WaterWarden Premium Pool Safety Cover for 12x20 Ft In-Ground Pool

Yes, for the right buyer. The WaterWarden Premium Pool Safety Cover for 12x20 Ft In-Ground Pool ranks #1 in our Best Inground Pool Covers list (best overall). Its biggest strength: highest review count (412) of any product in this roundup, the strongest track record for small/medium pools. The main caveat: solid vinyl requires a cover pump for standing rainwater removal, unlike self-draining mesh.

The main trade-offs owners and reviewers point to: solid vinyl requires a cover pump for standing rainwater removal, unlike self-draining mesh; only sized for small to medium pools, not usable on a full-size rectangular inground pool; heavier vinyl material is more cumbersome for one person to remove and store than mesh alternatives.

ASTM F1346-certified solid vinyl construction, UL-classified for safety cover use, Full perimeter brass anchor system, 20-year manufacturer warranty and 12x20 ft sizing.

Worth comparing: WaterWarden Solid Vinyl Pool Safety Cover, Fits 18x36 Ft Rectangle, GLI Secur-A-Pool 18x36 Ft Rectangular Mesh Safety Cover with Center End Step and WaterWarden Inground Pool Safety Cover 20x42 Ft Rectangle, Blue Mesh. Each ranks near it in our research for a slightly different buyer.

It's sold on Amazon. Prices and stock change often, so check the current listing before you buy, our link takes you straight to it.

Above-ground pool covers hook to the top rail of the pool wall using an elastic cable or winch-and-cable system, so the cover only needs to match the pool diameter plus a few inches of overlap. Inground pool covers anchor to the surrounding deck, which sits at ground level, so the cover has to extend well past the water's edge onto the coping and deck itself. Standard inground winter covers add a 4 to 5-foot overlap on every side (a 20x40 pool needs roughly a 25x45 cover), and safety covers are measured to the exact deck anchor points, which is why safety covers are far more often custom-fit than stock-sized. Buying an above-ground-style cover for an inground pool will leave gaps at the edges regardless of how it is anchored.

That depends entirely on who has access to the pool. If small children, pets, or anyone unable to swim can reach the pool area unsupervised, a winter tarp is not adequate protection, it is not weight-rated and can fail catastrophically under a person's weight, especially once pooled rainwater or snowmelt sits on top of it. Local and state codes in many areas require a compliant barrier (fence, cover, or both) around residential pools; an ASTM F1346-rated safety cover satisfies the cover portion of that requirement in jurisdictions that allow it. If the pool area is already fully fenced with a self-latching gate and unsupervised access isn't a realistic risk, a winter tarp is a reasonable and much cheaper choice for keeping debris and sun out during the off season.