Solid Loop-Loc. With or without center mesh

[Renee C]

I have the same questions. We are looking for recommendations for a good winter cover. We are planning on a loop loc, but are unsure which way to go. Please help.

Renee C

[CJDahl]

I too have the same question. I'm going loop-lockbut not sure of center mesh or solid type. Is it true that either way have to drain water from the top?? Thanks for any insight.

[doggie]

We installed a mesh loop loc last year. Since we get so much snow here, we opted against the solid one. I know they show an elephant standing on it but we didn't want the worry. Plus we wanted it clean and dry in the spring, which it was. But if we'd have gotten the solid one it would have been the one with the center mesh panel.

[Jinx32]

Thanks for the info. I think we are going with the mesh as well.

[Poconos]

I have a mesh loop-lock. Gave up on it a few seasons ago. Here in Northeast PA the continuous snow, melt, freeze, snow etc, would weight the thing down so in the late Winter it would be fully frozen in the ice block that is the upper levels of my IG pool. BAH !! My particular situation doesn't require a cover so now I leave the pool uncovered. Not knocking Loop-lock. They are good. Don't have elephants here but I do have other big critters, but the fence keeps them away from the pool.
Al

[CJDahl]

I was leaning toward solid or solid with center mesh vent because I was led to believe solid kept pool cleaner over winter than mesh which made for a much easier startup for following season (no green water) . Can you confirm? Also is a pump required to drain water during winter storms with a center mesh vent? thanks in advance for any insight.

[doggie]

I thought I read that you'll need a small pump on both the totally solid ones and also the solid with mesh center. You can find that out by surfing a few sites that sell them. It's been a while since I was looking, so I could be wrong on that.

As far as the solid ones keeping the water cleaner than the mesh, I'm sure that's true to a certain extent. But what we learned on our research when we were comparing the two, was that people that bought the solid ones still complained of having a slimey mess on top of the cover that had to be drained and cleaned off in the spring. That's exactly what we wanted to get away from. So we went with the mesh.

If you are considering the mesh, get some sort of black blanket to lay on top of the water. That will keep the sun from hitting the water. Waterwarehouse sells basic sizes here Or search google for Keeper Klean. That's another name for them.

We did end up green water anyway though. Let me explain why. I had ordered my black cover early in the spring and didn't get it out until the day we needed to lay it on the water during closing. I was very annoyed to find that it was cut crooked on one end and it didn't totally cover the water. It was short by 2' on one end. Also, we opened the pool later than normal in the spring, so the algae was allowed to sit there and thrive. Then when we finally did open it, the filter wasn't working properly. So our big green mess wasn't necessarily because of the mesh cover. It was because of the other things. Even so, I'm sure if I would have found this forum earlier, and simply used bleach, I would have had it cleared up in no time. It would have also helped to peel a couple corners back and add some polyquat in late April or early May, but I didn't think to do that. I will next year.

I'm not trying to talk you into the mesh one, I'm just trying to give a little insight and advice in case you do go that way.