How We Research
Every guide on The Sunny Lion answers one question: will this product do its job on your pool? That means it has to fit your pool's shape and size and hold up through the season you buy it for.
Here is how we get to an answer.
1. We start with your pool
Round, oval and rectangle pools each need a different cover size, and the right overlap depends on the pool type. Above ground and inground pools also use different ways of holding a cover down.
We check the size chart, the overlap the maker suggests and how the cover is secured. When a product only suits certain pools, we say so.
2. We look at what it's made of
For covers, we compare the fabric, its weight or thickness, the seams and the grommets or cable. For solar covers, we note the thickness in mils and the bubble side.
For pumps and vacuums, we look at the housing, the hose size, the cord length and the battery type.
3. We compare specs and features
We compare pump flow in gallons per hour, automatic on and off, freeze protection, suction and run time. We also note what comes in the box and the warranty terms each maker gives.
Makers describe their own products, so we name the brand for every claim. For example, we write "Robelle says" rather than stating a promise as fact.
4. We read what owners report
We look for patterns in what owners say after a winter or a summer of use. Torn seams, fading, pumps that stop switching on and batteries that fade all count.
One unhappy owner doesn't sink a product. A pattern does.
5. We score each product
Our score weighs specs, features and owner feedback against what you're shopping for. A product that suits one pool may score lower in a guide written for another.
Scores spread out on purpose. A 10 is rare.
6. We keep pages current
Covers and pumps change often, and sellers list close cousins under similar names. We check sizes and model numbers, link only new products and skip any model with a known recall.
When a guide changes in a real way, the "Updated on" date at the top changes with it.
What our picks are not
Our picks come from research, not hands-on trials. We don't claim to have used every cover or pump we cover.
Only a cover labeled as a safety cover and built to the ASTM F1346 standard is meant to hold weight. Even that does not replace a fence, a gate or an adult watching the pool.
Cover pumps run on household power near water. Use a GFCI-protected outlet, follow the maker's manual and unplug a pump before you touch it or the water.