We just got an online inquiry about safety covers, and there were some great questions so we thought we’d share them here:
Q: I was wondering if you can tell me which is a better safety cover for an in ground pool. I’m looking for something that me and my husband can take on and off our selves and keeps water and leaves out from pool. I know there is mesh and solid. I did do some research but still not sure which one is the better option. I am concerned that in the winter when we winterize the pipes that if the pool gets filled with water I wont be able to drain it. I don’t have much experience with pools. This is only our second year with the pool.
A: 
If you want the best safety cover then we recommend finding someone who will sell and install a Merlin Safety Cover. They have several different grades of material that are in different price ranges from good/better/best, so you’ll have a few price options.
We don’t sell or install the solid covers – because they are so big and heavy – and we think the mesh covers are just so much better.
You should be able to put the cover on and take it off yourself as the homeowner. It just takes a little practice just like anything else.
You need to winterize the pool like normal, blow out all the lines, plug them, add antifreeze to the skimmer just like you always would. The difference is that when you take the cover off in the spring, the pool will be full (as long as you don’t have a leak in your pool.) To open the pool you take out the plugs, prime the pump, and start it up. Sometimes with safety covered pools adding a couple of gallons of liquid chlorine in the early spring helps prevent the pool from turning green – and we recommend opening a safety covered pool early versus late in the spring.
Also, the solid covers tend to sag from the weight of snow and whatnot because they don’t drain as quickly. This can cause springs to break after a few years.