Winter Pool Covers: This Polycarbonate Pool Cover Can Save Your Swimming Pool in 3 Feet Snow

Installing winter pool cover is a good idea.

However, a polycarbonate pool cover is par excellence the swimming pool accessory of the 21^st century.

Why do I say so?

Polycarbonate is the only material that can withstand a 3 feet snow in areas such as Colorado or Hawaii. It can withstand more than 100kg depending on its design!

And today, I want to reveal some the hidden truths about polycarbonate winter pool covers.

I am positive it can be an alternative to polycarbonate swimming pool enclosures. However, this can only be possible if you pay attention to all the critical aspects I am going to discuss here.

Let’s go straight to our subject of today:

What is a Polycarbonate Pool Cover?

As you can see from the image below, this is a flat piece of material that covers the entire surface of a swimming pool. Basically, it isolates swimming pool water from the external environment.

This is an automatic swimming pool cover

The design is such that it protects the pool from debris, snow, cold winter weather and heat loss, just to mention a few. You will learn more about its advantages later in this article.

I am sure if you live in places like Hawaii or Colorado, you know how devastating snow affects swimming pools. This is exactly what I want you to prevent at all cost.

A swimming pool enclosure covered with snow.

Therefore, you need a special material that can protect swimming pool water from snow and cold. By doing so, you will reduce swimming pool maintenance costs significantly.

This does not imply that winter covers are the only swimming pool accessories suitable for this task.

No, that is not the case.

Of course, there are some situations where you will need advanced accessories. A good example is the swimming pool enclosure.

A good example of such situations comes when you intend to extend the swimming season. Maybe, you are planning to swim during winter, when there is snow.

In such circumstances, you will go for polycarbonate swimming pool enclosures.

When you look at polycarbonate swimming pool covers, it is impossible to swim when the cover is in place.

In fact, you will suffocate and the environment will be dark. Therefore, it is not practical at all.

However, this is not the case for polycarbonate swimming pool enclosures.

A retractable swimming pool enclosure with enough space.

Therefore, to extend the swimming season, you can buy and install swimming pool enclosure. You can get one for as low as $2,999.

As the name suggests, a swimming pool winter cover is made from polycarbonate material. This is unlike other common winter covers made from polyethylene material.

This implies that the polycarbonate swimming pool cover is strong, durable and can support heavy weight. It is for this reason that I am confident a polycarbonate winter cover will save your swimming pool from 3 foot snow.

In short, what I want you to remember from this section is that:

This is a flat polycarbonate material with special design (tend to resemble the shape of a pool), that you can use to protect a pool from harsh winter weather such as 3 feet snow.

Winter Pool Cover Designs

A number of homeowners find it difficult to choose the right polycarbonate swimming pool cover design.

This is common, especially when you have swimming pools with very complex designs. Take for instance, an example below:

As you can see, the complex design makes it difficult to efficiently cover the pool.

Always remember that the main goal of buying a winter cover is to protect swimming pool from harsh winter weather.

So, I’ll make this simple for you.

First, the design of a polycarbonate slat cover depends on the shape of a swimming pool. It therefore implies that, if you have a rectangular swimming pool, then the cover is likely to be rectangular.

Alternatively, if it is an oval swimming pool, then you can opt for either square or rectangular shapes. This is because, such winter covers are easy to open and close.

However, I don’t imply that you should avoid complex shapes.

But, what I am trying to say is that, you should avoid complicating designs for no reason.

Therefore, before you order for a winter cover, it is important to evaluate the shape of your swimming pool.

Second, I know there are those swimming pools with irregular designs. Even in such circumstances, you should choose a design that is easy to close and open.

The good thing is that polycarbonate sheet is a material that is to fabricate and customize. So, you are at liberty to go for any design.

These are different sections of polycarbonate slat. Image source: Euro Spa Pool News.

Apart from the shape, another critical aspect of these polycarbonate slat covers is the mode of opening and closing.

In this regard, I will compare:

Manually Vs. Electronically Controlled Winter Pool Covers

This is just but a mode of opening and closing swimming pools.

First, in manually controlled polycarbonate swimming pool covers, you will have to push or pull the winter cover.

Depending on the size of your swimming pool, this can be a hectic process, especially for large winter covers.

Second, for the electronically controlled winter pool covers, you will do all the necessary operations by pressing a switch.

That is, depending on the position of the switch, the cover can either open or close. Of course, all these are due to the action of an electric motor.

Comparing the two, you will realize that the latter is more convenient though slightly expensive compared to the first.

Furthermore, in both cases, the polycarbonate winter cover should have a mechanism of securing all its edges. I’ll tell you why this is necessary in a moment.

Apart from all these aspects, you may customize polycarbonate pool cover depending on specific geographical location. For instance, there are places that experience 3 feet snow once or more than twice within a specific time frame.

The noble thing you should do when placing an order is to describe the weather condition in your area. With this information, we will help you to choose the right swimming pool cover.

In addition to all these, now let’s move to another important aspect of winter pool covers:

Advantages and Disadvantages of Polycarbonate Swimming Pool Covers

As a rule of thumb, it is important that you compare both advantages and disadvantages of pool covers. With this information, you stand a high chance of making an informed decision at every stage.

A swimming pool cover completely covers the entire surface of the pool

Let’s review each of these aspects so that you may know what I am talking about here.

Advantages of Winter Pool Covers

Below are 6 advantages of polycarbonate pool covers:

1. Protects Swimming Pool from Snow

A polycarbonate swimming pool cover is generally strong and can withstand the heavy weight of snow. Therefore, it can save your swimming pool in 3 feet snow.

Depending on the design of a winter pool cover, it can support more than 100kg of snow.

Even after the snow melts, the extra water will not penetrate the polycarbonate pool cover.

Therefore, you don’t have to worry about acid rain or extra water that may cause a PH imbalance.

2.Keeps the Swimming Pool Free from Dirt

Once you close the swimming pool cover, there is no dirt, tree leaves or debris that will reach the swimming pool surface. Therefore, you don’t have to worry about the tedious process of cleaning swimming pool water after heavy snowfall.

Besides, this will also reduce the possible growth of fungus.

As a result, there is no need to worry about possible fungal infections.

3. Guarantees Swimming Pool Safety

Installing these covers guarantee swimming pool safety.

Remember, a polycarbonate pool cover is strong and it can support over 100kg. So, both your pet and kids cannot fall in the swimming pool once you put the cover in place.

Again, you should be able to secure all ends of the winter cover.

Securing edges of the polycarbonate winter covers appropriately, ensures any weight on its surface is distributed equally on the surface.

Therefore, therefore, the overall weight at each point will reduce significantly. Hence, this will reduce the possibility of swimming pool accidents.

4. Prevents Heat and Water Loss

Polycarbonate sheet itself is a good insulator. This is quite clear from the physical and chemical properties of polycarbonate.

Therefore, whenever you use a polycarbonate sheet as a pool cover, the water will retain most of its heat. Consequently, you don’t have to heat the pool at all times and hence, saving on electricity bills.

In addition to these, there is no water that is lost either through evaporation or carried away by blowing wind. This is also another way of cutting cost.

5. Easy to Install and Maintain

Cleaning a polycarbonate pool cover is a simple process that does not require any special equipment/accessories. Besides, this is just a flat surface where you’ll only splash water while using appropriate detergents when necessary.

It does not have many parts that may prove difficult to clean like in the case of swimming pool enclosure.

Again, the installation process is easy and simple. You don’t need any sophisticated equipment.

6. Cheaper Compared to Swimming Pool Enclosures

Polycarbonate pool covers are cheaper than polycarbonate swimming pool enclosures.

For instance, the smallest Excelite swimming pool enclosure costs $2,999 (though this is still cheaper compared to most designs in the market) while a good winter cover may cost about $1000.

The difference here is quite clear.

In short, investing in high quality polycarbonate pool enclosure will:

Guarantee the safety of pool, users, kids and pets
Reduce cost of operating a swimming pool

With all these in mind, now let’s review the disadvantages of polycarbonate pool covers.

Disadvantages of Polycarbonate Pool Covers

Below are some of the most common disadvantages of these winter pool covers:

1. More Expensive than Polyethylene Winter Pool Covers

Polyethylene winter pool covers are generally cheaper than polycarbonate winter pool covers.

For instance, there are reasonable polyethylene winter pool covers that cost only $120.

However, their lifespan is shorter than that of the polycarbonate pool covers. Winter pool covers made from polycarbonate sheet can serve you for more than 10 years.

2. You Can’t Swim with the Cover on the Swimming Pool

The truth is that polycarbonate pool covers will save your swimming pool from 3-feet snow. However, during this time, you will not use the pool.

This is because it does not have enough space for swimming as I had mentioned earlier.

Now, if you’re that person who wants to extend the swimming season, then a winter cover is not a perfect choice for you.

You need a polycarbonate swimming pool enclosure. The polycarbonate swimming pool enclosure designs come in a wide range of shapes.

They extend the swimming season and protect the swimming pool in 3 foot snow.

Here is a good example:

With a high profile swimming pool enclosure, you can comfortably stand when closed, leave a lone swimming.

As you can see, there is enough space above the water surface. Therefore, you can swim comfortably even when you cover the entire surface of the swimming pool.

Now, as you can see, we only have two main disadvantages of a winter pool cover. This implies that, in case you cannot afford to buy a polycarbonate swimming pool enclosure, then this can be a better alternative.

Conclusion

Clearly, you can see that the structural design of the polycarbonate pool cover makes it suitable for snow prone areas.

It can support over 100kg, which surpass the average weight of 3-foot snow, thereby ensuring safety and reducing cost of owning a swimming pool.

Now it’s your turn:

You can choose a polycarbonate pool cover or enclosure.

At Excelite, we offer practical solutions that can save your pool from 3-feet snow while extending swimming season.