Significant growth in the automatic pool cover Market across the nation. Because covers keep dirt and debris out of the pool and allow chlorine residuals to last  keep these service allies in tip-top condition. Here are some repair tips from experts to help you keep your automatic cover in peak operating condition.

COVER WON’T OPEN/CLOSE

The most common problem with automatic covers is that they won’t open or close. When this happens, cover experts say the first thing to check is the motor and all its connections. Often these issues can be settled by simply check breaker box or motor compartment. A common culprit could be a tripped GFCI or breaker. Some of the motors have reset buttons on them that need to be checked as well. Many times, it’s simply a matter of pushing a button. If the breakers or reset button don’t start the motor, you look over the motor’s internal connections. The first thing to do is disconnect the key switch and then touch its wires together to jump-start it, experts say. If it turns on, then it’s getting power.

Next, follow the line up to see if there is a bad wire. If the key switch doesn’t turn on, then it’s time to check the amperage with a multimeter to see if power is getting to the motor in the first place. If not, the problem may be with the power lines, and the electric company may need to be notified. However, if power is getting through and the motor still doesn’t operate, it’s time to replace the motor.

One test that you can attempt is to try to turn the motor shaft by hand. If you can’t turn it by hand, electricity won’t be able to turn it either. It may be seized up from water damage, which is typically caused by drain-pit flooding. Flooding occurs when the failure to clean off the cover before opening it, dumping all the debris in the pit and clogging the drains.

More recently, manufacturers have been making submersible motors that won’t break down if they get wet. But even that extra precaution can’t save every motor from water damage. Experts recommend letting the motor dry out before attempting to work it again. If it has been dried and still doesn’t work, it probably needs to be replaced.

Another possibility for a stubborn automatic, cover may be a broken shear pin or, for newer covers, a slipped clutch. Both are used to prevent a cover from putting pressure on the system if it malfunctions. A shear pin is designed to break if the gearing system, which engages the rope reels, has too much pressure as it works back and forth.

It’s important to find out what caused the shear pin to break, or it’s likely to happen again and again. Sometimes the pin breaks just from normal wear and tear. But a broken pin also is a sign that something else could be problematic. Excess water on the cover, dirt in the tracks and pulleys, or the cover being forced in some way will make a pin snap. Another cause could be the cover itself. It could just be old and there may not be enough slack to operate it anymore due to shrinkage.

Ripping and tearing are some of the most common cover problems. This is usually due to unnecessary stress from water weight, or people walking across the surface

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