Winter cover quality question

[Maurino17]

Hi all,

It’s time to replace my winter cover. Original cover that the pool builder sold me lasted 4 yrs and this past year was letting dirty water through to the pool.

I hated cleaning and storing the cover so thought I would get a cheaper cover and just throw it out at end of season.

I got the one in the link below which arrived today and is definitely thinner than the one I had.

Anyone have experience with a cheaper cover?

I don’t care if it only lasts a year or two, I just don’t want it to let dirty rain and leaf water through.

Thanks

Polarshield Pro 16' x 25' Oval Winter Pool Cover, 15 Year Warranty, Silver | Leslie's Pool Supplies

The Polarshield Pro Strength 16' x 25' Oval Above Ground Winter Pool Cover will protect your pool with its extra strong 10x10 scrim and 15-Yr Warranty.

lesliespool.com

 

[VinnyinNJ]

No experience with this cover but the cover I usually buy gets me about 3 to 4 years before needing replacement. I look at the condition of the cover as I'm taking it off in the spring and determine then if it can make another year.

If you're looking for only 1 year use then probably any cover will do. I only had 1 cover that was useless in less than a year and that was with my original pool 20+ years ago as part as the winterizing package at the time the pool was bought.

 

[Maurino17]

Thanks Vinny, yeah I’m going to give it a shot. This was like 50 bucks and the best ones are 150. I figured I’ll try using the cheap one every year and spare myself the hassle of spreading it out on the driveway, cleaning it, folding it etc.
The reason it’s a hassle is cause you need an extra pair of hands and my wife and two teenage daughters are not much help lol

No experience with this cover but the cover I usually buy gets me about 3 to 4 years before needing replacement. I look at the condition of the cover as I'm taking it off in the spring and determine then if it can make another year.

If you're looking for only 1 year use then probably any cover will do. I only had 1 cover that was useless in less than a year and that was with my original pool 20+ years ago as part as the winterizing package at the time the pool was bought.

No experience with this cover but the cover I usually buy gets me about 3 to 4 years before needing replacement. I look at the condition of the cover as I'm taking it off in the spring and determine then if it can make another year.

If you're looking for only 1 year use then probably any cover will do. I only had 1 cover that was useless in less than a year and that was with my original pool 20+ years ago as part as the winterizing package at the time the pool was bough in

 

[VinnyinNJ]

Thanks Vinny, yeah I’m going to give it a shot. This was like 50 bucks and the best ones are 150. I figured I’ll try using the cheap one every year and spare myself the hassle of spreading it out on the driveway, cleaning it, folding it etc.
The reason it’s a hassle is cause you need an extra pair of hands and my wife and two teenage daughters are not much help lol

What I have found is to drain the pool and fill the pool with the cover on. On my last pool and probably my new pool I drained the pool below the return for winterizing. I use a sump pump for cover draining and used it for draining the pool down as well.

What I found for us is since the water is higher it's easier to float the cover on and off.

 

[Maurino17]

If I understood you I do similar, however I never actually drain. I have a skimmer cover and then a return plug that lets you blow out the line without draining.

 

[VinnyinNJ]

If I understood you I do similar, however I never actually drain. I have a skimmer cover and then a return plug that lets you blow out the line without draining.

My old pool had a physical plate to put onto the skimmer with screws which is not the way things are done today. I bought an Aquador faceplate with a "Tupperware " lid that I'm using for the first time this winter. For the return I have a screw in seal from the old pool that I plan on using. I see you're in NJ too and obviously had success with not draining as has others but I am extremely concerned about winter damage. At this point I don't have the confidence that a thin plastic seal is not going to pop or something happening to it to mess up the pool... it's all in my head!

 

[johnnydot]

Hi all,

It’s time to replace my winter cover. Original cover that the pool builder sold me lasted 4 yrs and this past year was letting dirty water through to the pool.

I hated cleaning and storing the cover so thought I would get a cheaper cover and just throw it out at end of season.

I got the one in the link below which arrived today and is definitely thinner than the one I had.

Anyone have experience with a cheaper cover?

I don’t care if it only lasts a year or two, I just don’t want it to let dirty rain and leaf water through.

Thanks

Polarshield Pro 16' x 25' Oval Winter Pool Cover, 15 Year Warranty, Silver | Leslie's Pool Supplies

The Polarshield Pro Strength 16' x 25' Oval Above Ground Winter Pool Cover will protect your pool with its extra strong 10x10 scrim and 15-Yr Warranty.

lesliespool.com

I buy a cheap cover and throw it out every year. In the past, I used to hose it off, let it dry, then fold it and hump it up to the storage space in the attic over my garage, not an easy task with a 18x33 cover !! Spending $100 every year for a new one is worth it especially since I am 75,

 

[Maurino17]

Thanks for confirming johnnydot! I’m 46 but still too tired for the cleaning routine!

 

[Maurino17]

My old pool had a physical plate to put onto the skimmer with screws which is not the way things are done today. I bought an Aquador faceplate with a "Tupperware " lid that I'm using for the first time this winter. For the return I have a screw in seal from the old pool that I plan on using. I see you're in NJ too and obviously had success with not draining as has others but I am extremely concerned about winter damage. At this point I don't have the confidence that a thin plastic seal is not going to pop or something happening to it to mess up the pool... it's all in my head!

 

[Maurino17]

Vinny
I’ve been using the aqua for exactly! No problems at all.
Also this is the plug, when you blow air out the bungee comes out then closes with no air pushing once water is out.

 

[Maurino17]