COVERSTAR POOL COVER SYSTEMS

Welcome to the rapidly growing group of pool owners who own Coverstar automatic swimming pool safety cover systems! We are proud of the advanced engineering and quality construction of each system we build.

Please read this owner's manual and follow its instructions carefully. It is designed to acquaint you with the features of your new cover system and to help you operate and maintain your system properly.

The information here is the accumulated knowledge of thousands of installations. If you receive conflicting information elsewhere, please call Coverstar Arizona for clarification.

For service or maintenance please contact your distributor.

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IMPORTANT SAFETY INSTRUCTIONS

1. READ AND FOLLOW ALL INSTRUCTIONS.
2. WARNING: To reduce the risk of injury, do not permit children to use this product unless they are closely supervised at all times.
3. All field-installed metal components such as rails, ladders, drains, or other similar hardware within 3m of the unit shall be bonded to the equipment grounding bus with copper conductors not smaller than No. 8 AWG.
4. Keep the pump on the cover and set up for proper use whenever the cover is over the pool.
5. Check cover frequently for signs of premature deterioration or weakness.

INSTALLATION CHECKPOINTS

Coverstar Arizona and Coverstar Inc. are often asked how one can tell if an installation is done correctly. A few standard things indicate if the system has been properly installed are easy to check and are listed below. (See owner’s manual for more trouble shooting ideas)

1. GUIDE (TRACK) INSTALLATION

  1. An automatic system must be installed at the guide space which was ordered from the factory. Measure the distance between the cover guides. If there is a discrepancy between installation and order dimensions, it may cause the system to operate improperly.
  2. The cover guides must be perpendicular to the cover roll-up tube. Measure the length of each guide,  the width at each end, and the diagonals from corner to corner. There should be a pure rectangle with maximum 1" variances.

2. SLACK
With the guides properly installed, you will have the correct amount of slack in your cover to ensure reliable operation for many years. All covers shrink slowly over a period of years when exposed to the elements and pool chemicals. This shrinkage will amount to several inches over the life of the fabric. When a cover gets tight between cover guides, it operates under significant stress, may be unsafe, and should be replaced. Coverstar Inc. has implemented strict quality control measures before shipment to ensure that each cover shipped matches the dimensions we receive on the order.

3. ROPES
The ropes coming out of each cover guide should appear to go in a straight line from the guide to the pulley, not at an angle. On underguide systems, the rope coming out of the guides should be level as it goes to the pulley.

4. SYSTEM MOUNTING
Systems should be mounted firmly to their housing or to the deck with a sufficient number of screws.

5. DRAINAGE
Systems recessed below ground level must have sufficient drainage to prevent buildup of standing water in the housing.

6. WHEEL ASSEMBLIES
On deck mounted systems, the front corners of the cover should be attached to the wheel assemblies.

7. COVER ROLL-UP
Covers should retract and extend within 2-3 inches of being square to the mechanism at both ends of the pool. Some variance is allowed because of the diverse applications in which covers are used. Your cover is a very large piece of fabric that rolls around a 6" tube, and controlling exactly how it rolls up is a matter of pool configuration, deck surface adhesion, and environmental conditions.

8. DECK SURFACE
Any rough or sharp edges on the deck that the cover travels over should be rasped or ground smooth.

9. LEADING EDGE
The leading edge which pulls the cover out over the pool should not drag on any portion of the deck or coping as it travels back and forth across the pool.

MAINTENANCE AND CARE (recommended time parameters)

1. CLEANING THE COVER
When you uncover the pool, the water in the pool is transferred from the pool to the top surface of the cover. The sun then dries it, causing high concentrations of chlorine on top of the cover that may damage the fabric. Wash the cover with a mild hand dishwashing liquid every 3-6 months to remove this accumulation. Do not use laundry detergent. (See Homeowner video.)

2. HOUSING DRAINS
On recessed systems, frequently check the drain(s) to be certain they drain the housing completely and do not allow water to stay in the housing area. If water is allowed to stand in the mechanism area over periods of time, the system may become damaged by the constant moisture. Damage to either electrical or mechanical components resulting from standing water or extended submersion is not covered under the warranty.

3. MECHANISM
Clean all rotating surfaces by spraying with a hose nozzle every 3 months, or more often in sandy or windy areas.

4. HOUSING
Clean leaves and debris from deck housing every 3-6 months, depending on foreign matter accumulation. Run the cover over the pool, prop the housing lid open or remove it, and remove the debris in the housing. Accumulated debris can hinder the proper operation of the cover.

5. RODENTS
In certain areas rodents may nest in the cover housing and chew on the cover and ropes. A common cause of rope breakage is rodent damage, which is not covered under the warranty. Mothballs in a perforated, tamper proof container may help keep rodents under control. Keep poisons out of reach of small children.

6. WATER CHEMISTRY

  • We suggest, as all cover manufacturers do, that you only cover pool water that you would swim in. If the water is temporarily out of balance due to chemical additives and you wouldn't swim in it, covering the pool may damage the cover prematurely. Water that has improper chemical balance may, over the long term, severely shorten the expected life of the fabric. Note: If the pool is left open after shocking the pool, adult supervision of an open pool should be provided.
  • Use a good test kit frequently to maintain proper chemical balance Premature cover deterioration that is a result of improper chemical balance is not covered under the warranty.

7.  WINTER USE
When the time comes to close your pool down at the end of the swimming season, your cover can be used during the winter months as long you follow our Motorized Cover Winterization Policy.  If you are unable to and unwilling to follow these procedures, please roll up your cover and discuss with your Pool Service Technician the best method for winterizing your pool.  Also, the use of a Coverstar Mesh Safety cover will provide excellent winter safety protection for your pool, if you should decide not to use your automatic safety cover during the winter months. 

ASTM F1346-91 SAFETY STANDARD

The American Society for Testing Material created a final recommendation for powered and manual safety covers in 1991 called the ASTM F1346-91 standard. Coverstar™ systems have been tested, and when used and installed according to instructions, they meet or exceed this standard.

The main provisions of ASTM F1346-91 are:

  • The cover system must be labeled with warning labels. (Labels are always available either from your distributor or Coverstar if yours is illegible.)
  • The cover must support 485 lbs. in a five foot radius.
  • The cover must be operated from a position where the complete pool surface is visible to the operator.
  • The switch must be momentary and be located at least 5' above the surface where the operator stands, or be key operated.
  • An object approximately 4.5" in diameter should not be able to slide under the cover.
  • An automatic water evacuation system (self-actuating cover pump) must be used at all times. It must be placed on the cover so that rain will automatically be removed within 1/2 hour of the cessation of rain.

You should check your installation and verify that the points above are present in your installation. If any point is not present, by definition, you do not have a safety cover.

Pool safety is a major concern of Coverstar Inc. We agree with the National Spa and Pool Institute that the first and most important component of pool safety is constant adult supervision of the pool area. There is no substitute for adult supervision.

In addition to your safety cover, additional layers of protection are available for your pool. We have included in the homeowners packet a brochure published by the National Spa and Pool Institute entitled Layers of Protection. We recommend that you evaluate your situation and decide which layers of protection you should use to protect your pool.

LIMITED WARRANTY INFORMATION

Coverstar Inc. wants to make sure you are satisfied with your installation and have received the information you need for system operation. Please fill out your warranty card (complete with name and address) and return it with your signed certificate of installation. Your limited warranty covering components that we manufacture will be sent directly to you from Coverstar, Inc. after completing the following:

  1. Fill in the registration card
  2. Sign the completion certificate
  3. Send the completed registration card and completion certificate to Coverstar, Inc.

Warranties will not be issued as valid without a signed completion certificate.


In order for your warranty to be valid, Coverstar Arizona must receive payment in full for your system.