Carol Tweed
Published:
June 08, 2026
Last Updated:
I work with pool owners every day, and I also own a pool myself.
After years of helping people choose, build and look after their pools, I can say this confidently: if you add a sealing automated cover that operates at the flick of a switch, then you really do have it all.
A swimming pool should be easy to enjoy. You should be able to open it, swim, close it and get on with your day without wrestling with a manual cover, scooping out leaves, worrying about heat loss or constantly thinking about what might happen when the pool is not in use.
That is why we chose an automatic sealing pool cover for our own home.
At Wright Pools & Spas, more than 95% of our customers choose this when buying a pool from us. Once you see one in action, it is easy to understand why.
What is an automatic sealing pool cover?
An automatic sealing pool cover opens and closes at the flick of a switch.
Unlike a standard bubble cover or manual cover, it completely seals over the pool when closed. This helps protect the water, reduce debris, conserve water, retain heat and make the pool easier to manage.
For me, the biggest benefit is convenience.
If I had to manually roll back a cover, scoop out leaves and faff around before a swim, I know I would use the pool less. With an automatic cover, you press a button, open the pool and swim.
When you are finished, you close it again.
That ease of use changes everything.
What are the benefits of an automatic sealing pool cover?
The advantages are simple:
- Water is conserved.
- Rain doesn’t get in, so chemicals aren’t diluted.
- Fewer chemicals are needed.
- Less power and heating are required.
- Less debris gets into the pool.
- The pool is easier to open and close.
- It adds another layer of safety when the pool is not being used.
A cover will not remove the need for pool care altogether, but it does make the pool much easier to live with.
When the cover is closed, less water evaporates, less heat escapes and fewer leaves or debris get into the water. That means the pool is easier to keep clean, warm and ready to use.
Manual pool cover vs automatic sealing pool cover
| Feature | Manual or bubble pool cover | Automatic sealing pool cover |
|---|---|---|
| Prevents leaves and debris from entering | Partially* | ✅ |
| Helps conserve water | ✅ | ✅ |
| Helps retain heat | ✅ | ✅ |
| Helps reduce chemical loss | Partially* | ✅ |
| Opens at the flick of a switch | ❌ | ✅ |
| Easy to close after swimming | ❌ | ✅ |
| Encourages regular covering | ❌ | ✅ |
| Adds another layer of safety | ❌ | ✅ |
| Can be retrofitted to some pools | ✅ | *Sometimes |
|
*Partially as it doesn’t fully seal * Sometimes, we will assess your pool first to see if it’s possible |
||
Is an automatic sealing pool cover safer?
An automatic sealing cover adds an important extra layer of safety when the pool is not in use.
This is one of the reasons I feel so strongly about them.
We had the unfortunate experience of a customer whose precious dog fell into their pool. It had a normal bubble cover, and the dog saw it covered and did not realise it would fall through.
After that terrible event, the customer had one of our automatic sealing covers retrofitted to help stop it from happening again.
That experience has stayed with me.
You can have all the compliant fencing in the world, but sometimes children, especially older ones, do work out how to enter the pool area. Pets can also get into places you do not expect.
An automatic sealing cover is not a replacement for compliant fencing, supervision or pool safety rules. But in my opinion, it is an important additional layer of safety.
For our own pool, it is non-negotiable.
Can automatic sealing pool covers be fitted retrospectively?
Yes, automatic sealing pool covers can be retro-fitted to some existing pools.
Whether this is possible depends on the type of pool, the shape, the surrounding area and how the cover system would need to be installed.
We can fit sealing automated covers retrospectively in suitable situations, and we are happy to talk you through what is possible.
If you already own a pool and wish it were easier to manage, safer to close off and simpler to keep clean, a retro-fitted automatic cover may be worth considering.
Why we chose an automatic sealing cover for our own pool
For me, the automatic sealing cover completes the system.
Our Compass Vantage self-cleaning pool helps keep the water moving, clean and looking great. The automatic sealing cover helps protect the water when the pool is not being used.
Together, they make pool ownership much easier and so much more enjoyable.
If you’d like to talk with us about owning a Compass Vantage Pool or a sealing automated cover, please get in touch. We also have a display pool at our Carterton shop, which is a perfect place to see one in action. We can also arrange for you to see and meet with other Vantage pool owners.