Is it Bad to Not Cover Your Pool in the Winter?

Swimming Pools Blog

Short answer: Skipping a winter cover is usually a bad idea. Even in mild winters, leaving a pool uncovered invites debris, algae growth, safety hazards, surface staining, and bigger spring cleanup bills. The simplest way to avoid all that is a properly sized safety cover designed for winter, not a loose tarp. (Read more)

What Actually Happens If You Don’t Cover a Pool

  • Algae & cloudy water in spring. Sunlight plus winter organics = a green head start for algae, which means more shock, brushing, and time before your first swim. Solid safety covers block light; mesh options keep out debris while letting rain/snow drain—both approaches reduce spring algae issues dramatically. (Read more)
  • More debris, stains, and surface wear. Uncovered pools collect leaves, dirt, and tannins that can stain plaster or gelcoat and clog skimmers. Tight, anchored safety covers prevent this far better than tarps that sag and tear. (Read more)
  • Real safety risks. An open, unattended pool in winter is a hazard for kids, pets, and wildlife. Safety covers are load-tested and anchored into the deck to create a secure barrier. (Read more)
  • Higher costs later. More chemicals, more labor, and sometimes equipment repairs (frozen, dirty, or dry-running pumps) can easily exceed the cost of a proper cover over a few seasons. (That’s why many owners treat a safety cover as an investment rather than a seasonal ‘nice-to-have.’)

“What If My Winters Are Mild?” (…or I keep the pool open)

You can leave a pool open through a mild winter if you actively maintain circulation, chemistry, and leaf management. But you’ll still battle wind-blown debris and shoulder the safety risk of an unprotected water surface. A fitted safety cover remains the lower-maintenance, safer option for most backyards.

Safety Cover Basics (and Why a Tarp Isn’t Enough)

  • Safety cover vs. tarp: A true safety cover anchors to the deck and pulls taut, forming a secure barrier. Tarps can sag, collect water, and tear—creating both mess and danger. (Read more)
  • Mesh vs. solid:
    • Solid blocks nearly all sunlight to suppress algae growth.
    • Mesh sheds rain and snowmelt while keeping out debris for a cleaner spring opening. (Read more)

A Simple Way to Get the Right Cover (No Install Scheduling Needed)

Calm Water Pools offers premium Latham® winter safety covers that are custom-measured for your exact pool—free pickup of your old cover, precision measuring, and a firm quote before production. Most orders finish quickly (timing varies seasonally). Note: Calm Water Pools sells the covers; installation isn’t included. (Read more)

👉 Learn more or request a quote here: Winter Safety Covers.

Downsides of Safety Covers (and why they’re worth it anyway)

No solution is perfect: solid covers may need periodic water pumping; mesh can allow a bit of fine silt; hardware requires occasional inspection. But these trade-offs are minor compared with the safety, cleanliness, and lower-stress spring opening a real safety cover delivers. (Read more)

Bottom Line

Yes—going uncovered all winter is usually a mistake. If you want a safer backyard, a cleaner pool, and a faster opening, a properly fitted winter safety cover is the smart move. See options and the easy measurement process here: Winter Safety Covers. (Read more)

Questions? Call 240-372-4440 to talk through sizing and material choices. (Read more)