Protecting Your Pool Investment: What a Cover Does in Albuquerque
An inground pool is one of the largest investments most households ever make in their property. In Albuquerque, that investment sits under high-altitude sun, dry wind, and an evaporation rate that is greater than other communities. As pools close for the season, it is worth knowing exactly what a cover protects and what it can save.
A cover cuts water loss, heating energy, and chemical use by margins the U.S. Department of Energy measures in double digits
Sun and debris wear down the pool surface, and resurfacing is one of the largest costs of ownership
A safety cover adds a physical barrier between visitors (including animals) and the water
Water, Heat, and Chemicals
Evaporation is the largest single source of energy loss from a pool, according to the Department of Energy. Every gallon that leaves the surface takes heat with it and has to be replaced with fresh water that must be balanced and treated again. The department reports that a cover can reduce heating energy by 50 to 70 percent, cut make-up water by 30 to 50 percent, and lower chemical use by 35 to 60 percent. In a climate as dry as the middle Rio Grande valley, an uncovered pool can give several feet of water back to the air over a year. A cover keeps that water, and the money spent treating it, in the pool.
The Surface Under the Water
Plaster and pool paint have limited lives, and ultraviolet light and unbalanced water chemistry shorten them. Standard plaster typically lasts 7 to 12 years before it chips, stains, or roughens, and national cost surveys put a full resurfacing at $6,000 to $15,000, with an average near $11,000. Leaves, cottonwood fluff, and blown dust settle on the floor, stain the finish, and push the chemistry out of balance. A cover blocks the sun from the surface and keeps debris out of the water entirely. Steadier chemistry and less direct sun mean a finish that lasts longer between resurfacings.
A Layer of Protection
Just this week, we had a call to repair a cover that a horse had walked over. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission reports that most serious pool incidents involving young children happen at a home, and that children under five are at the greatest risk. The commission lists pool covers among the barriers every pool owner should have, alongside fences, self-latching gates, and door alarms. Safety covers built to the ASTM F1346 standard are tested to hold weight and resist a child getting underneath. A cover is one layer, not a substitute for supervision.
Choosing the Right Cover
The right cover depends on the pool’s shape, what grows around it, and how often it is used. Automatic covers open and close with a key switch, which makes daily use practical and keeps the pool covered whenever no one is swimming. Mesh safety covers drain rain and snowmelt through the fabric and hold up well to wind, while solid safety covers block light and debris completely but need a pump to remove standing water. Fabric life varies by type and exposure, and in New Mexico sun an automatic cover’s fabric generally lasts three to five years before needing replacement. A consultation at the pool is the fastest way to match the cover to the yard. Check out our upcoming post on the life and care of your pool cover.
A pool is built to last for decades, and the cover is what helps it get there. Roybal Pool Covers has recommended, installed, and serviced covers across the Albuquerque area since 1997. Call the office to schedule a consultation and find the right cover for your pool.
Roybal Pool Covers
(505) 452-8441
