As the weather warms and the hazy, lazy days of summer are within reach, it’s time to take the cover off of the pool and open it to enjoy hours upon hours of sunning and swimming fun! Hopefully you had an in-ground pool cover that protected your pool over the winter. Choosing the right in-ground winter pool cover will not only make your pool last longer in the years to come because it keeps dirt, leaves, and other debris out of the pool, it is also an important safeguard for your family and friends—not to mention pets and animals. Here are some key characteristics of our quality, in-ground winter pool covers.

 First, the pool cover should be made of a strong material. Our covers are made of a high-quality, open-weave, poly-coated mesh that can support the weight of Bubbles the elephant, as seen in our advertisements. Therefore, a winter snowstorm or an uninvited four-legged friend taking a stroll on your covered pool shouldn’t be a problem! Super-dense mesh will also block virtually all sunlight while still allowing rain and melting snow to drain through.

 You also want your swimming pool cover to meet safety standards, particularly the Standard Performance Specification established by the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM). These standards require that pool covers must be able to support a certain amount of weight; not permit gaps that a child or pet could squeeze through; and remove standing water. Our covers meet—and exceed—these requirements.

 A good in-ground pool cover will also accommodate custom pools. Perhaps your pool has raised decks, waterfalls, tanning ledges, steps, rock treatments, or raised spas. Your cover must shield and protect these features. Contact your local dealer so that they can professionally install our cover. We have treatments that address raised walls and spas, ledges, rises, waterfalls, or any obstruction that is more than 9 inches high, when you do not want a two-cover treatment. While these amenities are enjoyable in the warmer weather, they leave large gaps when traditional up-and-over treatments are attempted. This gives dirt and debris the opportunity to enter the pool. It’s also possible for someone or something to gain entry at the water’s edge. Our treatment closes the gaps—giving you peace of mind that your pool is safely covered.

 An in-ground winter pool cover should also anchor to the deck securely. We secure our pool covers to the deck with heavy-duty, non-corrosive, type 302 grade stainless steel springs for superior weight-bearing accuracy; and our brass anchors recess flush with the deck when the cover is removed. When applied together, these items will put a "lock" on your pool that will prevent children and pets from gaining access to the water.

 Even though you can’t enjoy your pool in the winter months, it does not mean it should be “out of sight, out of mind.” If you have not done so already, contact one of LOOP-LOC's trusted dealers to get the ball rolling with our in-ground winter pool cover. Before you know it, summer will fly by and winter will be upon us once again.