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A pool cover can do very different jobs depending on its design: keeping leaves and sunlight out over the winter, holding in heat and water during the swim season, or forming a barrier over the water whenever the pool is closed. Pool contractors and cover specialists measure the pool, supply the right cover, set anchors or tracks, and repair or replace covers that have torn, sagged or stopped fitting.

Choosing well starts with being honest about what a cover can and can't do. A solar cover is not a safety device, a winter tarp becomes dangerous when water pools on it, and even a well-anchored safety cover adds to the enclosure the law requires rather than replacing it. This page compares the main types of cover, explains the drowning risks, walks through measuring, anchors and automatic systems, and covers cleaning, storage and when to repair or replace a cover.

Types of pool covers: winter tarps, safety covers, solar covers and automatic covers

Many owners end up with two covers, one for the swim season and one for the winter. The right pairing depends on the pool's shape, the deck around it, whether the water is heated and who uses the yard.

Winter tarp: an economical solid sheet laid over the water and held by water bags or a cable, made to keep debris out over the off-season, not to carry anyone's weight.
Anchored safety cover: a custom-cut mesh or solid cover stretched across the pool on straps and springs fixed into the deck, built to bear weight when installed and kept up properly.
Solar cover: a light, floating sheet used in the swim season to hold in heat and slow evaporation, offering no protection at all against falls.
Automatic cover: a motorized cover that travels along tracks at the turn of a key switch, closing the pool in moments between swims.
Hybrid safety covers: solid panels with mesh drain strips, a middle ground between cleaner spring water and less water collecting on top.

Pool covers and drowning risk: why a cover never replaces the enclosure

Health Canada's swimming safety advice is to keep a safety cover on the pool when it isn't in use, in addition to a fence at least 1.2 metres high all the way around the pool with a self-closing, self-latching gate. A Health Canada pool safety advisory is blunter about solar covers: they must not be used to keep children from falling in, because a child who falls onto one may become entangled in it and drown.

The legal barrier is still the enclosure. Quebec's residential pool-safety regulation requires inground and semi-inground pools to be surrounded by an enclosure at all times, and Toronto requires a fenced enclosure around residential pools; neither accepts a cover in its place. A good cover is best thought of as a second barrier for the hours when the pool is closed and nobody is watching.

Pump standing water off a solid cover promptly, since a toddler or a pet can drown in a puddle on top of it.
Never let anyone walk, sit or play on a cover, even a safety cover built to carry weight.
Take a solar cover completely off before anyone swims, as Hydro-Québec advises, and never swim with the cover on the water.
HealthLink BC recommends a power safety cover for when the pool isn't in use, with alarms made to work with pool covers as the best choice.
Check that no gap is left at the corners, steps or ledges where a child or animal could slip underneath.

Measuring for a pool safety cover and installing deck anchors

A safety cover only protects if it fits. Most are made to order from a measured drawing of the pool, and the installer then sets anchors in the deck to line up with the straps. Changing the steps, coping or deck later can leave a custom cover that no longer fits.

Measuring: the installer maps the pool's outline and every step, ledge, raised wall and rock feature the cover has to clear, often by plotting points from two fixed reference marks.
Anchors: holes are drilled in the concrete or pavers around the pool, and anchors are set so they sit flush with the deck when the cover is off and nobody trips on them.
Straps and springs: each strap hooks to an anchor through a spring that keeps the cover taut while letting it flex under snow.
Deck condition: cracked concrete or loose pavers won't hold an anchor, so ask whether any deck repair is needed before the cover is ordered.
Final check: the finished cover should sit evenly tensioned, with every strap attached and no slack sections.

Automatic pool covers: tracks, motors and what to check before buying

An automatic cover is the quickest to use, which makes owners more likely to close the pool after every swim. It is also the most complex option: a motor, a drum, tracks along the pool edge or hidden under the coping, and a key switch. It is easiest to plan into a new pool or a renovation, when the tracks and the drum housing can be built in.

Power: the motor's supply is wired by a licensed electrician, and in Quebec that means a contractor qualified through the CMEQ.
Key switch: place it where the person operating the cover can see the whole pool while it moves.
Water on top: an automatic cover needs a cover pump to remove rain, since standing water is a hazard and strains the mechanism.
Winter: ask whether the model is meant to stay in place through a Canadian winter or whether a separate winter or safety cover goes on for the off-season.
Service: tracks, ropes or straps and the fabric wear with use and freezing, so a yearly check keeps the cover closing fully.

Pool cover care: cleaning, drying and off-season storage

Covers wear out sooner when they're put away dirty, damp or left in the sun. Hydro-Québec advises storing a solar cover in a dry, shaded place and taking it off every couple of days so the water gets oxygen, and the same habits, clean, dry and shaded, suit every kind of cover.

Clear leaves off the cover with a soft broom or a leaf blower, and leave ice to melt rather than chipping at it.
Hose a winter or safety cover clean before folding it, and let it dry completely on a clean deck so mildew doesn't grow in the folds.
Fold it loosely and store it in a sealed bin, off the floor, where mice can't nest in it.
Roll a solar cover onto its reel or fold it in the shade rather than leaving it bunched on a hot deck.
Leave a solar cover off for a while after a shock treatment, since strongly chlorinated water is hard on the material.

When to repair or replace a pool cover

Small tears, a broken strap or a missing spring can usually be fixed, and a cover specialist can often patch or re-stitch a safety cover. Replacement makes sense once the fabric itself has worn out or the cover no longer fits the pool.

Tears, holes or seams pulling apart, especially near anchors and steps.
Straps, buckles or springs that are frayed, stretched or cracked.
A cover that no longer sits taut, sags into the water or leaves gaps at the edges.
Anchors that spin, stand proud of the deck or have pulled out of cracked concrete.
A solar cover that is flaking, brittle or losing its air bubbles.
Mesh so worn that it lets through far more debris and light than it used to.

Pool Covers: frequently asked questions

Is a solar pool cover safe to leave on when children are around?

No. A solar cover floats on the water and can't hold a child's weight, and Health Canada warns that a child who falls onto one may become entangled and drown. Take it off completely before swimming, and rely on the enclosure, supervision and a safety cover when the pool is closed.

How is a pool safety cover measured?

Most are custom made. The installer measures the outline and every step, ledge and raised feature, orders the cover to that drawing, then sets the deck anchors to match. Keep the measurements: they make a replacement cover much easier to order.

Can I add an automatic cover to an existing pool?

Sometimes. Some systems mount on the deck, while others need tracks and a drum housing built into the coping, which is easier during a renovation. Ask about the pool's shape, the deck and the power supply, which must be installed by a licensed electrician.

Why does my winter cover keep sinking into the pool?

Usually because the water was lowered too far, the cover is too small, or rain and snowmelt collected faster than they were pumped off. Keep a cover pump working during thaws, check the water bags or cable, and have the fit checked before the next winter.

How many hours a day should a solar cover be on?

Hydro-Québec's energy tips are based on using a solar cover about 16 hours a day, and it advises removing it every couple of days so the water can breathe. Take it off for every swim and store it dry and in the shade.

Sources

Written by the LokalMatch editorial team. Last reviewed September 10, 2026.

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What affects the cost of pool cover

Prices depend on the details of your project. We only publish price ranges when they’re backed by real LokalMatch quote data or reliable sources. Until then, here’s what usually changes the price:

Type and size of pool or hot tub
Excavation and site access
Pumps, filters, heaters and covers
Decking, fencing and landscaping around it
Electrical and gas connections
Condition of existing equipment for repairs

How to compare pool contractors before you hire

Choose a company that works on your type of pool or hot tub, whether it's in-ground, above-ground or a spa.
For a new pool, ask who handles the permit, the fencing requirements and the electrical and gas connections.
Make sure electrical and gas work for heaters, pumps and hot tubs is done by licensed trades.
Get a written quote that covers excavation, backfill, equipment, decking and site restoration.
For openings, closings and maintenance, ask exactly what each visit includes.

Questions to ask pool contractors before you hire

Who will get the permit, and what fencing or gate rules will I need to meet?
Who will do the electrical and gas hookups, and are they licensed?
What equipment do you recommend, and why?
What does the warranty cover for the pool shell or liner, the equipment and your installation?
How will you get equipment into my yard, and how will you restore the lawn afterwards?
What is included in an opening, closing or maintenance visit?

When to call a pro for pool cover

Water level dropping faster than usual, which may mean a leak
A pump, heater or hot tub that trips the breaker: keep people out of the water and call a qualified technician.
Cloudy or green water that doesn't clear with regular care

Pool cover permits and local rules

Some pool cover work needs a permit or has to meet local bylaws. Rules vary by municipality, so ask your pro whether a permit is needed and who will apply for it — and check with your city or town if you’re unsure.

Permits and licensing

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