A swimming pool is one of the most beautiful features you can add to your home, and we believe it should be enjoyed and admired all year round, not just during the swimming season.
At NZ Pools, we’re often asked whether a pool cover is necessary and which type is best. The answer depends on how you plan to use your pool, whether you’re heating it, your budget and how important convenience and appearance are to you.
A good pool cover can make a significant difference to water temperature, evaporation and heating costs. However, not all covers work in the same way, and choosing the right one can make a real difference to how much you enjoy your pool.
Let’s look at the options we recommend.
A thermal pool cover is designed primarily to retain heat already in your pool water.
Unlike a solar cover, a thermal cover does not have solar heating properties. Its job is to insulate the water, reducing heat loss and evaporation.
This makes it an excellent choice for pools with heat pumps, particularly for owners who want to extend their swimming season without unnecessarily increasing their power bills.
Most heat loss occurs when the pool is uncovered, particularly overnight when air temperatures drop. Putting a thermal cover on in the evening is one of the most effective ways to preserve the heat you’ve paid to generate.
Best suited to: Pool owners using a heat pump who want to maintain comfortable swimming temperatures efficiently.
Solar pool covers are designed to help warm the water using the sun’s energy while also reducing evaporation and limiting heat loss.
At NZ Pools, our preferred option is the newer-generation triple-cell solar cover, which offers excellent solar heating performance.
When placed on the pool during warm, sunny days, a triple-cell solar cover helps capture the sun’s energy and increase the water temperature.
It also helps retain warmth overnight, although a dedicated thermal cover is generally more effective at insulation.
This makes triple-cell solar covers particularly attractive for clients who don’t want to install a heat pump, or who have a heat pump but would like to reduce how often they need to run it.
One of our clients in Greytown has a large 12m x 4.4m swimming pool fitted with a triple-cell solar cover.
During summer, they told us their pool water was getting so warm (over 31°C) that they actually needed to leave the cover off!
While results will vary depending on sunshine, weather, pool location and other factors, it’s a great example of how effective solar heating can be.
Best suited to: Pool owners wanting to make the most of natural solar heating, particularly those without a heat pump or looking to minimise heating costs.
For clients looking for a premium pool cover, automatic slatted covers are our top-of-the-range option.
These covers consist of interlocking slats that roll across the surface of the water. With the push of a button on a remote or wall control, the cover opens or closes automatically.
There’s no manual winding or handling of a large blanket, making them incredibly convenient for everyday use.
Automatic slatted covers are available in a range of finishes, including solid colours and solar options that can help warm the water.
They can also provide excellent heat retention and reduce evaporation.
Some systems can be installed within a recessed pit, allowing the cover mechanism to be hidden when the pool is open. This creates a beautifully streamlined finish, particularly when the cover is incorporated into the original pool design.
Some automatic slatted cover systems are engineered to support substantial weight, with certain models rated for loads of around 100kg when installed and used according to the manufacturer’s specifications.
However, it’s important to understand that not all slatted covers are safety covers, and they should never be assumed to replace compliant pool fencing or adult supervision.
Best suited to: Pool owners who value convenience, automation and a seamless landscaped finish.
If you’re considering an automatic slatted cover, it’s worth discussing this early in the design process.
Some Leisure Pools models are specifically designed to accommodate recessed automatic pool covers, including the Reflection with Auto Cover range.
Planning the cover at the same time as the pool allows us to consider the housing, coping and surrounding landscaping for the best possible result.
Choosing the cover itself is only part of the decision.
Both thermal and solar covers need a reel system, and there are now some fantastic options available to suit different budgets and landscaping styles.
The simplest and most economical option is a freestanding aluminium reel positioned at one end of the pool. These are practical, easy to operate and a good choice where keeping costs down is a priority.
A box seat reel conceals the rolled-up cover inside a purpose-built seat at the end of the pool. This is a clever way to hide the cover while adding extra seating to your pool area.
For a more streamlined look, an inground reel can be incorporated into the surrounding decking or landscaping. When the cover is stored, the mechanism is concealed, allowing the pool area to retain a clean, uncluttered appearance.
One of the best developments in pool cover systems is the availability of motor-assisted reels. These make rolling a thermal or solar cover on and off the pool significantly easier, without needing to invest in a fully automatic slatted cover. Motor-assisted options are available with selected hidden reel systems, making them a fantastic compromise between convenience, appearance and cost.
At NZ Pools, we spend time talking through these options because the reel system can make just as much difference to your enjoyment of the pool as the cover itself.
| Cover Type | Main Benefit | Heat Retention | Solar Heating | Convenience |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thermal cover | Keeping heat in | Excellent | No active solar heating | Depends on reel |
| Triple-cell solar cover | Heating with sunshine | Good | Excellent in suitable conditions | Depends on reel |
| Automatic slatted cover | Convenience and appearance | Very good, depending on model | Solar models available | Excellent |
The best option isn’t necessarily the most expensive. It’s the one that suits how you plan to use your pool.
This is something we’re often asked, particularly by clients with established gardens or trees nearby.
While a cover may stop some leaves from immediately entering the water, we don’t recommend thermal or solar covers primarily as a way of keeping leaves out of a pool.
Leaves and debris can collect on top of a cover, where they may become wet, break down and decompose. When the cover is removed, or after heavy rain, some of that debris can end up in the pool anyway.
Instead, we recommend a good-quality robotic pool cleaner to look after the pool floor and walls, along with regularly scooping leaves from the water’s surface.
It’s a simple and effective approach that helps keep your pool looking beautiful without needing to keep it covered unnecessarily. We cover this in more detail in our guide to how much work a fibreglass pool really is.
Not necessarily!
One of the things we love most about swimming pools is how beautiful they look, even when nobody is swimming.
A pool can be a stunning water feature in your garden throughout the year.
When you’re not actively heating your pool, our preference is generally to leave it uncovered.
This allows you to enjoy the appearance of the water and easily see what’s happening in your pool, rather than having it hidden under a blanket.
You can quickly notice changes in water clarity, leaves or other debris that may need attention.
Of course, if you’re heating your pool or trying to retain warmth between swims, using a cover makes excellent sense.
It’s all about using your cover when there’s a benefit, rather than keeping the pool covered simply because you have one.
Our region has some unique considerations when it comes to pool covers.
Wind: Wellington and Kāpiti properties can be particularly exposed. The cover and reel system need to be suitable for the site, with appropriate securing arrangements.
Sunshine: For pools receiving plenty of direct sunlight, a triple-cell solar cover can be an excellent way to take advantage of natural heating.
Cooler evenings: If you’re heating your pool, a thermal cover can make a significant difference to overnight heat loss, especially during spring and autumn.
Coastal locations: Materials and fittings should be selected with coastal exposure and corrosion resistance in mind.
Landscaping: A beautifully designed pool deserves a cover system that complements its surroundings. Hidden reels, box seats and integrated automatic covers can all help achieve this.
No. A thermal cover is designed to retain heat rather than actively generate it through solar energy. It’s particularly effective at reducing heat loss overnight.
For some pool owners, particularly those who mainly swim during summer, a triple-cell solar cover may provide enough additional warmth without a heat pump. However, solar heating depends on the weather and available sunshine. If you want reliable, controlled water temperatures or an extended swimming season, a heat pump is generally the better option.
Yes, thermal and solar covers need a suitable reel system to make them practical to use and store. Automatic slatted covers have their own integrated roller mechanisms.
Absolutely. There are several options, from box seats that double as seating to inground reel systems concealed within the decking or landscaping. Selected systems also offer motor assistance, making them much easier to operate.
Yes. Pool covers help manage heat and evaporation, but they don’t replace regular water testing, filtration, cleaning or maintenance. A robotic cleaner and regular surface skimming are excellent ways to keep leaves and debris under control.
At NZ Pools, we don’t believe there’s one cover that’s right for everyone.
Some clients want the best possible heat retention to reduce their heat pump running costs. Others love the idea of naturally heating their pool with a triple-cell solar cover.
For some, convenience is everything, and an automatic slatted cover is well worth the investment.
We also know how important the overall appearance of your pool area is. That’s why we offer different reel systems, from simple aluminium rollers to beautifully concealed, motor-assisted options.
When discussing covers, we take the time to understand your priorities:
A well-sized heat pump, an efficient variable-speed pump and the right cover can work together to extend your swimming season while keeping running costs manageable.
You can read more about the benefits of variable-speed pool pumps.
If you’re planning a new swimming pool, we’d love to talk through the options with you.
Contact NZ Pools to discuss the best cover solution for your pool, lifestyle and budget. You can also see what our customers say on our reviews page.
