Is Your Swimming Pool Cover Just There for Drama?

If your pool cover is sun-bleached, sagging, or full of mysterious puddles, it’s probably more of a decoration than a functional piece of equipment. And now that you’re opening your pool, you get to see what it’s actually been doing all winter.

A good cover should protect your water, keep out debris, and prevent you from discovering small animals floating in the deep end. If it didn’t do that, it might be time to let it go.

Signs your cover is more hassle than help

• Puddles and tears. If it holds more water than your actual pool, it’s not working.
• Frayed straps or loose anchors. One good wind gust and it’s gone.
• Doesn’t drain. Congratulations, you just invented a backyard swamp.

What to do next

Inspect it. Clean it. Patch it if you have to. And if it’s too far gone, don’t try to make it last one more season. Start fresh. It’s better than dealing with the mess you’ll get if you pretend it’s fine.

A good pool cover is your first line of defense. Don’t treat it like an afterthought.