The answer is in fact, Yes, most automatic cover manufacturers such as Coverstar offer a conversion kit that will allow their motor and switch to be used with other brands's mechanisms such as Cover-Pools. In the attached photo you will see an example of the motor mounting plate which is attached to the mechanism and allows the use of the Coverstar motor on the Cover-Pools system.

With so many brands of automatic pool covers on the market today, the top manufacturers have designed universal parts to allow the use of their parts on other brands. The cover fabric is one of the top items that is easily interchangeable from one brand to another. This makes it easy for installers to purchase and install cover systems that they may not sell. For example, a Coverstar installer wouldn't purchase items from Cover-Pools so this is why universal parts are crucial.

Are you in need of a replacement motor or any other part for your automatic pool cover? If so, contact us and we will be glad to help assist you. Brands that we have sold replacement parts for include: American, APC, Aquamatic, Cantar (WET), Covermatic, Coverpools, PCS, PoolSaver, and more.

I have been asked this question many times over the years, as some online dealers offer freeform pools with bracing only on the reverse radius and not on the radius. This will reduce the cost of and average pool kit by a few hundred dollars, however as a leading dealer of inground swimming pools kits, the risk isn't worth the savings. At what point does removing braces affect the structural integrity of a pool? There are many problems you could run into by not installing bracing at each joint on a freeform pool. First, I am not aware of any manufacturer, engineer or building code enforcement that would approve this design. So you could run into permit issues during the building process. Another problem is that you do substantially sacrifice the pool's structural integrity which could potentially cause serious damage resulting in thousands of dollars of damage andthe possibility of bodily harm.

There are many items in the pool industry that may not be needed, required, or can be sold as a less expensive option, but you should insist on your dealer providing braces on each joint of any freeform pool. Any dealer not including this on a standard kit package isn't selling a complete kit. And you have to think, if a dealer is cutting costs so much as to leave out vital bracing, what else are they not including that is needed or required?

Main drains and skimmers are used to help filter the water in your swimming pool. The two main drains, if you have them, should be located in the deepest section of your swimming pool about three feet apart. Skimmers are located on the swimming pool wall.

If you have a prevailing wind in your area, you will want at least one skimmer on a wall opposite from the prevailing wind.

Main drains are not required in an inground swimming pool, however, they are strongly recommended and can be extremely useful in some circumstances.

The advantages of main drains are to give you the ability to drain the water from your pool without the use of a sump pump. This is useful when replacing your pool liner. Main drains are also helpful in the filtering of water and dirt from the bottom of the pool.

If you choose not to put two main drains in your swimming pool, you are required to have two skimmers.

You might ask "Why am I required to have two?" The answer to this question is two-fold. First, there is the Virginia Graeme Baker Safety Act which requires two suction points in your pool for safety vacuum release reasons.

The second reason is simply in order to provide your pump with plenty of water. In addition to providing the pump with more water, having two skimmers will help circulate and filtrate your swimming pool water. The baskets located in your skimmers will catch leaves, small twigs, bugs, and other debris.

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Automatic pool covers are one of the most innovative items in the swimming pool industry, however they are not new inventions. The first known auto cover dates back to 1959. Although that automatic cover was very primitive, technology has since taken over. Every year we are seeing continuous improvements in the cover design, hardware, and installation process. With so many great manufacturers in the industry I expect this trend will continue.

One of the most crucial components of the automatic cover is also one of the most overlooked. The webbing, which is attached to the side of the coverfabric, is the piece that locks the cover into the track. Most automatic cover manufacturers use standard sewn-on webbing. Thus, making the stitches crucial to the safety and durability of the cover. Over the years, many covers have been replaced due to sewn threads fraying, being cut or disintegrating over time. All these issues with sewn threads can lead to cover failure. Another issue with sewn webbingis the tendency it has to bunch up around the rope which can damage the fabric itself.

In 2003, Coverstar introduced a new Heat-Sealed webbing which actually bonds the webbing to the fabric without the need of sewing. This provides a substantially longer webbing life and improved cover operation and reliability. They offer this option in white or it can be color matched to the fabric color. Color matching is a more aesthetically pleasing option and is also longer lasting than white webbing due to color pigments which reduce UV light exposure to the fabric.

When converting auto cover fabric from sewn-on to heat-sealed, you will need to make sure you have adequate housing space due to the added diameter of the cover with the thicker Heat-Sealed Webbing. When ordering replacment automatic cover fabric, make sure to note you are converting from sewn-on webbing to heat-sealed.

Here are the Heat-Sealed Webbing cover housing width and depth guidelines from Coverstar:

12?X12? box 36? Track Length 40? Cover
13?X13? box 40? Track Length 48? Cover
14?X14? box 51? Track Length 55? Cover
(Add one inch of box for each additional 8 ft of fabric from this point on)