When installed correctly, high-quality pool covers provide unparalleled safety, sustainability and aesthetics. A quality cover also contributes to water and electricity conservation in a country where the supply of these resources has become somewhat unstable.
PowerPlastics Pool Covers, who are “South Africa’s leading pool cover supplier,” according to its marketing manager Ryan Floris, is an active educator in these areas and emphasises the significant role pool covers play in addressing local challenges. Here, the company offers comprehensive insights into pool covers and their benefits.
Why cover a pool?
Child and pet safety
Child safety and drowning prevention should be a primary consideration for pool owners, and pool safety is now a formal requirement under the SABS safety standard, SANS 10134. These stringent local standards provide a clear framework for architects and design professionals when designing the outdoor pool and living area.
The PowerPlastics Solid Safety Cover was first designed by PowerPlastics Pool Covers and is the first solid safety cover to come with its own certification. It has a weight tolerance of 220kg and a tamperproof ratchet and batten fastening system, no fiddly hooks and eyelets, preventing all access to the pool water. An important feature is the drainage holes that prevent rainwater accumulation on the cover, which can be a drowning risk. A child can drown in just a few centimetres of water.
The cover can be semi-automated with a Vektor Rollup Station for added convenience. Available in six different colours, it seamlessly blends into the surroundings. Furthermore, because the water is kept cleaner and evaporation is prevented, the water, power and chemical demand is reduced, creating not just a safe pool but a sustainable pool too.
Sustainability
Pool covers are a positive contributor when creating a sustainable, greener house. The GeoBubble range of thermal covers tick all the boxes in this regard.
Key benefits include:
- Water saving
A cover eliminates 98% of water evaporation, and when water restrictions are applied, a pool can become an essential and single source of water for a South African household. The pool can be topped up sustainably by harvesting rainwater and a cover can prevent an average pool from losing as much as 105 litres a day.
- Power saving
Pools typically account for 12% of a home’s total electricity usage. Covered pools need less filtration. The cover acts as a barrier to dirt and debris entering the water so filtration can decrease by as much as 50%. This is a significant saving, and if all pools were covered, it could help to alleviate load shedding.
- Chemical saving
By preventing debris from entering the pool, there is potential to reduce chemical input by up to 60%. A pool cover also enhances chemical efficiency, reducing the chlorination needed to maintain water hygiene. Furthermore, with certain pool covers, for example the EnergyGuard GeoBubble cover, algae growth is curbed due to the cover’s ability to block the sunlight that feeds algae.
- Natural heating
A GeoBubble cover uses the sun’s energy to naturally heat the water, raising temperatures by up to 8°C, and effectively retains the heat, further enhancing energy efficiency.
How to choose a thermal pool cover
There are three types of GeoBubble covers available from PowerPlastics Pool Covers.
- EnergyGuard gives the highest power savings.
- Sol+Guard is the best performer for natural heating.
- Thermal GeoBubble offers excellent all-round savings.
The payback period for a GeoBubble pool cover is approximately 18 months, without requiring significant lifestyle changes.
GeoBubble covers can be accessorised with PowerPlastics Pool Covers’ own range of manual or semi-automatic Rollup Stations.
Style and aesthetics
Today’s pool covers are elegant as well as practical. At the top end of the market are Roldeck pool covers. These fully automated slatted covers add the perfect finish to the outdoor area.
The Roldeck range adds value to the property and its user-friendly push-of-a-button controls seamlessly integrate with the home automation system. The range offers a choice in slat colours and materials, each with different aesthetics and benefits. These covers can be retrofitted or planned during pool construction. Additionally, the range includes a solar-powered retrofit option which brings further sustainability to this range.
Additional top-end pool covers and accessories
SolarPatio is a range of outdoor enclosures that can transform an outdoor pool into a safe, indoor pool. Based on the greenhouse effect, they offer natural heating as well as water, power and chemical savings. With a SolarPatio, there’s no need for costly indoor pool construction or planning permission.
PowerPlastics JetStreams are powerful water-resistance jets designed for counter-current swimming, home workouts, and hydro massage. These jets can transform a swimming pool into a gym pool, providing opportunities for endurance training for competitive athletes.
Additionally, the system offers relaxation through the use of massage hoses and jets. These massage systems are easily retrofitted to any pool or above-ground pool, mounted on the pool deck or paving, and only require a power supply to operate.
Visit www.powerplastics.co.za
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