Part of owning an inground pool is properly caring for it throughout the year. Thankfully, the maintenance is minimal, and even less so when you invest in a quality swimming pool cover. Why? Pool covers serve several important functions. In addition to keeping your pool safer for children and animals, they can dramatically improve its overall cleanliness and even cut maintenance costs.

So, if you’ve been hunting for an excellent swimming pool cover, you’re in the right place. Read on to learn why inground pool covers have such a dramatic effect on safety and costs, and we’ll introduce you to the most popular styles of pool covers on the market today.

Ready? Let’s dive in!

Why Buy a Swimming Pool Cover?

We know an inground swimming pool can be a major investment, and the costs associated with pool ownership don’t end when construction is complete. To get the most out of your backyard living space, your pool must be safe for people of all ages, kept clean from debris, protected from chemical evaporation, and, depending on the location, able to maintain its temperature. Good-quality pool covers check all these boxes and more—here’s how.

Pool Safety

Above all, your swimming pool must be safe. This includes closely monitoring children or pets who might venture too close. However, additional safety measures are essential when the pool area isn’t under supervision. Even a basic pool cover serves as a crucial barrier, preventing accidental falls and offering you and your guests greater peace of mind.

Protection From Debris

Even with a well-kept backyard, it’s impossible to completely shield large spaces like inground swimming pools from nature. Dirt, dust, leaves, or other debris inevitably find their way into the water. At best, this means taking the time to skim the pool; at worst, it could lead to significant downtime for filter cleaning or even a complete drain and deep clean—a task no one wants to face.

Pool covers offer an effective solution, protecting most of the water’s surface from debris. According to one estimate, they can reduce your dependence on expensive chemical solutions by an impressive 35% – 60%. Better yet, modern pool covers are designed for convenience, with some even extending automatically, saving you time and effort while keeping your pool pristine.

Evaporation Reduction and Better Heating Efficiency

Evaporative water loss is a major concern in North Central Texas. Water is expensive, and constantly refilling your pool can quickly become tiresome and costly. The EPA estimates that a well-designed swimming pool cover can reduce evaporation by a stunning 95%, saving water and dramatically minimizing the need for frequent top-offs or refills.

Pool covers also help with heating efficiency. Since pools lose the most heat overnight, covering your pool each evening can drastically reduce your energy costs. According to the Department of Energy, keeping a cover on your pool when you’re not actively using it can cut energy costs by up to 70%.

Winterizing Your Pool

The factors we’ve discussed so far are important year-round, but they become absolutely critical during the cold winter months. Even in the most well-designed and professionally constructed swimming pools, extreme cold can lead to cracked tiles, crumbling grout, and accelerated wear on other components. It can also affect the tubes and connectors in the plumbing and filtration systems, necessitating expensive and time-consuming repairs.

Installing a high-quality pool cover during the colder months helps protect your pool from the damaging effects of freezing temperatures, preserving its structural integrity. Start the season off right by thoroughly winterizing your pool—beginning with a durable and reliable pool cover.

Get the Most Out Of Your Swimming Pool Cover With These Unique Options

Is one style of pool cover better than the other? That depends on your preferences. Learn why one type of pool cover might work better for you with these popular options.

Solar Pool Covers

This style of pool cover uses the sun—our most renewable energy source—to maintain a steady temperature in your pool. Solar pool covers can significantly reduce your overall energy costs by utilizing engineered air pockets that trap heat and transfer it to the water below. Some estimates suggest they can raise the water temperature by up to 15 degrees.

Made from UV-stabilized polyethylene or polypropylene, these covers come in various shapes and styles, including easy-to-use cranked curtain-style reels. They are typically clear or light blue to maximize solar absorption.

One advantage of solar covers is their affordability, which typically ranges from $75 to $500 depending on size and features. However, they lack the surface tension necessary to prevent children and pets from falling into the pool, making them less suitable for safety purposes.

Automatic Pool Covers

If you’re looking for extra convenience, an automatic pool cover might be the perfect solution. Operated with the push of a button—or even on a timer—these covers easily close your pool whenever you choose.  While they don’t offer the heat-retention benefits of solar covers, they come in a wide variety of custom colors, allowing you to better match them to your home’s style and landscaping.

However, this added convenience comes at a price. Due to the more complex installation process, an automatic pool cover typically costs around $15,000.

Winter Pool Covers

These straightforward pool covers are designed to protect your pool during the winter months. Simple and utilitarian, they function much like heavy-duty tarps. While they may lack extra features, they still provide an effective solution for winterizing your pool.

With prices ranging from $75 to $250, they’re an affordable option to test and see if they meet your needs.

Safety Pool Covers

Similar to winter pool covers, safety covers are a straightforward option focused on protecting your pool from accidental falls. Constructed from durable, puncture-resistant materials, they are typically designed to cover the entire surface area, offering the added benefit of keeping out both humans and animals.

Due to these robust design features and the need for complete coverage, safety pool covers typically cost between $1,200 and $3,000.

Inflatable Pool Covers

These dramatic pool covers resemble large bubble-style tents, creating a transparent dome over your pool that feels a bit like being inside a spaceship. By effectively sealing off the surrounding environment, they can extend your pool’s useability, allowing for more swimming and playtime throughout the year. However, some people find these covers less durable than expected, and they typically require regular reinflation.

In terms of cost, you can expect to pay in the neighborhood of $500 to as much as $3000 for a high-quality inflatable cover. Minimal “pool blanket” options are available, which are more affordable but function more like basic safety covers than full inflatable tents.

Liquid Pool Covers

An innovative option, this style of pool cover comes in the form of a microscopic liquid layer. Typically made from a combination of alcohol and calcium chloride, this layer floats on the surface of the water and is so thin that you can’t see it or even feel it while you’re in the pool. Unlike physical covers, liquid covers are designed to retain the water’s heat, keeping it warmer for longer and reducing the need to top off the pool.

If you’re not worried about keeping children or animals out of the pool, a liquid pool cover can be a cost-effective option. Depending on the size of your pool, a one-month supply can run between $20 and $50.

Choose Lonestar Pool & Spa Design for Professional Pool Construction and Care

If you’re lucky enough to own an inground pool, we want to help you get the longest life and maximum enjoyment from it. A crucial step in achieving this is investing in a quality pool cover. Pool covers not only enhance your pool’s safety and functionality but also have a major impact in terms of saving time, water, and energy. With so many styles and options available, there’s no reason not to install one today.

As the region’s most trusted name in swimming pool design and construction, we take pride in our reputation and are always happy to share our expert tips and best practices on maintaining your inground pool.

With over twenty years of experience in the industry, we’re known for our exceptional craftsmanship and top-notch customer service. If you have questions about your inground pool, don’t hesitate to reach out. Call us today at (469) 590-6762!