Safety Cover Owner's Guide
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Swimming pools are a fantastic form
of recreation. They give you access to a terrific form of physical activity
while also bringing your family and friends together for years of fun and
enjoyment. Please use your swimming
pool with the utmost care. The unique
nature of pools requires an extra level of awareness to the dangers they can
present. Remember: Nothing replaces proper supervision.
Merlin
Industries, Inc. manufactures swimming pool safety covers in both mesh and
solid materials. Our covers are designed and constructed to help increase the
safety level of your swimming pool and help ease the general maintenance and
care of your pool. Merlin Industries,
Inc. is the original innovator of the Solid Safety Cover. No one has
made more or has more experience. Thank you for trusting your safety cover
with #1.
Most installations of Merlin Industries, Inc. swimming
pool safety covers meet or exceed the standards for safety covers as
established by the American Society for
Testing Materials (ASTM). (Please
see exceptions on last page.)
Please review the contents of this
homeowner’s guide. Following these
guidelines will help you and your family to safely enjoy your pool and swimming
pool safety cover for years.
Enclosed with this guide is the
National Spa & Pool Institute (NSPI)
pamphlet, ”Layers of Protection”. We
urge you to review the suggested safety options and review your own pool safety
methods. Merlin Industries, Inc.
manufactures safety covers that help prevent entry into the pool, as well as safety
fencing which can be used when children or pets are present. The combination of
the safety cover and safety fencing can provide you with two layers of
protection for added peace of mind. Brochures on these and other Merlin Industries, Inc. quality
swimming pool products are included in this packet.
*Note: Merlin Industries, Inc.
manufactures safety covers to be as maintenance free as possible. However there
is some needed maintenance. It is up to you to follow the recommendations
outlined in this owner’s guide. For example, the swimming pool water level must
be maintained between 6 inches & 18 inches from the cover or the cover
warranty will be voided. Serious structural damage to the cover and/or the
hardware may result. Safety hazards are also a possibility if the water level
is not maintained within this range. If you have any questions contact your
dealer or visit us at http://www.merlinindustries.com/.
I.
YOUR COVER
Construction:
All Merlin Industries, Inc. safety covers are designed to
formfit to the shape of the pool for which they are made. Rectangular safety
covers should not be used on anything but rectangular pools and a safety cover
must be used on the pool for which it was designed. Failure to follow these
rules will void the warranty. The overlap on a rectangle swimming pool can
vary from 10 inches to 18 inches. For
free form pools this overlap can vary
from 12 inches to 24 inches. In the
case of an obstruction, rock walls or
waterfalls for example, the cover can be cut flush at these areas. It is the grid of webbing that allows the
safety cover to be stretched taut across the pool and provides the cover with
its strength
Mesh
Safety Covers:
The weave of the mesh safety cover is
designed to allow water to drain through the cover and to prevent large debris
and particles from passing through the safety cover and entering into the
pool. The cover allows some fine silt
and/or dust to enter the pool. Some sunlight is also allowed into the pool.
The standard mesh safety cover meets or
exceeds all standards for safety covers as established by the American Society
for Testing Materials (ASTM)*. The
standard mesh safety cover comes with a pro rated 12-year limited warranty, which
warranties against manufacturer’s defects. Refer to your warranty card.
Advanced
Grade Mesh Safety Covers:
The weave of the advanced grade mesh
safety cover is designed to allow water to drain through the cover and prevent
large debris and particles from passing through the cover and entering the
pool. The weave of the advanced grade
mesh safety cover is approximately 50% tighter and thicker than the weave of
the standard mesh safety cover. This cover allows a reduced amount of fine silt
and/or dust to enter the pool. A reduced amount of sunlight is also allowed
into the pool.
The advanced grade mesh safety cover
meets or exceeds all standards for safety covers as established by the American
Society for Testing Materials (ASTM)*.
The advanced grade mesh safety cover comes with a pro rated 20-year limited warranty,
which warranties against manufacturer’s defects. Refer to your warranty card.
Solid
Safety Covers:
The solid cover with an automatic
pump does not allow any debris, fine silt and/or dust, or sunlight to enter
the pool through the cover. The solid cover with a window mesh drain panel
may allow a very small amount of particulate matter to enter the pool through
the 2 layers of 250-micron mesh filter. The solid safety cover must have a
properly working automatic pump or a properly working window mesh drain panel
on the cover at all times to meet ASTM* standards.
The solid safety cover meets or exceeds
all standards for safety covers as established by the American Society for
Testing Materials (ASTM)*. The solid safety cover comes with a pro
rated 10-year limited warranty, which warranties against manufacturer’s defects. Refer
to your warranty card.
*
When safety cover is properly installed
II.
COVER ACCESSORIES
Window
Mesh Drain Panel for Solid Safety Covers:
Solid safety covers can come with a
“Window Mesh Drain Panel” to remove water from the top of the cover in lieu of
an automatic cover pump. The window
mesh drain panel is a removable square piece of 250-micromesh material attached
to a square piece of standard mesh material. The panel is applied to the top of
the cover with Velcro for easy removal.
The drain panel is placed where the
water on the cover will drain the quickest. During installation the cover needs
to be adjusted so the water will be “directed” toward the panel for drainage
purposes. The adjustment will require tightening and loosening of some straps
the achieve maximum effectiveness.
Automatic
Cover Pump for Solid Safety Covers:
Solid safety covers can come with an
automatic cover pump to remove water from the top of the cover in lieu of a
window mesh drain panel. The pool pump
should be placed at the lowest point of the cover or where the water
accumulates. The pool pump is required
to stay on the cover, and plugged in, whenever the cover is in place. It is
designed to withstand snow and/or freezing conditions.
The pump is equipped with a pressure
activated pneumatic float switch, which will automatically turn the pump on at
the 2 inch to 3-inch water level. Once
activated the pump will pump until the water level is at the lowest pump level.
When attaching the garden hose to the pump make sure that you have a long
enough run of hose so the water does not end up back on the cover or the pool
deck. Place the end of the hose far enough away from the pool so the water does
not saturate the ground around the pool. In the event that the pump does not
perform refer to pump owners manual found in the pump box or contact your local
service dealer.
Padding:
On many pools, step sections and swim
out sections create “reverse corners” or “sharp edges” inside the pool. These sharp edges need to be padded to
prevent wearing of the cover in these locations. This padding is attached directly to the underside of the cover
and is sewn on with the same webbing used to put the cover together. When the
cover is installed the padded sections of the cover should fall directly over
any reverse corners inside the pool. Some very sharp corners and rough coping
may require additional padding. Please consult with your dealer for further
information
Step
Riser Kits: (optional)
Step riser kits are designed to close
or fill the triangular gaps created when a safety cover is installed to go up
and over a raised wall area. Step riser kits are installed at the job site
during the initial installation. They are designed to prevent small children,
pets, or leaves and debris from entering the pool. Failure to install a step
riser kit when one is required will result in a safety hazard and will VOID ASTM safety approval.
Raised
Wall Kit: (optional)
Raised wall kits are designed to secure
a safety cover to a pool with a raised wall or beam. The kit is applied
directly to the raised wall or beam using a stainless steel cable assembly and
eyebolts that are installed during initial installation. Failure to install a Raised wall kit when one is required will
result in a safety hazard and will VOID
ASTM safety approval.
Center
Harness Strap Kit: (optional)
Center harness strap kits, or “Y” straps,
are designed to be installed on a cover with an obstruction that does not come
in contact with the cover, but has a strap that runs into it. This strap kit creates a Y-strap to go on
either side of the obstruction. An example of an obstruction may be a dive
stand.
Coping
Protectors: (optional)
Coping Protectors or Coping Clips fit
underneath the cover and act as a buffer between the cover wear bars and the
coping to prevent wear and/or discoloration to the coping. Coping protectors
slip over the coping and are tied to the strap behind the wear bar.
Brass
Flanges: (optional)
Brass Flanges or beauty rings, fit over
your brass anchors, are flush with the deck and are used to give a more
finished look or to hide any chipping that may occur during initial
installation.
III.
WHEN USING YOUR COVER
Merlin
Industries, Inc. strongly suggests that a qualified pool professional
complete the initial installation of the cover. Improper installation of the
cover can result in the warranty being voided.
Upon installation the cover should be
taut across the pool. The springs on a
mesh safety cover should be compressed approximately 50% and between 60% to 75%
for solid safety covers and should not be removed without the aid of the
installation tool. Should the cover not be taut, the straps can be adjusted and
tightened. (See Below).
Although the cover will support an
adult’s weight, we do not recommend walking on the cover except when cleaning
the window mesh drain panel or clearing debris from around the automatic pump.
Do not walk on the edge of the cover to avoid excessive cover wear.
Clogged
Window Mesh Drain Panel for Solid:
Remove the window mesh drain panel from
the cover by grasping one corner and pulling the velcroed panel off the
cover. With a garden hose spray the
underside of the mesh panel to remove all debris and spray the cover’s filter
panel. Reattach panel.
Pump
not pumping:
Check the electrical source for the
pump. Check for excess debris around the base of the pump. Refer to the pump owner’s
manual.
Checking
water level for mesh and solid:
In order to ensure that the water level
of the pool does not rise above 6 inches or fall below 18 inches from the
cover, remove a spring at a convenient corner of the pool and pull cover back
to view the water. Should the water
level be more than 18 inches from the cover, add water with a garden hose to
the appropriate level. Should the water
level be less than 6 inches form the cover, place a water pump on the first
step of your stair section and pump the water down to the correct level.
*Note: The swimming
pool water level must be maintained between 6 inches & 18 inches from the
cover or the cover warranty will be voided. Serious structural damage to the
cover and/or the hardware may result. Safety hazards are also a possibility if
proper water levels are not maintained.
Tightening
straps:
In the event the springs are not
compressed 50% for mesh covers and between 60% to 75% for solid covers, or the
straps become loose, the straps should be tightened. Loose straps can cause
premature cover wear. Remove the spring from the anchor with the installation
tool. Using the strap and buckle, adjust the length of the strap by 2 inch
increments and reinstall the spring on the anchor using the installation tool
until the spring is compressed 50% for mesh covers and 60% to 75% for solid
covers and the straps are snug.
Leaves
collecting on cover:
Leaves collecting on the cover is a
normal circumstance. Simply allow them to dry and blow off. Should you find that the leaves tend to
collect on the cover ensure that the straps are taut across the pool to allow
the leaves to blow away.
Water
not collecting near panel:
In the event that water seems to
collect in an area of the cover that does not have a window mesh drain panel,
the straps of the cover can be adjusted to direct the water towards the drain
panel for proper drainage.
Step
1:
Loosen the four straps that border the window mesh panel.
Step
2:
Tighten the straps that are outside or surrounding the accumulation of water.
Step
3:
The water might need assistance to begin moving towards the panel. Try to temporarily depress the cover near
the panel to help the flow of water towards it. In some situations you may need
to add some weight to that area of the cover.
Step
4:
Wait 2 to 3 days to allow the cover to “tighten” then flood the cover with a
garden hose to check that the cover drains properly on its own.
Step
5:
Repeat above steps as needed.
Cover
Chafe or Coping Wear:
Cover
Chafe or coping wear is NOT a manufacturing defect and is NOT
covered under the warranty. It can be caused by many things, including, but not limited to the
following…
PROBLEM SOLUTION
Loose
cover Adjust
straps to tighten cover.
Rough
coping Smooth
coping by removing any burrs or small pebbles.
Pad
coping with carpeting or some other non-abrasive substance.
Padding
is also available through your dealer from Merlin
Industries, Inc.
Windy
area Adjust
straps to tighten cover. Padding may
also be needed.
Spreading
of Mesh Material:
Like the strings of a tennis racket,
the strands of the mesh material can be moved back into position by rubbing the
material with your fingers. Rub the
cover between your fingers gently.
Remember to avoid pulling on the mesh material when moving the cover.
When moving the cover always use the straps to pull the cover.
IV. CLOSING YOUR POOL IN THE FALL
The cover should be checked for any
damage that may have occurred during storage.
Never raise the deck anchors prior to reinstallation, as damage may
occur by dragging the cover over raised anchors. Keep anchors flush until the cover is positioned correctly over
the pool. When moving or handling the
cover, never grab the paneled material, always move the cover by using the
reinforced webbing and straps. Water
level in the pool must be between 6 inches and 18 inches below the cover at all
times or the warranty will be voided.
Mesh Cover:
Check with your pool dealer for water
treatment prior to putting the cover on the pool. Once the cover is on the
pool, do not add chemicals through the cover, always lift one corner and add chemicals
accordingly. If chemicals do get on your cover, rinse immediately with large
volumes of water. To help assure you open your pool to clear water, it may be
necessary to add chlorine and/or algaecide (40% to 60% “quat” algaecide) 2-3
times in the spring, prior to opening your pool. Consult with your pool dealer
for appropriate dosages.
Solid
Cover:
Check with your pool dealer for water
treatment prior to putting the cover on the pool. Once the cover is on the
pool, do not add chemicals through the cover, always lift one corner and add
chemicals accordingly. If chemicals do get on your cover, rinse immediately
with large volumes of water. Weeping or dripping of water through the stitching
of a solid safety cover is normal and should diminish over time.
Note: Observation
of your cover pump is necessary to prevent accidental draining of your pool.
Also, heavy rain or snow load may displace some water in your pool. It may be
necessary to add water to the pool over the course of the winter. Keep your water
level between 6” and 18” below the cover.
How
to use the Installation Tool to install cover:
Using the allen wrench, raise the
threaded portion of the brass anchor approximately ¼”. Slip the installation
tool through the round end of the stainless steel spring. Stand facing the pool
and place the installation tool over the brass anchor with the notched end
facing the pool. Using your body for leverage, pull the top of the installation
tool away from the pool seating the spring on the brass anchor. You may want to
gently step on the spring as it slides down the installation tool. Twist the
installation tool to cause the notched area to line up with the back of the
spring.
V. OPENING YOUR POOL
The cover should be checked for any
damage that may have occurred during the winter season. If any problems have
occurred, contact your Merlin Dealer for repair procedures. General repairs are
not made by Merlin Industries between July 1st and December 15th.
Never leave the deck anchors raised when removing the cover as damage may occur
by dragging the cover over raised anchors. When moving or handling the cover,
never grab the paneled material, always move the cover by using the reinforced
webbing and straps.
Mesh
Cover:
A fine silt or sediment may be visible
on the bottom of the pool. Vacuum to waste and allow your filter to run. Add
opening chemicals according to your pool dealer’s recommendations. If chemicals
get on your cover rinse immediately with large volumes of water.
Solid
Cover:
A fine silt or sediment may be visible
on the bottom of the pool for pools with a window mesh drain panel. Vacuum to
waste and allow your filter to run. Add opening chemicals according to your
pool dealer’s recommendations. If chemicals get on your cover rinse immediately
with large volumes of water.
How
to use the Installation Tool to remove cover:
Stand outside of the anchor, away from
the pool, facing the cover. Place the installation tool into the round end of
the spring with the notch facing away from the pool. Position the tool between
the anchor and the spring, lean it forward towards the pool. This will unseat
the spring.
VI. STORING YOUR COVER
Before storing your Merlin cover,
remove all leaves and debris from the cover’s surface. Simply spray with hose
and gently brush to loosen dirt. Check the cover prior to storage for excessive
wear or damage that may have occurred during the winter. Covers do not need to
be dried prior to storage. Fold cover
and store in mesh bag included with your cover order. Merlin recommends hanging the cover far enough off the ground to
avoid damage by mice and other rodents.
Never place the cover near chemicals or a heat source as excessive heat
can melt the cover. Removal of the springs vs. leaving them on is an option
that is up to you.
VII. A.S.T.M. EXCEPTIONS*
More than 25% of the safety cover
requiring lawn stakes or aluminum tubes.
No step riser kit installed when
required.
No gap filler installed when required.
No cable assembly installed when
required.
A solid cover that does not have a pool
pump or window mesh drain panel in proper working order, or does not have
either
water removal system.
Covers being installed on pools they
were not designed for.
Damaged cover.
Improper installation.
VIII. NON WARRANTY
SITUATIONS*
Coping wear.
Acts of God.
Improper installation.
Water levels not maintained between 6”
and 18” below cover.
Wear due to a cover being installed on
a pool for which it was not designed.
*The
above situations are some, but certainly not all, of the situations that are not covered under the warranty
and that will cause a cover to not
meet A.S.T.M. standards. There are
far too many to list so we have provided you with some of the more commonly asked.
If you have any questions about your cover contact your dealer or visit us at http://www.merlinindustries.com/
