make sure your cover fits your entire pool and is created for your particular reason.

You can choose the right pool cover by checking out some reviews and various products to see which one you like the best. Ground pools and above-ground pools will have different cover options to choose from. You will have many options to choose from, such as mesh and solid covers, safety covers, winter covers and much more. Depending on your climate, the type of cover you need may vary.

Chemicals & Draining

When it comes to chemicals for your pool, you will have a variety of winterizing kits and products that you can choose from. Kits for non-chlorine pools and pools with chlorine are available. Kits also come with rust protection, algaecide and shock treatment to make sure that your pool remains protected throughout the season. Kits are also available in various sizes depending on the size of your pool. This will ensure your pool receives the appropriate amount of chemicals.

Also, you won’t have to drain your pool. When you are preparing to close your pool up for the winter, you may need to lower the level of the water, but you should avoid draining it completely.

Pools that are above ground are created to push inwards against the force of the water it holds. This means that these pools don’t have a way to keep the walls intact if there is no water in them.  

Additionally, you should remember that above-ground pools need the same level of protection as in-ground pools. You will still drain only half of the water from your above-ground pool before covering it.

The Safety Benefits of Automatic Covers for Pools

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Any pool owner knows that safety is a major concern. All too often you hear about tragic deaths of toddlers who accidentally fall in or individuals who slip and hit their heads while walking across the pool deck. These tragedies can be avoided, and it’s why there’s an entire industry dedicated to preventing them.

Non-slip covers, safety netting and automatic covers are just a few of the many convenient products Los Angeles, CA pool owners can rely on to enhance the safety of their pool. Among these many products, automatic covers are perhaps the most valuable. Not only do they offer tremendous convenience, but their safety benefits are second to none. It’s impossible to estimate how many potential tragedies have been prevented by a sturdy, secure pool cover. If you’re testing the case for having one installed on your pool, let the safety benefits speak for themselves!

Accessible only by adults

Automatic pool covers are more secure than simple tarps or pullover covers, making them much more difficult for a child to access. Kids can’t simply peel back the tarp and fall into the water—the cover remains taut while engaged and won’t move on the deployment system until someone turns a key or presses a button. Second only to pool fencing, an automatic pool cover system is the most effective feature in preventing drowning.

Keeps pets and wildlife out

Children aren’t the only group in danger of falling victim to an untended, unprotected swimming pool. Pets and wildlife can also fall victim. Generally, it’s because they fall in and become trapped under the cover, unable to get back out. Here again, the rigidity and security of automatic pool covers prevents this, while also shielding the pool.

Many automatic pool covers are taut enough and made of such a durable material that they can support upwards of 400 pounds of static weight! That means your dog or cat is in no danger of accidently falling through… and neither is the fox, rabbit, raccoon, opossum or any other critter that might skitter across your pool cover.

Durable protection against accidents

The issue with manual pool covers is that they’re prone to human error. Did you double-knot the tie downs? Is the cover pulled taut enough? These types of small issues can quickly compromise a generic cover, invalidating the protection it provides. All it takes is for someone to fall on top of the cover and the situation quickly grows dire.

Most vinyl automatic pool covers are completely self-directing. The only human intervention required is the quick press of a button or turn of a key. The cover extends and retracts automatically and uniformly, ensuring nothing is overlooked or under-performed. Moreover, the ability of an automatic covering system to properly roll and unroll the cover ensures it’s not being stored in a way that allows weak areas to compromise the material.

When it comes to safety, there’s no room for compromise. If you own pets or have kids, or care about your own safety when it comes to your pool, the investment in an automatic cover is one you need to make. Call Avanti Pools Inc. in Los Angeles, CA to learn more about your options.

Maintenance and Care Tips for Automatic Pool Covers in Los Angeles, CA

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The water in a covered pool has a better chance of staying clean and healthy. Below are a few maintenance and care tips for automatic pool covers in Los Angeles, CA.

Daily maintenance

Some maintenance steps are daily requirements, but are relatively simple:

Weekly maintenance

Weekly care and maintenance needs are as follows:

Annual maintenance

You must do three things annually (or even a couple times a year) to protect your automatic pool cover:

Repairs and replacements

Along with daily, weekly and annual automatic pool cover maintenance is the inevitable need for various repairs throughout its lifespan. This is normal. And while swimming pool owners can learn how to care for and repair automatic pool covers in Los Angeles, CA, some tasks are best left to the professionals. Over the lifetime of the cover, you’ll likely end up replacing ropes, sliders and pulleys, the motor and the cover fabric.

Regular pool cover maintenance and cleaning can add years to the life of its components and reduce the overall cost of ownership. For more information about the benefits of installing automatic pool covers in Los Angeles, CA, call the experts at Avanti Pools, Inc.

Why You Should Consider Investing in Automatic Pool Covers in Los Angeles, CA

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Swimming pools offer a lot of enjoyment and recreational opportunities for homeowners, but they also require a considerable amount of maintenance and care to keep them in good condition. While you can’t forgo swimming pool maintenance completely, there are several things that you can do to simplify maintenance and keep your pool looking and performing its best without any extra manual work required. With this in mind, automatic pool covers in Los Angeles, CA can offer several benefits to pool owners.

What are automatic pool covers?

Automatic pool covers are durable pool covers that run on a track and are powered by a motor. These pool covers come in a wide variety of styles, and they can be customized depending on the particular specifications of a given pool. Automatic pool covers are typically a little bit more rigid and durable than standard pool covers and, with proper installation, they can last for many years.

There are a number of key benefits that you can expect when you invest in automatic pool covers in Los Angeles, CA, including:

Check out our automatic pool covers in Los Angeles, CA

At Avanti Pools, Inc., we know how beneficial automatic pool covers in Los Angeles, CA can be, and we are proud to provide our customers with these products, in addition to many other pool services. We are a locally owned and operated pool construction contractor with decades of experience providing comprehensive pool services and products. Give us a call today to learn more or arrange a consultation!