5 Considerations When Having An Automatic Safety Cover Installed

Having an automatic safety cover installed for your swimming pool is one of the best pool-related investments you can make. Not only is there peace of mind in knowing that young children and pets are safe and can’t access the pool (intentionally or accidentally) when the cover is on, but there are also great savings in the operating costs of a pool that can be realized by closing the cover whenever the pool isn’t in use.

These savings include:

• 90% reduction in evaporation
• 70% reduction in pool heating costs
• 50% reduction in electricity costs
• 70% reduction in chemical use

In addition, an automatic safety cover will provide convenience for you and your family. Because the pool can be covered in less than a minute, the cover will keep out dirt and debris.  The pool will then require less cleaning time, giving you and your loved ones more time to enjoy it.

What You Need to Know About Your Auto Cover Install

Before building a pool that will include an automatic cover, here are several items to be aware of that will affect the operation and performance of your automatic safety cover:

• Drop to water. This is the measurement from the cover guide to surface of the water in your pool. You want the guide to be as close to the water as possible. Ideally the distance should be no more than four inches.
• Drag or resistance on the cover. Your auto cover will glide smoothly over water. However, when it is pulled across a dry surface like large radius corners, spa walls, etc., there will be resistance. It is best if these areas don’t exceed 10 percent of the pool size. When designing a pool that has a free-form shape, it’s helpful if the designer brings the pool edge as close as possible to an imaginary rectangle surrounding the pool.
• Switch location. Your installer will place the switch in a location from which you can see the entire pool during opening and closing of the cover. Ideally, the switch will be roughly halfway between the middle of the pool and the mechanism end of the cover, and not more than 12 feet from the water’s edge.
• It is important that sufficient drainage of the cover housing can be achieved to prevent damage to the motor and other components. We recommend at least one three-inch drain. If a four-inch drain can be used, that’s even better. Additional drains can be added to further mitigate the flooding risk. Drain pipes smaller than three inches are not recommended.
• Large pools. Pools more than 24 feet wide may require special cover design/installation steps.

Knowledge is the Key to an Exceptional Auto Cover Installation

Our network of dealers and distribution partners have the skills and experience to ensure your automatic safety cover looks great and functions flawlessly. If you have questions about auto covers or the installation process, don’t hesitate to contact an independent Latham Automatic Safety Cover dealer near you.