Pool safety covers are not an option. Pool safety is a huge concern, and one that can never be taken too seriously, particularly during the times that the pool will be unsupervised. This can entail the sleeping hours, vacations, weekend or day trips, and of course, during the winter season. There are many different alternatives to restricting access to a pool when not in use, but pool safety covers are ultimately the best choice, as all of the other options can be circumvented in one way or another.
Fences are usually the first line of defense for most pool owners or operators, and while they are effective, fences can be scaled or merely bypassed, a common occurrence with animals, kids and teenagers. Alarms are another feature that are very useful, but still allow access to the water, and the time it takes to hear the alarm and respond is critical when a drowning risk is in question. The best options are ASTM-compliant pool safety covers, and when used correctly, they help protect the pool and keep the water clean, while denying any access to the water at the same time.
The Number One Concern – Why You Use Pool Safety Covers
The number one safety concern with swimming pools are children, and this not only includes the children that live in the residence and those that use it regularly, but also those in the surrounding neighborhood. There is nothing more frightening than the thought of a neighborhood child wandering into a yard and falling into a pool, but it has proven to be a very real risk. This is why swimming pool safety covers are a must, regardless of whether the pool in fenced-in, above-ground or inground.
Winter seasons are just as risky, possibly even more so, due to the temperatures involved. Exposure to the water is bad enough, but when near-freezing temperatures are involved, the ability to call for help or attempt to swim can be disabled by the shock of entering the cold water. All of these scenarios can be prevented with the right pool safety covers, and while the average inground pool safety covers can cost anywhere from $500 to $1,000 or more, the peace of mind is well worth every penny.
Inground Pool Safety Covers – Automatic and Manual
Inground pools carry a slightly higher risk than those that sit above the surface, simply from the access level, as a small child or fully-grown adult can step right off the edge. This is one of the reasons that inground pool safety covers need to be strong and secure, and those that meet the ASTM standards are rated to hold the weight of several adults, without tearing or coming loose. The manual pool safety covers are by far the most common, and usually have anchors below the surrounding surface of the pool that hold the cover securely via spring-hooks. With the right cover installed, all of the potential risks associated with people, pets and wildlife can be greatly reduced in one simple step.
Automatic pool safety covers, like those from www.PoolCovers.com, are more expensive than manual covers, but there are some distinct benefits that allow these pool safety covers to eventually pay for themselves in savings on other aspects of pool care and maintenance. The ability to cover the pool at will helps to save tremendously on chemical use, evaporation, and overall maintenance, amounting to serious savings each year, with the added benefit of constant protection at your fingertips.
Above-Ground Pool Safety Covers
Above-ground pools offer a few small concessions for security and safety, the most notable being the physical access, as most are only accessible with a ladder. Although, many are right against decks, making them just as risky as an inground pool. However, covering the pool with a winter tarp-system each time is not very practical. Luckily, there are some very handy pool safety covers, including floating ones and secured ones, from local pool stores and retail outlets alike, such as www.LesliesPool.com and www.SafetyCovers.com, which are often less than $200.