We are getting a rare snow/ice accumulation and I’m concerned about the condition of the mesh safety cover in my in ground pool. My water level is a few inches below the skimmers. We have had light snowfall before that was easily supported by the Meyco safety mesh cover. This current snow is very heavy sleet and ice that has weighed the cover all the way down to the water level. It looks like it’s going to fail. Is this normal for these mesh covers under a snow load? Is there anything I should do? I don’t usually see it in South Carolina. I tried to carefully pull some snow off from around the edges, but it’s the consistency of cement and hard to pull off. I don’t want to risk damaging the mesh. Thanks for any insight.
Snow Load on in ground mesh cover
- Thread starter Tjaltz
- Start date
We are getting a rare snow/ice accumulation and I’m concerned about the condition of the mesh safety cover in my in ground pool. My water level is a few inches below the skimmers. We have had light snowfall before that was easily supported by the Meyco safety mesh cover. This current snow is very heavy sleet and ice that has weighed the cover all the way down to the water level. It looks like it’s going to fail. Is this normal for these mesh covers under a snow load? Is there anything I should do? I don’t usually see it in South Carolina. I tried to carefully pull some snow off from around the edges, but it’s the consistency of cement and hard to pull off. I don’t want to risk damaging the mesh. Thanks for any insight.
- Jul 21, 2013
- 55,445
- Pool Size
- 35000
- Surface
- Plaster
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- Pentair Intellichlor IC-60
Just leave your cover alone. Sinking down to the water level under snow loads is normal.
I agree. My cover got weighed down yesterday during our sleet storm. It can handle the load. Loop-Loc, my brand, even advertises a baby elephant standing in the middle.
Your good and leave it alone.Thats what the springs around the perimeter are for, when more weight is added to the mesh the springs just get compressed some more and as the weight gets less they move to a more relaxed length. Be aware that snow when melted will raise the water level so you may need to pump out some water to correct the water level.
Let it be. MIne looks like that for most of the winter, Dec -March every year, but with much more snow.
coolviper777
Active member
I believe most safety covers say the pool water level should be no more than 18% from the top of the pool. My solid cover w/ mesh drain panel says that also. And my cover is currently sitting similar to yours (without all the snow, just melted and refrozen ice) on the pool water surface.
Moral of the story, if you are at or less than 18", then you're fine, let it stretch and sit there.
Being this is the first year with a safety cover, I put a pump on the melting ice near the mesh drain panel, and let if run, hoping to get more water off the cover. I had done this before, but the cover wasn't yet touching the pool water. However, due to the weight of the snow/ice, and I was pumping out pool water, probably hitting 24" below the top. And about 6 of the spring tensioners snapped over night. I was more successful in pumping water from the cover into the pool, to raise the ice level (it was semi frozen and supporting the cover) And adding water from a hose at the same time.
Moral of the story, if you are at or less than 18", then you're fine, let it stretch and sit there.
Being this is the first year with a safety cover, I put a pump on the melting ice near the mesh drain panel, and let if run, hoping to get more water off the cover. I had done this before, but the cover wasn't yet touching the pool water. However, due to the weight of the snow/ice, and I was pumping out pool water, probably hitting 24" below the top. And about 6 of the spring tensioners snapped over night. I was more successful in pumping water from the cover into the pool, to raise the ice level (it was semi frozen and supporting the cover) And adding water from a hose at the same time.
- Nov 12, 2017
- 12,041
- Pool Size
- 12300
- Surface
- Plaster
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- Pentair Intellichlor IC-40
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