Swimming pools are a fantastic addition to any home, providing endless hours of fun and relaxation. However, keeping your pool in top condition requires more than just regular cleaning and maintenance. That’s where pool covers come in – an essential investment for every pool owner. 🏊‍♀️

Key Takeaways:

• Pool covers conserve water and reduce chemical consumption
• Safety covers prevent accidents involving children and pets
• Thermal covers regulate temperature and protect from debris
• Automatic covers offer convenience but require professional installation
• Proper maintenance extends lifespan of all pool cover types

What are Pool Covers and Why are They Important?

Pool covers are protective barriers placed over the water’s surface when the pool is not in use. They serve multiple purposes, from conserving water and chemicals to enhancing safety and temperature regulation. Let’s explore the key benefits:

Water Conservation

Did you know that pool covers can reduce water evaporation by up to 95%? This means less frequent refilling, saving you money and conserving precious water resources.

Reduced Chemical Consumption

By limiting UV degradation and contamination, pool covers can cut chemical consumption by 35-60%. This not only saves you money but also reduces your environmental impact.

Safety and Security

Safety covers meeting ASTM F1346 standards can support over 400 pounds, preventing accidental drownings of children and pets. They also provide an extra layer of security against unwanted access.

Temperature Regulation

Solar pool covers can raise water temperature by 10-15°F, extending your swimming season in cooler climates. Thermal blankets also help retain heat during cooler months.

Debris Prevention

Pool covers act as a barrier, keeping out leaves, dirt, and other debris that would otherwise require constant cleaning and maintenance.

Freeze Protection

In colder regions, winter covers protect your pool from freeze damage and prevent debris accumulation during the off-season.

Types of Pool Covers

With so many benefits, it’s clear that pool covers are a wise investment. But with various types available, how do you choose the right one? Let’s explore the options:

Simple Tarps

The most basic and affordable option, simple tarps are suitable for all pool shapes but have a lifespan of only 1-3 seasons.

Thermal Blankets

Thermal blankets can last several years (up to 10+ with proper maintenance) and are suitable for all pool shapes. However, their heat-locking ability deteriorates over time.

Vinyl Safety Covers / Pet and Child Safety Covers

These covers have a lifespan of 6-10 years and meet ASTM F1346 safety standards, making them ideal for households with children or pets. They can be used on all pool shapes.

Automatic Pool Covers

Offering the ultimate convenience, automatic pool covers come in two main types:

1. PoolDeck Slatted Automatic Covers: Stylish slats roll up and extend, serving as a safety cover.
2. Automatic Vinyl Safety Covers: Vinyl on a track system opens and closes in less than 60 seconds.

While automatic covers are best suited for rectangular pools, they can be customized for irregular shapes. However, they require professional installation and have a shorter lifespan of 3 years without annual servicing due to their moving parts.

Choosing the Right Pool Cover

With so many options, selecting the perfect pool cover can seem daunting. Here are the key factors to consider:

Pool Shape and Size

Ensure the cover is designed to fit your pool’s unique shape and dimensions for optimal coverage and protection.

Climate and Weather Conditions

In cooler regions, thermal blankets or solar covers may be ideal for extending the swimming season. Areas with harsh winters may require a durable winter cover.

Budget and Maintenance Requirements

Simple tarps are the most affordable but require frequent replacement. Automatic covers offer convenience but come with higher upfront costs and maintenance needs.

Safety and Security Needs

If you have children or pets, investing in an ASTM-certified safety cover is crucial for peace of mind.

Installation and Maintenance

Proper installation and maintenance are essential for maximizing the lifespan of your pool cover:

• Automatic covers require professional installation due to their complex track systems.
• During off-seasons, store covers in a clean, dry, and shaded area to prevent damage.
• Regular cleaning and inspection are necessary to identify any wear and tear or potential issues.

Additional Considerations

As you explore pool cover options, keep these additional factors in mind:

• Mesh safety covers allow rainwater drainage while blocking debris, reducing maintenance during off-seasons.
• Retractable slatted covers offer the flexibility of partial pool opening and can double as walkable decks when fully extended.
• Many regions offer insurance discounts of up to 15% for pools with ASTM-certified safety covers, providing an added incentive.

Conclusion

Investing in a high-quality pool cover is a wise decision for any pool owner. Not only do they protect your investment and extend its lifespan, but they also offer numerous benefits, from water and chemical conservation to enhanced safety and temperature regulation. By considering your specific needs and consulting with experts, you can find the perfect pool cover to enjoy your swimming pool worry-free for years to come.

“The only difference between chaos and choreography is a 10-second cooldown.”
That line—from a squad-mate who mains Watchman—has been rattling around my head ever since I broke into Diamond tier. Farlight 84 looks like a turbocharged BR, but the teams that finish in the victory pod know three secrets: tempo management, coin compounding, and judicious spending. Below is the pattern that’s carried my trio to a 63 % win rate this split—plus the lone web page I visit when an event makes extra Diamonds worth the swipe.

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1 Choose Your Hero for Map Control, Not Kill Highlights

Every lobby loves Mad-Megs and Phantom; I rotate heroes by zone:

Map	Early-Circle Pick	Why It Matters
Desert Port	Watchman – instant sonar cone for warehouse angles	Wall-hack vision prevents the classic rooftop ambush.
Grassland	Ducksyde – jet-propelled shield	Hard counters ridge snipers; shield soaks one full magazine.
Polar Point	Ember – portable jump-pad	Extreme verticality lets you ping rooftops twice before boost drain.

Choosing utility over raw DPS keeps momentum high without relying on perfect aim.

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2 Coin Compounding Starts in the First 30 Seconds

Landing near an upgrade shop is bait if you can’t afford anything. My squad hits a Tier-2 loot cabin first, cracks two yellow crates (≈ 100 coins each), then beelines for the shop. The buy order:

1. Jetpack Cooldown I – 80 coins
2. Regen Armor I – 120 coins
3. Primary Ammo I – 60 coins

Those three perks cost 260 coins—exactly the haul from two yellow crates plus pocket change—and translate into longer survivability before hitting that contested Spider Tank.

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3 Heat Gauge = Second Health Bar

Most deaths happen with an empty jet-meter. Adopt the 50 % Rule:

• Escape Boost — never drop below 50 % heat unless you’re taking high ground.
• Offensive Boost — burst twice, pause, burst once; lands you on a roof with 30 % reserve instead of zero.

Heat-smart movement cut my average incoming damage per fight by 19 % over a ten-match sample.

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4 Vehicles Aren’t Just Transport—They’re Mid-Game Econ Engines

Looting on foot yields about 6 chests per minute; hopping a Hoverbike pushes that to 10+. Each chest averages 50 coins, so the bike nets 200 extra coins every minute you stay mobile. That’s a purple weapon mod without firing a shot.

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5 Blueprint for Mid-Game Pushes

1. Minute 5–7 – Secure a vehicle and sweep outskirts for coins.
2. Minute 7–10 – Spend > 500 coins on ability cooldowns and weapon mods.
3. Minute 10+ – Ditch the vehicle before the penultimate circle; it turns into a rocket magnet.

Following that script, we enter final circles with full purple kits 80 % of the time.

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6 Diamonds: Spend Only on Multipliers

Limited skins are fun, but only two shop items influence MMR: Advanced Hero Pass (more Reactor Cores) and the occasional double-loot event ticket. When one of these rotates in and my stack is light, I reload through the Farlight 84 cheap Diamond recharge.

• Tax is included—no surprise markup.
• Delivery takes about 60 seconds, recognized as an official purchase (first-buy doubles still apply).
• Current sweet-spot bundle: 1 350 Diamonds for ~10 % less than the in-client price.

I hit that link, grab a single bundle, and close the tab—no drip-feeding small buys that get hammered by platform fees.

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7 Post-Game Review in Two Questions

• Did we burn heat below 30 % before the last fight? If yes, adjust boost rhythm.
• Did we hold ≥ 400 coins past minute 9? If yes, we were hoarding—spend earlier on cooldowns.

Answering those after every match tightens habits faster than any aim drill.

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Takeaways in One Scroll

• Pick heroes for scan, shield, or jump-pad—frag power comes later.
• Break two yellow crates, hit the shop immediately.
• Keep jet heat above half unless you’re finishing a fight.
• Use vehicles to print coins, then abandon before they explode.
• Only buy Diamonds when it multiplies resources—via Manabuy to dodge store tax.

Run that loop for a week. The season badge climbs, the heat gauge stops bottoming out, and your wallet notices you’re top-up smart, not top-up hungry.