The benefits of owning a swimming pool equipped with Automatic Retractable Safety Pool Covers are many. Homeowners in the market looking to purchase a swimming pool sometimes are not educated by their pool contractors. Most often they focus on items that are less important for the large investment. A safety auto-cover is one item. The benefits it offers far surpass the cost of buying one, you just need to educate yourself on them. Often consumers don’t purchase it mainly because the contractor does not take the time to educate the consumer on the benefits a safe electric auto-cover offers.
At Gappsi, as experienced pool builders and residential outdoor living designers and builders. We have incorporated and built many backyards with swimming pools equipped with automatic retractable safety pool covers. We have calculated that operating and owning a swimming pool without an auto-cover is. It would cost more than paying principal and financing charges if you have to get financing to install a safety auto-cover on your new swimming pool.
An automatic pool cover is a reliable and convenient way to keep your family safe around the pool. It also is helpful in preserving its water level, chemistry, and heat for longer.
These retractable electric pool covers are effective safety barriers for your children, prevent debris from falling into your pool, and reduce your maintenance and heating costs. With a simple turn of a key or touch of a button, your warm, clean pool will be ready to go for a fun day of swimming.
Heat, Water, and Chemical Retention
While protecting your children is always our top priority, our automatic pool covers do so much more. We use a special fabric and webbing inside the track to insulate your pool
This insulation helps to prevent evaporation and loss of heat. With these covers, you won’t need to top off your pool water quite as often, and the water will stay warmer for longer. This helps you operate your heater more efficiently and keep the pool at a comfortable swimming temperature for a much longer swimming season!
Gappsi retractable pool covers are also opaque, and completely block out sunlight while the pool is closed. Sunlight exposure makes sanitizing chemicals like chlorine break down more quickly in the water, as well as contributes to the growth of algae.
Building a New Pool or Have an Existing pool? Does your pool qualify for an automatic pool cover based on your pool shape and layout?
- New Build – Yes ✔
If you are building a new pool, you can incorporate an automatic pool cover into your build.
- Existing Pool – Maybe?
It will depend on your pool’s shape and deck layout. Read more about the system below to see if your existing pool can accommodate one.
Examples of Pools that CANNOT have automatic covers:
- Raised Walls (some exceptions can be made, see pools that can have auto covers)
- Spas that stick up higher than the pool height
- The deck is not one level – end to end.
- Raised Rocks/ Dive Rocks at the edge of the pool
Examples of Pools that CAN have automatic covers:
- One Level from End to End
- No Changes in Elevation
Other Pool Cover Options
While an electric pool cover for your inground pool is a great option that we highly recommend, we know it is not always the ideal solution for every pool. Other great options are available, including mesh safety covers, pool safety nets, and pool safety fences, which all provide their own unique benefits for you and your loved ones.
Winterizing Automatic Retractable Safety Pool Covers
Although during the winter your pool cover requires less attention, water and/or snow will build up on the cover. If the water level in the pool is not properly maintained, serious damage to the cover can occur. Properly maintaining a pool’s water level prevents excess weight on the top surface of the cover that can cause damage to the cover system.
During the winter, make at least monthly inspections of the pool’s water level and make sure the cover pump is operating properly so that water on top of the cover does not build up. Even a few inches of water on top of the cover is an enormous weight and can pull the cover and guide it into the pool. In situations where the water level is too low, you should add water to the pool immediately to better support the water or ice that is on the cover. Your cover will survive any normal winter if these simple precautions are taken.
Make sure your water is chemically balanced before covering the pool for extended periods of time. Double-check the water after the chemicals had a chance to mix completely. This may require checking the pool water a day or two after chemicals have been added. When covering the pool for long periods of time, turn down ozone generators and chemical feeders to their lowest level. The constant long-term build-up of ozone can damage the fabric. Place the cover pump on the cover to remove melted snow.
Vinyl Pool With AutoCover and Large Natural Stone Pool Pavers
Located in Brightwaters Long Island Gappsi added to an existing 16 x 34 vinyl liner pool built with concrete walls. We built a sundeck on one side of the pool and steps across the entire sundeck with a bench on each side of the stairs. Additionally, we installed two water bubblers on the sundeck and led lights in the pool. Gappsi installed the automatic retractable safety pool covers for the homeowner too.
The patio consists of G045 limestone selected from the Gappsi stone collection roman pattern for the patio and rock-faced tumbled coping for the pool edges. We also built a gas fire pit for the family to enjoy. The wall is veneered with natural stones and the coping is matching to the pool coping with the G045 2 inches of rock-faced and tumbled coping. Latest backyard design and installation by Gappsi.
Gunite swimming pool was constructed with 10 inches concrete wall shell and 8 inches gunite floor. With ½ inches rebar 12 inches on center, radiuses built in gunite shell spa has been built in the center of shallow end with sundecks on each side of it with steps that lead in the pool. Along both side of the 40 ft wall a stand ledge was created in the pool floor to allow small kids to cross the pool by walking on it. The deep end of the swimming pool incorporates 2 sets of corner stairs and a bench connecting them both.