subject: Safety Covers are the Best Winter Pool Covers [print this page] You can use a swimming pool safety cover anytime of year. It takes only minutes to lock the cover over and protect your pool. If you go on vaction or your pool is unattended for a long period, you can have peace of mind using a safety cover in your absence. Most in-ground pool owners prefer using a safety pool cover when closing their pool compared to standard winter pool covers because they provide safety and they are much more pleasing to look at in the backyard.