Safety Pool Cover Replacements

 Safety pool covers last a long time, and unlike solid water bag covers, often outlive their warranty period. Yet, there will come a day when the panels become torn or threadbare, and straps begin to break under a snow load.

Replacing your solid or mesh safety pool cover with new doesn't have to be hard. There are a 3 ways to have a duplicate safety cover made, one that will [mostly] match up to your existing anchors.

MANUFACTURER ORDER NUMBER

Do you have the original invoice # from a particular manufacturer, like Loop-Loc, Meyco, HPI, GLI...? If you find it filed away in a drawer somewhere, your friendly safety cover dealer ('ahem!) can have the company check their database for the cover specs, and reproduce the safety cover to the exact specs as the original. Then your cover will be certain to fit properly, just like the old cover did!

SEND IN YOUR COVER AS A TEMPLATE

First spread it out and clean both sides to remove all grass and dirt. Remove the springs (or cut off the straps). Fold the cover end to end accordion style, then roll it up tightly and tie a few strings or lengths of duct tape around the cover. Place it in as small a box as possible, so you do not pay to ship air! Contact your favorite safety cover dealer ('ahem!), and ask for a PO # and shipping address where to send the cover. Put the PO # and your information on the box and also inside the box, and do not forget to include the name of the safety cover dealer ('ahem!) that you are working with, and ship it off for laser measurement, followed by a solid quote, and upon your approval - fabrication and shipment in 3 weeks. Your old safety cover is then discarded for you.

A-B MEASURE THE POOL AND ANCHORS

Measuring your pool using triangulation is where you measure from two known points, A & B, to dozens of points around the pool, marking the points with tape or chalk. The average pool has about 50 points, with rectangular or geometric shapes having fewer points. Measure from point "A" to all the points, and then from point "B" to all the points. Then measure from points A and B to all of the deck anchors or stakes around the pool, after numbering them with chalk or tape. Make a drawing on the Measurement Form, answer the questions, and then send it via email or fax to your ('ahem!) local safety pool cover replacement dealer.

- Other Safety Pool Cover Replacement Considerations:

>>Need Springs & Anchors? Every cover will ship with full hardware, including, stainless steel strap buckles, cover springs, brass deck anchors, anchor hex key, spring installation rod, and mesh storage bag. There is an option to remove the cover springs and anchors from the order, if requested, for a small savings.

>>Need Pool Edge Pads? If your old cover failed or developed holes in particular areas, you can request a vinyl panel be sewn into the area, at an additional cost, or you can use strips of reinforced vinyl, or carpet remnants, etc, placed between the cover and the pool edge, to protect the cover from sharp coping or corners.

>>Stuck Deck Anchors? To replace a brass cover anchor, chip away at the concrete slightly around the anchor to expose the wider top 1/8" of the anchor. Remove enough concrete so that you can get a flathead screwdriver tip under the lip, and place another tool perpendicular to serve as a fulcrum, and use leverage to pry it up and out of the hole. If the anchor is raised slightly, you can grip the insert tightly with Vice Grip type pliers. You may have to do it at 2-3 spots around the anchor to work it loose. After removing the old anchor, drop a new anchor in the hole and tap into place with a hammer.

>>Solid or Mesh Fabric? They both have their advantages, Solid safety covers are more durable, block the sun better, and prevent so many contaminants from washing in the pool. Mesh covers however, are light weight and easier to handle, less expensive to buy and they stay cleaner and neater looking. Your safety pool cover dealer ('ahem!) will be happy to quote you on Solid and Mesh fabrics. Solid covers are available without a drain panel, sold with auto cover pumps.

>>Standard Mesh or Premium Mesh? The newest mesh safety cover feature is the commercial grade, or premium grade mesh being offered by many companies. Up to 30% thicker (and heavier), with a tighter weave, to block over 99% of sunlight and air borne particles. It's also a much stronger fabric as well, which should presumably last longer.

>>Green, Blue, or Black? Do you have a color preference? Forest Green is the standard safety cover color, but in the 90's a cool Blue mesh was introduced, followed by Black. Some manufacturers also offer a Grey and Tan safety pool cover fabrics.

>>Strap Length Help? When installing a replacement cover, it takes time to duplicate the strap adjustment of the former cover. Work all the way around the cover several times to to balance and equalize tension. Ideally, the springs should be about halfway compressed, with a drum tight fit to the cover, and no gaps on the edges for leaves to blow underneath.

>>Drilling New Deck Anchors? Safety cover manufacturers always give themselves an out by saying that all "Replacement Covers" may require up to 30% of anchors to be redrilled. In practice however, you usually will have none, if you follow one of the three methods above. But if you do need to redrill a few anchors, do not sweat it, just go to your local rental store for a rotary hammer drill, with a 3/4" masonry bit; $50 for a full day's rental. Get the full size Bosch or Milwaukee, not a handheld hammer drill. Attach the bit to the drill, plug it in and hold on tight! Drill to a depth of 2-1/2" or so, and then spray the hole clean with water. Tap in the new deck anchor with a hammer.