Still struggling with what to do for winter. Have had no luck in the past securing covers so the wind doesn't get underneath, so stopped covering and seemed to do better with no cover for a clean opening. However, last spring, pool was a mess. So now, back to do we cover or not! Ive never used a leaf cover, so wondering if by using that during the fall months and remove once most of the debris has fallen will keep the debris levels down (a big cause of this spring's swamp!), then not cover after that. I usually will dump some bleach in now and then and stir around if weather is warmer. Or, do I attempt a cover once again? For those who do use a cover, how many just buy cheaper ones and plan to pitch after a season vs buying expensive (they seem to rip as well from what I've been reading)? Any input is appreciated! Thanks!
Pool covers
- Thread starter spf30
- Start date
- Jun 1, 2018
- 16,208
- Pool Size
- 26000
- Surface
- Vinyl
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- Hayward Aqua Rite (T-15)
I buy the cheapest one, keeping them pumped off & debris free seems to help prolong their life. Last year I deployed a leaf cover on top of the solid tarp cover & it was easy to just dump the leaves & replace. I dumped it after most of the leaves had fallen & then again before spring opening. Way better than trying to scoop debris all the time.
I tried it by itself before putting the solid cover on & it seemed to hold the leaves creating “leaf tea” in the pool so I quickly scratched that idea. I use large binder clips to hold down the solid cover/prevent some flapping along with the provided cable. I only use the clips with the leaf cover- no cable. It doesn’t really go anywhere.
The automatic cover pump is worth its weight in gold in my opinion. It should be removed in freezing temps though.
My last cheepo cover lasted 3 winters before seeping so we’ll see how long this next one lasts. I don’t stress too much with the wind, its gonna flap around. If one area is flapping too violently I just add more binder clips- they’re cheap. Some people like to use the plastic wrap but air still gets in - i like to be able to easily open my cover if I want to check on things or get a fc or temp sample so I don’t think I would like the plastic wrap.
I tried it by itself before putting the solid cover on & it seemed to hold the leaves creating “leaf tea” in the pool so I quickly scratched that idea. I use large binder clips to hold down the solid cover/prevent some flapping along with the provided cable. I only use the clips with the leaf cover- no cable. It doesn’t really go anywhere.
The automatic cover pump is worth its weight in gold in my opinion. It should be removed in freezing temps though.
My last cheepo cover lasted 3 winters before seeping so we’ll see how long this next one lasts. I don’t stress too much with the wind, its gonna flap around. If one area is flapping too violently I just add more binder clips- they’re cheap. Some people like to use the plastic wrap but air still gets in - i like to be able to easily open my cover if I want to check on things or get a fc or temp sample so I don’t think I would like the plastic wrap.
Thank you! I don't think I know what you mean by the binder clips (apart from what one gets at the office store?) And where are you clipping it to when you use them? And ok, so just a leaf cover alone doesnt sound like a plan then.
- Jun 1, 2018
- 16,208
- Pool Size
- 26000
- Surface
- Vinyl
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- Hayward Aqua Rite (T-15)
Decoy205
Silver Supporter
I may have to pick up a box of jumbo binder clips.
I used the regular cover ones but last year in some spots I actually almost ripped the brand new cover trying to get them on as the one side has sharp corners.
I used the regular cover ones but last year in some spots I actually almost ripped the brand new cover trying to get them on as the one side has sharp corners.
- Jun 1, 2018
- 16,208
- Pool Size
- 26000
- Surface
- Vinyl
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- Hayward Aqua Rite (T-15)
It was an invention born of necessity in a pinch but it worked so well I bought a huge box!
amymeme
Well-known member
We use a cover and a leaf net in upstate ny. I leave the leaf net on all year as we leave on the edge of woods and stuff blows even after down. I have considered removing it in later fall but it's cold and usual get stopped by snow and ice.
I've gone to cheap covers cause they don't seem to last longer than the expensive ones and, much to my delight, they are much lighter to haul around. I get 3-4 seasons out of a cover. Covers do a great job keeping the pool clean til opening. Provided you don't dump the yucky stuff on top of the concrete into the pool. About 10 years ago, we got smarty and bought a cover pump to empty the cover on the spring. Pool is at top of slope so sweet always just set up siphons with 3 or 4 lengths of hose. But that still left a pond of slime that needed to be removed. Way to heavy to lift out - one year we goth the brilliant idea to tie the cover with the slime init a huge balloon with a length of dog runner cable. The plan was to hitch it to the tractor and pull it out that way. That's when I discovered what design strength meant. "Balloon" couldn't hold all that slime and burst into the beautifully clear water under the cover. Ya live and ya learn. Bought a cover pump.
amymeme
Well-known member
Oh. I use water tubes. Whole bunch of them end to end around the pool. No wings problems and we get hefty wind up here on the hill
amymeme
Well-known member
Yeah, trying to get the cover off without all the gunk going in was one of the reasons we abandoned covers for a few years. Not sure how I wasn't aware of a cover pump! We thought of a sump pump but it's too heavy. With a cover pump, will it clog up with debris is there is debris on the cover? I notice that problem this spring when we had to drain our 'swamp'. Even with the pump rigged up with a screen on the bottom, I'd have to continually lift and clear it.
We have a deck all the way around so we could use water tubes. I think we may have tried a few once but can't recall what we didnt like about them..do they get slimy maybe? What do you do to get them dried out to store for the summer? What brand do you use?
- Jun 1, 2018
- 16,208
- Pool Size
- 26000
- Surface
- Vinyl
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- Hayward Aqua Rite (T-15)
My cover pump will get clogged with seed pods occasionally but the little plastic cover on the bottom mostly prevents that with the leaves.
To get the cover off I get all the debris off as best i can by scooping & using the brush then add a weight near the pump so I get as much water off as possible. I try to get it cleaned when there will be several dry sunny days so the cover gets pretty dry & stays that way until removal. Then I use what I call the Taco
method (patent pending 
) for my round pool. It requires at least 2 people but the more the merrier!
Keep the cover clipped to one half of the pool rails, fold the loose 1/2 over the clipped 1/2 creating a taco - any remaining debris/water is now your taco filling. The goal is to keep all the edges of the taco closed together until they are outside of the pool.
With someone at each side of the pool where the fold is hold the edges of the cover together un clipping the rest as you walk & pull the cover to the other side of the pool leaving the very center of the cover “taco”clipped for now. This will create a pocket of water etc- so put the pump in there until it’s as empty as possible. Then pull all the rest of the cover that is loose over the edge - with it pumped/scooped out there should be minimal debris left in the pocket. After all that is dumped out outside of the pool & the entire cover is on the outside, un clip the remaining clips. I very rarely get any debris or nasty water in the pool doing it this way. Before I had the electric pump I just used a little siphon one like this
My kiddos have been the ones to help me do this for the past 8 years- their main job is to just hold the cover in various places & walk, not have brute strength. If it’s too heavy to pull then there’s too much water/debris & you risk a tear or dumping it all in the pool. I think that’s where people get impatient. Cleaning the cover & drying it out in advance go a long way in making it easier to deal with.
I often do a “soft opening” a week or so before where I have already refilled the pool & hooked everything back up before removing the cover that way I am ready to skim & all that right away once the cover comes off. I usually do the same for closing- just in reverse
Hopefully some of these tips make your opening/closing much simpler
To get the cover off I get all the debris off as best i can by scooping & using the brush then add a weight near the pump so I get as much water off as possible. I try to get it cleaned when there will be several dry sunny days so the cover gets pretty dry & stays that way until removal. Then I use what I call the Taco
method (patent pending ) for my round pool. It requires at least 2 people but the more the merrier!Keep the cover clipped to one half of the pool rails, fold the loose 1/2 over the clipped 1/2 creating a taco - any remaining debris/water is now your taco filling. The goal is to keep all the edges of the taco closed together until they are outside of the pool.
With someone at each side of the pool where the fold is hold the edges of the cover together un clipping the rest as you walk & pull the cover to the other side of the pool leaving the very center of the cover “taco”clipped for now. This will create a pocket of water etc- so put the pump in there until it’s as empty as possible. Then pull all the rest of the cover that is loose over the edge - with it pumped/scooped out there should be minimal debris left in the pocket. After all that is dumped out outside of the pool & the entire cover is on the outside, un clip the remaining clips. I very rarely get any debris or nasty water in the pool doing it this way. Before I had the electric pump I just used a little siphon one like this
My kiddos have been the ones to help me do this for the past 8 years- their main job is to just hold the cover in various places & walk, not have brute strength. If it’s too heavy to pull then there’s too much water/debris & you risk a tear or dumping it all in the pool. I think that’s where people get impatient. Cleaning the cover & drying it out in advance go a long way in making it easier to deal with.
I often do a “soft opening” a week or so before where I have already refilled the pool & hooked everything back up before removing the cover that way I am ready to skim & all that right away once the cover comes off. I usually do the same for closing- just in reverse
Hopefully some of these tips make your opening/closing much simpler
Maybe you could try putting this "balloons" on the water to prevent dirt pooling on the cover.
I have 10 on my 24' x 12'
Thanks for the information! Will try some of these tips in the spring. I never thought of having everything ready to go as soon as cover comes off!My cover pump will get clogged with seed pods occasionally but the little plastic cover on the bottom mostly prevents that with the leaves.
To get the cover off I get all the debris off as best i can by scooping & using the brush then add a weight near the pump so I get as much water off as possible. I try to get it cleaned when there will be several dry sunny days so the cover gets pretty dry & stays that way until removal. Then I use what I call the Taco
Keep the cover clipped to one half of the pool rails, fold the loose 1/2 over the clipped 1/2 creating a taco - any remaining debris/water is now your taco filling. The goal is to keep all the edges of the taco closed together until they are outside of the pool.
With someone at each side of the pool where the fold is hold the edges of the cover together un clipping the rest as you walk & pull the cover to the other side of the pool leaving the very center of the cover “taco”clipped for now. This will create a pocket of water etc- so put the pump in there until it’s as empty as possible. Then pull all the rest of the cover that is loose over the edge - with it pumped/scooped out there should be minimal debris left in the pocket. After all that is dumped out outside of the pool & the entire cover is on the outside, un clip the remaining clips. I very rarely get any debris or nasty water in the pool doing it this way. Before I had the electric pump I just used a little siphon one like this
View attachment 453669
My kiddos have been the ones to help me do this for the past 8 years- their main job is to just hold the cover in various places & walk, not have brute strength. If it’s too heavy to pull then there’s too much water/debris & you risk a tear or dumping it all in the pool. I think that’s where people get impatient. Cleaning the cover & drying it out in advance go a long way in making it easier to deal with.
I often do a “soft opening” a week or so before where I have already refilled the pool & hooked everything back up before removing the cover that way I am ready to skim & all that right away once the cover comes off. I usually do the same for closing- just in reverse
Hopefully some of these tips make your opening/closing much simpler
amymeme
Well-known member
"Taco" good descriptionMy cover pump will get clogged with seed pods occasionally but the little plastic cover on the bottom mostly prevents that with the leaves.
To get the cover off I get all the debris off as best i can by scooping & using the brush then add a weight near the pump so I get as much water off as possible. I try to get it cleaned when there will be several dry sunny days so the cover gets pretty dry & stays that way until removal. Then I use what I call the Taco
Keep the cover clipped to one half of the pool rails, fold the loose 1/2 over the clipped 1/2 creating a taco - any remaining debris/water is now your taco filling. The goal is to keep all the edges of the taco closed together until they are outside of the pool.
With someone at each side of the pool where the fold is hold the edges of the cover together un clipping the rest as you walk & pull the cover to the other side of the pool leaving the very center of the cover “taco”clipped for now. This will create a pocket of water etc- so put the pump in there until it’s as empty as possible. Then pull all the rest of the cover that is loose over the edge - with it pumped/scooped out there should be minimal debris left in the pocket. After all that is dumped out outside of the pool & the entire cover is on the outside, un clip the remaining clips. I very rarely get any debris or nasty water in the pool doing it this way. Before I had the electric pump I just used a little siphon one like this
View attachment 453669
My kiddos have been the ones to help me do this for the past 8 years- their main job is to just hold the cover in various places & walk, not have brute strength. If it’s too heavy to pull then there’s too much water/debris & you risk a tear or dumping it all in the pool. I think that’s where people get impatient. Cleaning the cover & drying it out in advance go a long way in making it easier to deal with.
I often do a “soft opening” a week or so before where I have already refilled the pool & hooked everything back up before removing the cover that way I am ready to skim & all that right away once the cover comes off. I usually do the same for closing- just in reverse
Hopefully some of these tips make your opening/closing much simpler
. Our pool is a 20x43 inground. Before I got the cover pump, using 4-5 houses to siphon the water off was the best we could do. And yep. It was heavy. Now, with the pump, I can get virtual all the water/slime off and, depending on the weather, the cover can dry on the pool in the sun. But not 2 years ago - rained just about every day or two. We kept gathering "taco" smaller and smaller. Still quite heavy, but doable with the pump.I've been using robelle for several years. Have to order several new every year - sometimes I over fill and burst a seam but usually it's probably a small furry creature chewing a hole to get a drink. Note, this year? The robelle I got from Amazon were not as thick and two of them had valves that were not completely attached to the tube so are getting replaced.
They do get slimy and, for us, pool opening coincides with pine pollen season so they are covered in yellow green smudge. I rinse them off in place, them drain them, put them in a kiddy pool with soapy water, soak,, then swish than take them out, rinse, let dry on the pool deck in the sun. This year, kiddy pool was cracked so I lay than out on the grass on a hill, used hose and long handled car wash brush than rinsed. Not sure which is easier. Do know they didn't stink when I opened the storage tote this year.
A PIA but the cover stays down all winter.
My cover pump has a coarse sponge sort of thing in the bottom of it, with wide pores. For most of the emptying, I keep the pump suspended so it's not in the muck. Towards the end, it does tend fill up with swamp goo and slow the flow. But I just pull it, remove the sponge, rinse it out and back in. Total time maybe 10 minutes. Oh course, if you open the pool earlier in the spring, there's less goo. But I'm not willing to rub the pump for the month of May when the air temperature is too cold to swim and the water is even colder!