Looking to leaf proof Mayco cover

[aggiejet]

Last season was first winter with a Mayco mesh cover. In addition to letting in a LOT of dirt, there was a considerable amount of leaves in the pool. Apparently the cover will lift a little when the wind is blowing hard here in Oklahoma (last couple of days getting near 40 mph gusts) and the accompanying fallen leaves find their way in. Some suggested putting a line/bead of closed foam cell backer rod underneath the cover and on top of surround. Sounded like a good idea so I deployed 3/4” backer rod (which was largest Lowe’s & HD had) around the perimeter. 24 hours of more wind and I’ve discovered a couple of areas of the backer rod dislodged and blown out. In my opinion the cover is very tight. In fact, it was quite a workout securing all of the loops onto the brass studs.

Anybody else dealt with this? Any suggestions or direction?

Thanks

 

[bmoreswim]

I really have no suggestions. I've had mine for 10 years and keep it pretty tight. It still happens. Doesn't really cause an issue though. Leaves and dirt get scooped/vacuumed in the spring. Water is still very clear come April.

 

[Newdude]

There's a period where leaf cleaning is like spitting in the ocean, but once they've fallen, a thorough yard cleaning is the best solution for winter debris blowing around.

 

[aggiejet]

There's a period where leaf cleaning is like spitting in the ocean, but once they've fallen, a thorough yard cleaning is the best solution for winter debris blowing around.

The leaf wars have begun. And I’m always victorious. But it is a dirty and lengthy one.

 

[PoolStored]

Once closed, I don’t worry about it.

In March I pull up a corner and drop the robot in…after about a week, no more leaves and worms.

 

[TinFoilHat]

What about pool noodles split down the middle along all of the edges?

 

[aggiejet]

What about pool noodles split down the middle along all of the edges?

I was thinking about that as well. I was curious if anyone had used those that way and if it was effective.

 

[aggiejet]

Once closed, I don’t worry about it.

In March I pull up a corner and drop the robot in…after about a week, no more leaves and worms.

I’m playing on doing that. I wasn’t sure how well a robot works, how many times do you have to empty it, etc. I was thinking that the least amount of leaves would help make that process go better.

 

[PoolStored]

I’m playing on doing that. I wasn’t sure how well a robot works, how many times do you have to empty it, etc. I was thinking that the least amount of leaves would help make that process go better.

I just keep running it til it comes back empty. Once/twice a day for a week usually works.

 

[Newdude]

And under the cover you can't see it drive right past the leaves.

Whether it finds them on pass 1 of 9, or 9 of 9 doesn't really matter.

 

[aggiejet]

I just keep running it til it comes back empty. Once/twice a day for a week usually works.

What does “comes back” mean? That makes it sound like it’s “smart”? How does it know where to come back to?

(I realize this is thread creep, I’ll go study and perhaps start new thread about robot cleaners if necessary.)

 

[Newdude]

I realize this is thread creep,

Its your thread. Anything remotely relevant is fair game.

'Come back empty' is when the robot has nothing left to pick up. As I joked above, with the cover still on you really can't see much of the pool to know what's there. Each subsequent robot run finds less crud / leaves and it's all clean by the time it's time to pull the cover off.

Spring cleanings are a heavy job beyond what the robot was designed for. But given enough attempts at it, it gets it done. Besides the leaves, there's usually a layer of sediment / silt for those of us with mesh covers. Some years it's pretty thick and takes a few passes even with the better suction of the manual vac. Plus, either way stirs it up when there is a lot to get out, so both might need multiple runs to get it all.

 

[PoolStored]

^^^what @Newdude said....

 

[aggiejet]

Its your thread. Anything remotely relevant is fair game.

'Come back empty' is when the robot has nothing left to pick up. As I joked above, with the cover still on you really can't see much of the pool to know what's there. Each subsequent robot run finds less crud / leaves and it's all clean by the time it's time to pull the cover off.

Spring cleanings are a heavy job beyond what the robot was designed for. But given enough attempts at it, it gets it done. Besides the leaves, there's usually a layer of sediment / silt for those of us with mesh covers. Some years it's pretty thick and takes a few passes even with the better suction of the manual vac. Plus, either way stirs it up when there is a lot to get out, so both might need multiple runs to get it all.

i didn’t get properly educated by the Mayco dealer/salesman/installer about how to mange a Mayco mesh cover. When I pulled it back around Memorial Day, I had a stroke. Don’t want to go thru that again.

Here in NE OK, we get yellow oak tree fur well into May. Meanwhile, we are prolly getting warm enough to warm water up to algae growing temps. Additionally, I’m will be mowing the Bermuda by this time, which will throw a lot of dirt (relatively speaking)onto/into pool.

So now that I’m educated on how to mange all that, I envision running the robot 4-6 weeks with the cover on. So how do I know when the robot gets back to shallow end where I can fish it out and empty/clean the filters?

 

[PoolStored]

So how do I know when the robot gets back to shallow end where I can fish it out and empty/clean the filters?

You don't. Just pull the robot by the wire to the location that you pulled back the cover and pull it out.

Does your robot not have a cord?

 

[Newdude]

I haven't had any luck but YMMV

 

[Newdude]

When I pulled it back around Memorial Day, I had a stroke. Don’t want to go thru that again.

The problem is never the problem. The problem is your attitude about the problem.

I just assume i'll need 3 passes with the manual vac upon opening. If it only needs 2, I'm ahead of the game.

With a robot i'd care even less that I only had to toss it in and push a button 6 to 12 times.

 

[aggiejet]

You don't. Just pull the robot by the wire to the location that you pulled back the cover and pull it out.

Does your robot not have a cord?

I don’t have a robot yet. I was trying to get educated about all that before I bought one.

I assume “the wire” is the power cord. Do the motor(s) go to neutral when unpowered to facilitate retrieval?

 

[PoolStored]

I assume “the wire” is the power cord. Do the motor(s) go to neutral when unpowered to facilitate retrieval?

That is correct. They typically run on a cycle...once a day, once every other day, etc. When the cycle is done, you can pull the "wire" to retrieve the robot. The "wire" is low voltage. You can also stop the cycle if you want to retrieve the robot. There are "cordless" robots, which would require a way to retrieve...they are less common, but available...

 

[Newdude]

I don’t have a robot yet. I was trying to get educated about all that before I bought one

This one seems to be currently winning the issues/longevity game.

New EVO 614i Robot Pool Cleaner Review

About a month ago I needed a new robot pool cleaner and I contacted Margaret at Marina Pool and Spa. My initial goal was to buy another S200 "style" robot as I have been happy with them so far. Margaret suggested that I might want to look at a new line of robot cleaners that Marina is now...

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