Can You Leave a Pool Cover on All the Time?

If you own a pool in Perth, you’ve probably asked yourself at some point if you can leave a pool cover on all the time. On paper, it sounds perfect—less cleaning, warmer water, reduced evaporation, and maybe even lower chemical costs.

But here’s the truth: while swimming pool covers are a fantastic tool for any pool owner, leaving one on around the clock isn’t always the win it sounds like. In fact, in some situations, it can create more maintenance headaches than it solves.

The trick is knowing when to use it, when to take it off, and what type of cover will give you the best results for the season. This guide will break down the benefits, risks, and expert strategies so you can make the most of your cover all year round.

The Three Main Types of Pool Covers

Before we answer the question of whether you can leave a pool cover on all the time, it’s worth looking at the main types of covers and how they’re intended to work. Each has a specific purpose, and understanding those differences helps explain why some are better suited to constant use than others.

Solar Pool Covers (Bubble Covers)

Common in Australian backyards, these covers are made from durable plastic with air-filled bubbles, similar to a large sheet of bubble wrap, and rest directly on the water’s surface. Their main functions are to:

• Retain heat, warming the pool water naturally.

• Reduce evaporation by up to 95%

• Limit debris entry, though fine particles and small leaves can still get in around the edges.

They’re especially effective in Perth’s hot summers for conserving water and maintaining comfortable swimming temperatures. However, because they also trap heat and chemicals, they can cause water balance issues if left on for too long.

Winter Leaf Covers

These mesh-style covers are designed for debris control, particularly during cooler months when the pool is used less often. They:

• Block leaves, sticks, and larger debris from entering the water.

• Allow rainwater to pass through, preventing water from pooling on top.

• Let chlorine dissipate naturally, avoiding the build-up that can happen with solid covers.

They don’t provide heating benefits, but they keep the water cleaner and make off-season pool maintenance easier without disrupting chemical balance.

Foam Insulation Covers

Made from thick foam sheets, these covers are designed for maximum heat retention. Swim schools and other commercial pools use them most often to maintain consistent water temperature. Foam covers:

• Lock in heat far more effectively than solar covers.

• Create a solid barrier against debris.

• Are heavy, bulky, and require more effort to handle and store, which makes them impractical for most residential pools.

Understanding the differences between these covers is key because how you use them, and whether they should stay on for extended periods, changes with the season.

Can You Leave a Pool Cover on All the Time in Winter?

For most pool owners, the answer is no, particularly if you’re using a solar cover. While it might seem like an easy way to keep the pool clean during the cooler months, it can actually make water management more complicated.

1. Trapped Chemicals

A cover locks in chlorine and other sanitising chemicals. This can cause levels to spike, leading to equipment wear and swimmer discomfort, or drop too low, allowing algae to develop.

2. Out of Sight, Out of Mind

With the pool hidden under a cover for weeks, it’s easy to forget about checking water clarity, chemical balance, or equipment condition. You might not notice problems as they build up.

3. Minimal Heating Benefit

Winter conditions in Perth don’t offer enough warmth for a solar cover to make a big difference in water temperature. The main advantage you’d get is debris prevention, and a winter leaf cover does that without the chemical management issues.

Expert tip: In winter, replace your solar cover with a winter leaf cover. It will keep out debris while still allowing for gas exchange and stable chlorine levels.

Can You Leave a Pool Cover on All the Time in Summer?

If winter is the season where a constant cover is often more trouble than it’s worth, summer is when a solar cover can really shine. It helps keep the water warm, slashes evaporation during hot spells, and stops leaves, insects, and other debris from landing in the pool.

That said, leaving it on around the clock still comes with downsides.

1. Overheating the Water

During heatwaves, a covered pool can become uncomfortably warm. Hot water speeds up chlorine breakdown, which can reduce sanitising effectiveness and open the door to algae growth.

2. Uneven Chemical Distribution

Running filtration with the cover on 24/7 can limit surface water movement, making it harder for chemicals to circulate evenly.

3. Reduced Natural Oxidation

While UV light breaks down chlorine, it also helps break down organic matter in the water. Blocking all sunlight means missing out on this natural cleaning process.

Expert tip: Use your solar cover through summer to save water and heat your pool, but remove it for a few hours each day, ideally overnight, to let the pool breathe and keep the water chemistry balanced.

Finding the Seasonal Sweet Spot

The reality is that whether you can leave a pool cover on all the time isn’t a simple yes or no; it depends on the type of cover and the time of year. The best results come from adjusting your approach as the seasons change.

By matching the cover to the season, you get the benefits—less cleaning, reduced evaporation, better heat retention—without the issues that come from constant use.

Keeping Your Pool Healthy When the Cover is On

No matter which type of cover you’re using, water health still needs regular attention. A cover can help with maintenance, but it’s not a reason to neglect testing or cleaning.

1. Test Weekly

Check chlorine, pH, and total alkalinity. For WA pools, keep pH between 7.2–7.6 and free chlorine between 1.5–3.0 ppm.

2. Run Filtration Properly

Ensure the pump cycles the full pool volume twice daily, typically 8–12 hours for most systems. 

3. Lift the Cover and Inspect

Every few days, check for algae growth, cloudiness, or debris under the cover.

4. Clean and Store Correctly

Rinse off dirt and leaves from the cover regularly, and store it properly when not in use to extend its lifespan.

Why Perth Pools Need a Tailored Approach

Perth’s strong UV, coastal winds, and sudden storms mean pool cover use can’t be a one-size-fits-all approach. A flexible, seasonal strategy works far better than leaving a cover on all the time.

Our recommendations:

• Summer: Use your solar cover daily, but uncover reasonably regularly to keep chemicals balanced.

• Autumn/Winter: Switch to a winter leaf cover to block debris without trapping chlorine.

• Spring: Use a solar cover to warm the water, but watch for overheating.

• Year-round: Test water weekly and schedule seasonal servicing.

Pool Assist’s seasonal service packages include water testing, equipment checks, and tailored advice so your cover works for you, not against you.

Get Your Pool Cover Sorted with Pool Assist

In Perth, a ‘cover-on all the time’ approach just doesn’t work. For a healthier pool and fewer maintenance headaches, follow the seasons: use a solar cover in summer but give your pool daily breathing time, and switch to a winter leaf cover when the temperature drops.

This small change can make a big difference to your water quality, chemical costs, and equipment life.

For tailored advice and expert seasonal servicing, talk to Pool Assist. Our team can set up the right care plan for your pool so it stays clean, balanced, and ready to use year-round. Book your pool service today and enjoy worry-free pool ownership.