Roller burn may occur when the pool cover is rolled up on the roller without using the overcover to protect it. As the sun’s heat penetrates through the layers, the temperature rises from layer to layer, causing the pool cover to become superheated. This compounding heating effect typically occurs in the same spot at the top of the pool cover roll, as the cover is consistently wound up in the same manner. Detecting roller burn early on can be challenging, but there are specific signs to watch for.

1. Pool covers may experience a reduction in length of up to 2% due to how they are manufactured but they do not naturally shrink in width. If a pool cover has shrunk in width, it is typically a sign that it was stored on the roller without the over cover. The corners of the pool cover are usually the first areas to shrink, followed by the width as Roller Burn becomes more noticeable.
2. Roller burn lines can be readily recognized by the shrinkage of the pool cover material, resulting in melted or damaged lines running across the cover in alignment with the top revolutions of the roller. These lines occur approximately every 600mm and originate from the second layer of the pool cover down from the top of the roll. The extent of the damage and the length of the pool cover will determine how far these lines are evident, potentially reaching all the way to the opposite end depending on the duration of the damage.

The pool cover will continue to function as usual despite any wrinkles and shrinkage; however, the only negative impact will be a shorter lifespan for the pool cover. Typically where the overheating of the roller burn has occurred, the life of the pool cover decreases significantly. Due to the melting of the cover making the cover brittle, you may experience pieces of the pool cover breaking away, leaving debris in your pool.

Roller burn may also occur if you roll your cover onto a roller that is very hot from being in the sun. The high temperature can lead to the blanket melting. To prevent this, make sure to cool down the roller with cold water before storing the cover on it.