Inground Pool Covers by Type | Royal Swimming Pools

About Inground Pool Covers

Winter Covers for Closing Season

Winter covers protect a closed pool from leaves, debris, and sunlight until spring, and the right type depends on how much maintenance you want over the winter. A solid cover blocks sunlight and holds rain and snowmelt on top, so it needs a cover pump, while a mesh cover lets water drain through but allows some sunlight and fine silt into the pool. A leaf net can be laid over either one to catch heavy leaf fall. Our inground winter pool covers are sized for rectangle pools and held in place with water tubes.

Solar Covers for the Swim Season

A solar pool cover uses the sun to warm the water and reduces evaporation, a leading cause of heat and chemical loss. Left on whenever the pool is not in use, it holds heat in at night and on cool, cloudy days, which can help stretch the swim season at both ends. Solar blankets are made with rows of air bubbles and come in different thicknesses, such as 8 mil and 12 mil. A solar cover reel makes it easier to roll the blanket off before swimming and back on afterward.

Safety and Automatic Covers

A properly installed pool safety cover helps keep children and pets out of the pool, and it is stronger and more durable than a winter cover. Safety covers are held tight across the pool by straps and springs attached to anchors set in the deck, rather than by water tubes. Automatic pool covers are a type of safety cover that opens and closes on its own track, which makes them practical for covering the pool between swims. They can be built into a new pool or added to an existing one.

Inground Pool Covers FAQs

Which inground pool cover do I need to close my pool for winter?

The two main options are a winter cover and a safety cover. A winter cover is the economical choice: a solid or mesh tarp-style cover held down with water tubes, and it is easier to install, but it has no safety benefits. A safety cover costs more and helps keep children and pets out of the pool. An automatic cover can also stay on over the winter if you follow the precautions below.

Can an automatic pool cover be used as a winter cover?

Yes, with precautions. Keep the cover pump working all winter so water never builds up on the cover, never try to break or remove ice and snow from it, and never operate the cover with water, snow, or ice on top. Winter use can add wear, especially in harsh climates, so check your owner's manual. Some owners roll up the automatic cover and use a safety cover instead; see our guide on using an automatic cover in winter.

Do safety covers come in mesh and solid?

Yes. Royal Swimming Pools offers safety covers in both mesh and solid material, for inground or above ground pools with either a cement or wooden deck. A mesh safety cover lets rain and snowmelt drain through, so water does not collect on top. A solid safety cover holds that water back, so it is available with either a drain panel or a cover pump to handle standing water, depending on which you prefer.

What if I don't see a cover for my pool's size or shape?

For safety covers, contact Royal Swimming Pools for a quote on a custom-made cover. If you are replacing a safety cover you already have, see our guide to matching your existing safety cover. Inground winter covers are stocked in sizes for rectangle pools, so compare your pool's dimensions with the listed sizes before ordering. Have your pool's measurements ready, including any steps, when you request a safety cover quote.