Automatic Cover?

[mabehr]

We have to renovate our pool after a ripped liner, so now is our opportunity to add an automatic cover if we are going to add one. Because it’s a Roman pool, it has to have use rails on the deck, but I could recess them in the edges of a slightly higher second deck. I’ve included a stock photo from Latham showing what I would go for.

It’s not cheap though. I’d like to keep the pool warm, and reduce evaporation. Not sure how much that would really work out.

Are they worth it? I’d hate to spend all that money and still end up with a cold pool, or something that breaks and constantly needs repair all the time. What have your experiences been?

 

[Newdude]

I’d hate to spend all that money and still end up with a cold pool,

The cover will help retain a couple of degrees of heat loss from evaporation, but performs no miracles. Its no consolation during cool spells that the pool is 65 instead of 60, but it will take the edge off when the temps are borderline comfortable.

something that breaks and constantly needs repair all the time

From the many owner reports I've seen, they hold up pretty well for the most part. Its generally expensive when something does break though.

Do you have any safety concerns ? Without those i'd use a solar cover to get a couple degrees for $200.

 

[flynwill]

I'm a fan of auto-covers and wouldn't have a pool without one, for the safety aspect if nothing else.

I'm in Southern California so the pool is never "closed", and I swim year round (except for the occasional cold/rainy day), and the cover probably reduces the gas bill to heat the pool by at least a factor of 2 possibly 3. It also keeps the pool much cleaner, and reduces water loss to evaporation.

All that said I'll admit they are expensive. The cover material will last 5-10 years depending on your weather conditions.

 

[steve_NY]

We put in an auto cover when we built our pool a few years back, and are happy with it.
We did it for safety reasons, but it helps keep pool clean, and makes maintenance a lot easier, and you can potentially save $ on an outside pool company doing weekly maintenance.
One thing to consider is to make sure you find a masonry company that is familiar with how to deal with any stone over the cover box. Most companies we spoke to were not familiar with that. Also, make sure none of the stones are over 6 feet long, as that can impact maintenance, we found that out next week.

Also, if you have a waterfall, there is a switch that can be added when the cover is installed, that will prevent the waterfall from ever going on if cover is closed. That was not installed for us when built.

Here is a thread about it, and a recent maintenance issue I had. One member here @ajw22 has been very helpful looking into for me.

Auto Cover will not close

I have an auto cover, and opened it for the first time of the season. I opened it half way to check water level (pool being opened this week.) I went to close it, and it would not close. Did not hear any noise at all. I was able to open it the entire way. We scheduled an appointment, but that...

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