Happy Holidays

As 2013 comes to a close, we are grateful for the great year it has been.  We appreciate the opportunity to work with so many fantastic pool builders, dealers and distributors.  We are looking forward to 2014 and are excited about several new products and product enhancements that be introduced that will once again set Coverstar apart of the leader in Automatic and Solid & Mesh Safety Covers. 

From all of your friends at Coverstar, we wish each of you Happy Holidays and a Happy New Year. 

 

Coverstar participates in Canadian Pool and Spa Show

Dec. 4-5,2013 The Canadian Pool & Spa Conference was held in Niagara Falls, ON Canada.

During these two days, Coverstar joined our friends from Coverstar Canada in sharing many of the features that set the Coverstar automatic cover system apart from our competitors. Some of the features highlighted include:

•  Eclipse Stainless Steel and Mechanism – This mechanism was engineered to provide strength in the harsh pool environment, as well as easy and reliable operation for years to come.
• New CS300HD Spa Mechanism - This new spa mechanism includes a stronger motor than the original spa mechanism motor.  It includes pulley brackets that allow it to be installed in cover housings that range from 10 - 14 inches wide.  This allows it to also be installed in our polymer housing. 
• Ipad App – The app provides compelling information about both automatic and solid and mesh safety covers.   It also includes a cost savings calculator and photo galleries.
• Touch Pad Control Switch  – The new touch pad can have 4 unique user pass codes programmed in to it.    It will also learn the amount of torque that is required to operate each cover.    The amp current limits can then be adjusted to allow the cover motor to automatically turn off if a problem is detected during the operating of the cover.
• Heat Sealed Webbing – This webbing is much stronger and longer lasting then standard sewn on webbing,

 

To learn more about these and other Coverstar products, please go to www.coverstar.com.

For those that may not have been able to attend, please come and visit us at any of these upcoming shows:

Mid-America Pool & Spa Show - Jan 15-16, 2014 - Chicago IL

Atlantic City Pool & Spa Show - Jan 28-30, 2014 - Atlantic City NJ
Southwest Pool & Spa Show - Jan 18-20, 2014 - San Antonio TX.Southeast Pool & Spa Show - Feb. 4-5, 2014 - Atlanta GA

Care for a Solid or Mesh Safety Cover

Water Level
The water level in the pool should always be kept within 12" of the top of the pool wall.

Spring Tension
Initially, adjust the straps so that they are set to at least half compression. This will keep the cover tight and aid in draining. The springs should be checked periodically and the straps adjusted to maintain this tension.

Water Treatment
Be sure your pool has the proper level of sanitizer and algaecide before closing it for the winter. This will insure that the water is clear upon opening in the spring. If the cover is left on when the temperature has gone beyond 60 degrees F., it may be necessary to add algaecide to maintain clarity.

Snow & Water
Large accumulations of snow should be carefully removed, taking precautions not to damage the cover. Likewise, if a large puddle of water accumulates, it should be removed immediately by directing it to the drain or by using a weighted cover pump. The straps should be readjusted to prevent a reoccurrence. Failure to perform this maintenance could result in stretching or damage to the other cover components. Drainage can be facilitated by slightly loosening the strap that runs through the drain areas while tightening the straps away from the drain. A small amount of puddling is normal and will evaporate in dry weather. If you have questions about these or any procedures, please contact your cover installer.

Debris & Standing Water
Standing water resulting from melting snow and rain must be removed immediately. Covered pools located in heavily wooded areas are susceptible to accumulation of leaves,needles and other debris that will inhibit water flow to and through the "Invis-A-Drain". It is very important to keep the drain clear of debris at all times. Water can be removed by placing a weighted pool cover pump in a suitable location on the cover. Cover pumps are available local pool dealers.

Abrasive Coping
For covers not ordered with sewn-on padding, it is required that our loose 2'x 20' padding be placed as a barrier between rough or sharp coping and the cover itself. Failure to do so will void the warranty. Periodic examination of the cover is necessary for detection of early signs of wear.

Removal
The cover may be hosed off and should be allowed to dry before fan folding for storage in its mesh bag. Cover cleaner and treatments, available at most pool supply stores, are also recommended.

Anchors
After removing or prior to installing the cover, clean out all the anchor sockets with a stream of compressed air or water. This biannual cleaning will assure proper anchor function. Applying spray silicone to these components will also be beneficial to their proper operation. When the cover is not in use, screw anchors down completely to keep out debris and prevent tripping and foot injuries.

Featured Product - Coverstar Heat Sealed Webbing

Automatic Pool Covers have seen great innovations through the years. Some of these innovations allow automatic pool covers to be installed on a larger variety of pool shapes and sizes, while other innovations have improved the reliability of the cover.

In 2003, Coverstar introduced one of our innovations that significantly improved the reliability of automatic covers - Heat Sealed Webbing.

The webbing is the material that is attached to the sides of the cover and that actually rides in and locks into the cover track. Traditionally, the webbing is sewn to the cover fabric, making this webbing to fabric connection only as strong as the stitches.

As the stitches are exposed to the harmful effects of the sun, they begin to weaken and eventually break. Automatic covers with the sewn-on webbing are often replaced because the webbing went bad, not because the cover fabric went bad.

Coverstar’s Patented Heat Sealed Webbing is attached to the cover through a process that actually bonds the webbing to the fabric without sewing. This attachment is much stronger and much longer lasting than sewn webbing.

 

Coverstar Solid & Mesh Safety Covers

Coverstar Safety Covers – We make it Strong, We make it Easy

 

Latham Pool Products offers a number of tools and features to help make the installation of a solid or mesh safety cover easier.  

 

□       CenterWeb Design

o       Allows quicker line-up

o       3x3 – 5x5 spacing for quick and easy installation         

□       PatentedReduced Spring Design

o       Allow easy installation with less than 18” of deck space

o       Maintains safety standards with tight cover fit

o       No other manufacturer offers this feature

 

□       35”Installation Rod

o       Increased the length to 35" to help ergonomically

o       Diameter was decrease and wall thickness improved to better match the anchor diameter

□       RemovablePerimeter Padding

o       Extends the life of the cover

o       A Velcro application allows the durable padding to be easily installed or removed for replacement

Coverstar Touch Pad Control with WiFi

A Coverstar automatic safety cover is the best way to protect your family, your pool and your time. A backyard swimming pool is the ultimate source of family fun! But when it comes to children and pets, it is also the source of safety concerns. No parent can be watching over the pool every minute. No fence or alarm can prevent a child from getting access to an unsupervised pool. A Coverstar automatic safety cover can!

Simply flip a switch, and your Coverstar automatic safety cover will create a barrier over your pool that no child or pet can penetrate. Coverstar is the best protection available for your family and your pool investment.

Coverstar is proud to introduce a new touch pad control switch, which has been given a voice of its own.

What if your pool cover controller could contact you, when you are away from home, to let you know who is using the pool?

Or notify you when your pool cover is closed, letting you know your pool is safe and secure?

What if your pool cover controller could alert you when your pool has been left uncovered?

Now it can with Coverstar!

The new Coverstar touchpad connects to your existing home network. It is easy to set up and will allow you to choose which notifications you want to receive such as:

• When the cover is closed
• When a user code is entered
• When an unauthorized user attempts to log in
• When the cover is left open and more

The Coverstar touchpad allows you to program up to 4 unique user codes, so different members of the family can have their own code. The touchpad can be installed on any new or existing Coverstar automatic cover system. Let your pool cover connect to you.

The new touch pad control switch by Coverstar, a brand of Latham Pool Products, Behind Every Pool.

Coverstar Automatic Safety Cover Maintenance

Extending the life of an automatic pool cover is neither hard nor time consuming. Proper cover maintenance will help lengthen the life of your cover and keep it operating smoothly. An automatic pool cover not only provides safety for your loved ones, but it can also save you money by reducing heating loss, chemical loss and water evaporation. 

Throughout the years Coverstar has identified a number of ways to prevent early wear and tear of automatic pool covers and to increase their life by following the simple maintenance techniques.

• Keep the water level in your pool at the mid-skimmer level. If the pool is overfilled, water can flow over the bond beam into the housing and flood the mechanism. If the water level is too low, the cover will have a lot more sag in it, which adds more stress and wear to the system. It is critical to maintain the correct water level especially in the winter months if the cover is being used as a winter cover. If the water level in the pool is too low to support the weight of the snow load, significant damage can occur to the pool and pool cover. By simply maintaining your water level, it will help keep your system running smoothly.

• It is also important to monitor the chemistry of the pool water and keep it properly balanced. Doing this will minimize the harmful effects of chemical imbalance. The general rule is that you only cover a pool that you would swim in. After adding any chemicals to your pool, allow the chemicals to circulate before closing the cover. If you are unsure if it is safe to close the cover, test the water at the surface with your test kit. If the cover is closed before the chemicals have had a chance to mix, this could shorten the life of the fabric or not allow the chemicals to balance properly in the pool.

•  Regular cleaning of the cover, housing drains, pulleys, and cover guides can greatly impact the operation and life of the cover. Periodically removing debris and dirt from the guides and pulleys with a high pressure hose will allow the cover to operate efficiently. In windy and dusty areas, covers may become inoperable until the debris has been hosed from the guides. The build up of this debris, if not removed, can cause premature wear and tear on all components of the system.

• When you uncover the pool, the water in the pool is transferred from the pool to the top surface of the cover. The sun then dries it, causing high concentrations of chlorine on top of the cover that may damage the fabric. To remove this build-up and other debris, wash the cover with a mild hand dish washing liquid every 3-6 months. However, do not use laundry detergent or any other chemicals to clean the cover.

• In order to meet ASTM safety standards, a closed cover should have a cover pump in place on top of the cover to remove any accumulated water. Not only is the accumulated water on top of the cover a safety hazard, but the increased weight on top of the cover will strain the system if you try to operate the cover with water on top of it.

• Proper operation of the autocover can also impact its life span. We suggest that homeowners stop the cover a foot before the cover is completely uncovered or covered, then bump the switch to inch the cover until it is fully open or closed. This will reduce the wear on the ropes and the webbing by preventing hard hits against the coping on the deep end of the pool as the cover is closed and on the cover stops as it is opened.

• Finally, you may want to consider employing the services of a local authorized pool cover professional to provide an annual maintenance and check-up of your pool cover system. They can provide a variety of service options including lubricating and greasing pulleys and fittings, making cover adjustments, tightening loose bolts and screws and cleaning the box and cover.

Following these few simple maintenance and autocover care recommendations will help preserve the life not only of your cover, but your pool as well. Taking the time to maintain your cover will pay off and will help to keep it operating safely for many years to come.