Automatic covers are one of the most helpful pool inventions in recent years. They continue to advance in technology and now can be fully electronic- that means you don’t even have to lift a finger.
Quick Tip: Always use the pump on top of your auto cover to keep the water pumped off. This allows for easy access when you need to open the cover, and also lessens the weight load on your cover. Also, keep your water level at normal operational level during the summer so the auto cover can “float” across the top of your pool. When closing your pool with an auto cover, try to keep the water just below the skimmer and use elbows to blow out your return lines, preserving the water in the pool as much as possible.
How it Works:
A vinyl fabric is run between a track on either side of the pool. An aluminum roller is on one end, and that houses the cover and tension rope while the cover is in use. One of the ends of the roller is attached to a motor, which makes it ‘automatic’. Automatic covers tend to look and work better on rectangular shaped pools. However, they can be fitted to just about any shape of pool if necessary. It is no longer necessary to run tracks down both sides of the pool- and because of this they are more versatile. If you want a less expensive version, the covers pull out by hand and are locked around the edge of the pool with tiny plastic anchors. To roll the cover back up, you have to use a hand crank.
Benefits:
Automatic covers are known to help with water conservation, chemical conservation, and heat savings. This all equates to dollar savings. Automatic covers can also help prevent against drowning. These covers prevent leaves and debris from entering your pool. All you have to do is make sure the pool cover is cleaned off when you are going to open your pool- this will save you cleaning time.
Common Issues with Automatic Covers:
Dirty cover– Do you notice your automatic pool cover is discolored or dirty? We recommend cleaning it in panel segments. Simply stand at one end of the pool with a garden hose and some sort of pool brush attached to a tele pole. Then use these tools to push the debris towards the opposite end of the pool. Once a panel is clean, roll it up. Continue this pattern until you reach the last panel. Then scoop out the leaves and debris. Sometimes a leaf rake might be necessary, if your cover is overcome by leaves. To help prevent discoloration you may want to use a vinyl conditioner each year.
Cover not rolling back straight- Sometimes you will find that one side of the cover comes back before the other side. This will require adjustments. Depending on the brand of automatic cover, you may just need to adjust your wing nuts or it could be much more complicated. Look at your instruction manual. If you can’t easily fix it, we recommend calling a service professional.
Broken shear pin– This can be an issue if you try to roll back the cover with too much debris on it, weighing it down. If the cover seems stuck in a certain spot and you hear a loud ‘pop’, it is most likely a shear pin breaking. It is typical for automatic covers to have shear pins built in to prevent more expensive damage. Your cover manufacturer should provide you with replacement pins and instructions. If not, call someone for service.
Motor is turning but the cover won’t move– This issue could mean your shear pin is broken. Refer to above. It might also mean your motor is out of alignment or your rope or spring has broken. It could be a myriad of issues, but we would recommend starting with your shear pin.
No power to cover motor– If you turn the switch and get no response, first check the breaker and make sure it is on. Examine the motor to see if there is a reset button. Is the key making contact inside the key box? Check the back of the motor to see if any power is reaching the motor. If all of these checks yield no solution, call for assistance.