These days, pool covers come in extensive lines of manual, semi-automatic, and automatic systems. The latest advances in pool-cover technology include a fast and powerful waterproof cover that is used to power an automatic pool cover; ¡°touchpad controls,¡± which are standard on every system; and zero-maintenance drive systems. These innovations are all backed by warranties and customer service by the manufacturers. The benefits from automatic covers¡ªincluding reduced maintenance costs, solar heating, energy conservation, and elimination of evaporation¡ªall result in savings that make up for the cost of the pool cover.

Sometimes called ¡°horizontal fences,¡± these state-of-the-art pool-cover systems isolate the water and not the pool deck or backyard as conventional fences do. These pool-cover systems support the weight of several adults, providing strong barrier protection as a pool-safety device. It is possible to preserve the elegance of the pool environment with innovative track and housing designs ¡ª the latest ones available, when retracted, disappear. All these features are available without inhibiting water features, negative edges, raised walls, zero-entries, freeform designs, or other pool features.

A plain pool can be turned into a spectacular one using water features that have become very popular today. A pool that has multiple water features on two ends, with the slide only a few inches above the water, can also be covered, using the Infinity 4000? with a recessed system and walk-on-tray lid. A recessed system is one in which the motor resides below the pool decking or below ground, thus completely hiding the drive mechanism. The walk-on-tray lid covers the motor housing and provides easy access for maintenance.

A free-form shape adds personality to a pool, in addition to making it aesthetically pleasing. However, it adds to the complication of applying an automatic cover. As a result of innovative technology, free-form pools pose no design limit for the design of automatic covers. The complex designs created by the multiple curves of a pool can be taken care of by using the Infinity 4000 with a ¡°recessed under track¡± system and a ¡°deck-on-deck¡± design. In the deck-on-deck design, the pool cover track is on an upper deck, and the pool wall resides below the same upper deck. In a ¡°recessed under track,¡± system, the motor resides below the pool decking, or below ground, hiding the drive mechanism.