Replacement pool cover Cover Faqs

Pool covers need to have extra slack so they sag onto the water. This produces wrinkles in the material, but it also provides the strength needed to hold up the weight of a person if they fall on the cover. If a pool cover was taunt like a trampoline and someone stepped on it they would likely fall through creating an unthinkable event. In short your pool cover needs to have this slack to be safe, and though wrinkles may be cosmetically undesirable, they are a necessity to its operation. 

Clean the cover often, by rinsing well with clean fresh water. Rinsing helps remove evaporated chemical solids that can shorten the life of your cover (especially

indoor pool covers). Remove difficult stains by scrubbing with a soft bristled brush, wipe with a cloth, rinse, and

repeat. For persistent or oily residues like suntan lotion or stains left from debris use a low phosphate, non-detergent cleaner, scrub, rinse well and wipe dry.

*Do not use detergents on your vinyl cover; they can damage it and void the warranty.

If you apply a "shock" treatment to your pool you will want to wait for at least 24 hours before you close your cover, or as long as safety permits in your situation. A good rule of thumb is that if it is not safe to swim in, then it is not safe for your pool cover to be closed. 

Some homeowners greatly prolong the life the of their automatic pool fabric by getting a second safety cover for the winter months. These mesh covers are manually fastened to the deck, and the automatic cover is opened so it rests safely in the cover vault area during the off season. 

Pool cover ropes have a fair amount of stretch in them, especially when they are new. As they wear in it is not uncommon for one side to stretch a little more than the other. If your cover is closing or opening unevenly, do not continue to operate it. Please give us a call so we can correct the alignment. If we have replaced your pool cover in the last 30 days we will come out at no charge for a realignment. 

If your cover has developed a small hole through wear and tear you may need to apply a patch. The key to making a good bond between your patch and your pool cover is to apply the patch to a clean dry surface.

1.  Open your cover until the area is over the tiled wall of your pool so it is not resting on the water. 
2.  Use a clean cloth to wipe any dirt or grime from the cover. 
3. Cut a vinyl patch large enough to over-lap the hole. Cut the corners of the patch so they are rounded and will not catch on anything.
4. Apply vinyl cement glue to the patch material and the area to be patched. Press patch down firmly and use a flat dull object to knead out any air bubbles.
5. Allow 1-3 hours of dry time. 

 Since there is less water escaping the pool through evaporation, a pool with a cover should use less chemicals than a pool without one. If your levels are too high it will prematurely age your cover. Below are some suggested test ranges transcribed from Pool Cover Specialists’ owners manual (2014 edition). Please note that we are not pool service technicians and cannot give in depth counsel on chemicals. However, we do know some great service companies in town that we would be happy to refer you to.