AGP Covers (or not?) in cold snowy icey climates

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littlepool55

New member
Aug 6, 2024
3
New Brunswick, Canada
Pool Size
7600
Surface
Vinyl
Chlorine
Liquid Chlorine
Hey all, new to the forum but loving it so far.

Wife talked me into an 18 ft AGP up here in Canada. Been enjoying it the last few weeks but it's already starting to cool off here in the great white north so I'm starting to get the prep work done and materials in order to close the pool in a month or so.

I've spent a bit reading up on pool covers, and looking for someone to sanity check my understanding with regards to AGPs (IGPs are sufficiently different and this thread does not directly apply)

  1. The main purpose of a cover is to keep debris out, and reduce the loss rate of chemicals.
  2. In climates with low or no freezing, this can be a concern where algae could still grow even with the pool closed.
  3. Pool covers will not stop the pool water from freezing, and it will not stop the snow from accumulating.
  4. Moving or otherwise disturbing the ice in a pool can cause liner failure.

Based on the above, and some other threads I've seen, it seems some folks in northern climates skip a cover all together, or run it in the fall to keep leaves out, and remove it before freezing.

With liner and wall longevity being a main concern, it seems to me then that no cover during the snow and ice is as good an option as any, with the trade-off of possibly more debris and algae in the spring
 
www.troublefreepool.com

Closing (Winterizing) Your Above Ground Pool

Closing an above ground pool at season’s end should be a fast and worry-free process. Learn the basics of above ground pool winterization in easy steps.
www.troublefreepool.com www.troublefreepool.com

Without a cover you'll need some way to circulate and add chlorine over the winter. The cover takes the loss of chlorine from the sun out of the equation and without one you will lose chlorine at a fairly good rate even when it's cold.
 
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Living in the Northeast I have always used a pool cover, I have opened my pool after winter in late May and still had chlorine. Do we get as cold as you, probably not but the cover also keeps any blowing debris away from the water. It's not 100% effective at keeping stuff out depending on the wind but it keeps most of the debris out. If you close your pool properly I don't think you'll have an issue with a cover. My one horror story with a cover that gave up in early winter was I had a green mess to deal with in the spring which I never had with a pool cover even if it was starting to let light in.

One last thing, a winter cover doesn't last long, maybe 3 to 4 seasons before it starts to deteriorate. I usually buy Blue Wave/Arctic Armour winter covers and in the past they have lasted that long. I just had one from them that only lasted 2 years but they honored their warranty (still cost me about $30 for shipping) so their quality may be going downhill or it was a fluke. I used their warranty as you can't get a winter cover for $30 anywhere, if this lasts that short it may be my last cover from them.
 
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It's all about the debris. That's it.

We inherited and above ground when we moved to a wide open yard and I left it open. The daily UV demand falls and becomes non existent quickly in the fall for us up north.

You'll see the daily dose last a week, and then weeks. Then it will freeze solid until the spring.
PoolStored said:
you will lose chlorine at a fairly good rate even when it's cold.
Click to expand...
OPs pool will be a block of ice for most of it. It's much less of a concern than it would be in places where it doesn't freeze often.
 
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PoolStored said:
www.troublefreepool.com

Closing (Winterizing) Your Above Ground Pool

Closing an above ground pool at season’s end should be a fast and worry-free process. Learn the basics of above ground pool winterization in easy steps.
www.troublefreepool.com www.troublefreepool.com

Without a cover you'll need some way to circulate and add chlorine over the winter. The cover takes the loss of chlorine from the sun out of the equation and without one you will lose chlorine at a fairly good rate even when it's cold.
Click to expand...
For at least Dec - April my pool will be a block of ice, no circulation for me haha.


VinnyinNJ said:
Living in the Northeast I have always used a pool cover, I have opened my pool after winter in late May and still had chlorine. Do we get as cold as you, probably not but the cover also keeps any blowing debris away from the water. It's not 100% effective at keeping stuff out depending on the wind but it keeps most of the debris out. If you close your pool properly I don't think you'll have an issue with a cover. My one horror story with a cover that gave up in early winter was I had a green mess to deal with in the spring which I never had with a pool cover even if it was starting to let light in.

One last thing, a winter cover doesn't last long, maybe 3 to 4 seasons before it starts to deteriorate. I usually buy Blue Wave/Arctic Armour winter covers and in the past they have lasted that long. I just had one from them that only lasted 2 years but they honored their warranty (still cost me about $30 for shipping) so their quality may be going downhill or it was a fluke. I used their warranty as you can't get a winter cover for $30 anywhere, if this lasts that short it may be my last cover from them.
Click to expand...
What's the snow like in your area? Do you shovel or otherwise try and clear off accumulation? My worry with having 3-4+ feet of snow accumulation on the cover is keeping it up.


Newdude said:
It's all about the debris. That's it.

We inherited and above ground when we moved to a wide open yard and I left it open. The daily UV demand falls and becomes non existent quickly in the fall for us up north.

You'll see the daily dose last a week, and then weeks. Then it will freeze solid until the spring.

OPs pool will be a block of ice for most of it. It's much less of a concern than it would be in places where it doesn't freeze often.
Click to expand...
Ok, that's about what I had gathered on the debris side. I think for the pre-ice / snow portions I'll try to keep it covered, and then remove it before the snow piles on.


Appreciate the answers and feedback all!
 
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littlepool55 said:
For at least Dec - April my pool will be a block of ice, no circulation for me haha.



What's the snow like in your area? Do you shovel or otherwise try and clear off accumulation? My worry with having 3-4+ feet of snow accumulation on the cover is keeping it up.



Ok, that's about what I had gathered on the debris side. I think for the pre-ice / snow portions I'll try to keep it covered, and then remove it before the snow piles on.


Appreciate the answers and feedback all!
Click to expand...
It seems like global warming is affecting my area, no real snow vs when I was a kid in NYC.

OK, here's a thought process that only you can answer for you area - the cover should sit on top of the water with the cover being "square" falling down to the inside of the wall (some or most winter covers have a 2 foot overhang all around); is the water going to be frozen before the snow will accumulate - if yes then will the snow melt before the ice melts - you can get a sump pump and drain it if the answer is yes. Ultimately, you have to feel good about how to winterize the pool. A block of ice should be able to hold the snow but I don't know your area's weather patterns. I have the ability during our winters to get outside and drain the pool cover which I do a couple times in the winter ... different climate. Opening a pool that may be green/yucky is not the end of the world and if you feel more comfortable without a cover then that's the way to do it!
 
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I'm in Chicago, we get tons of snow, and I've used a tarp cover for every closing going back to 2012. The tarp will sit on top of the water, even if you lower the level like I do to 4 inches below the lowest return. The nominal 30 foot pool cover I just ordered comes with 4 feet over overlap.

I have a submersible pump and I'll mostly drain the cover (I always leave some water on top to keep it from parachuting) before winter freeze really sets in then leave it.

At times I've gone out and just walking around the edge used a push broom to pull snow off after a heavy snow, but I'm not particular about it and not even sure it's needed.

So maybe 3-4 times an off-season I'll end up draining the cover, but it's easy, I just start the pump and once water is moving I turn it off and just let it siphon on its own.

One thing you do need to be aware of is too much on top will cause the water inside the pool to start climbing the sidewall, and then pour out of any openings, but that's why you need to drain periodically. I plug the return line to protect against that but I recall it getting as high as the skimmer a few times over the years.
 
It freezes and sort of snows around here (I'm in the same area as @VinnyinNJ and I swear it used to snow a LOT more.

Anyway, this is my process

I drain my pool down to just about the bottom of the skimmer, I plug the return and put a plate on the skimmer.

I put a solid cover over the pool. I use a pillow. Some people swear by them, others say they don't do anything. I have had the same pillow for 6 or 7 seasons now. I have no issues with them deflating or floating around. I just tie it off to two points on my pool. I also consider a cover a disposable item. It really bugs me to throw that much plastic out, but I have yet to find a cover - cheap or expensive - that lasts me more than 2 seasons, so I buy the cheapest I can find.

Before lowering the water and removing my filter, I add a bunch of chlorine. How much. Eh, 2 or so gallons, depends on what I have around.

As @VinnyinNJ said, the cover needs to lay flat on top of the pool water and not be stretched taught.

I pump off standing water on the cover during the fall, before things freeze. I use a sump pump. I have a 5 gallon bucket lid with a collar of hardware cloth about 2 feet high attached to it. I put the pump in that contraption. It keeps it from sucking right on the cover as well as keeping leaves and other debris from clogging the pump. I find that if I am diligent in removing the water, the leaves tend to blow off the cover on their own.

Once things start freezing, I put the pump away and wait for spring. When spring arrives I pump any melted snow off the cover.

That is pretty much it. It is not difficult.
 
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phonedave said:
It freezes and sort of snows around here (I'm in the same area as @VinnyinNJ and I swear it used to snow a LOT more.

Anyway, this is my process

I drain my pool down to just about the bottom of the skimmer, I plug the return and put a plate on the skimmer.

I put a solid cover over the pool. I use a pillow. Some people swear by them, others say they don't do anything. I have had the same pillow for 6 or 7 seasons now. I have no issues with them deflating or floating around. I just tie it off to two points on my pool. I also consider a cover a disposable item. It really bugs me to throw that much plastic out, but I have yet to find a cover - cheap or expensive - that lasts me more than 2 seasons, so I buy the cheapest I can find.

Before lowering the water and removing my filter, I add a bunch of chlorine. How much. Eh, 2 or so gallons, depends on what I have around.

As @VinnyinNJ said, the cover needs to lay flat on top of the pool water and not be stretched taught.

I pump off standing water on the cover during the fall, before things freeze. I use a sump pump. I have a 5 gallon bucket lid with a collar of hardware cloth about 2 feet high attached to it. I put the pump in that contraption. It keeps it from sucking right on the cover as well as keeping leaves and other debris from clogging the pump. I find that if I am diligent in removing the water, the leaves tend to blow off the cover on their own.

Once things start freezing, I put the pump away and wait for spring. When spring arrives I pump any melted snow off the cover.

That is pretty much it. It is not difficult.
Click to expand...
I learned something new about the Hardware Cloth ... great idea!! My routine is similar except if there's water on the pool cover in the middle of winter (water not ice although I have done it with an ice top layer and water underneath it) I'll drain it vs leaving it. I'm going to have to find a bucket lid and make one up myself, I have plenty of screening in my garage waiting to be used. I usually get 3 to 4 years (4th year it's usually looking pretty sad) out of a winter cover but yes they are throw away items
 
To make the chore at the end of the winter easier you can buy a large net to go on top of the tarp. Get that on asap before the leaves start falling. Once all foliage is down and non blowing around you lift off the net with all the junk it caught and be left with only water. Nothing left makes all the difference.
 

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VinnyinNJ said:
I learned something new about the Hardware Cloth ... great idea!! My routine is similar except if there's water on the pool cover in the middle of winter (water not ice although I have done it with an ice top layer and water underneath it) I'll drain it vs leaving it. I'm going to have to find a bucket lid and make one up myself, I have plenty of screening in my garage waiting to be used. I usually get 3 to 4 years (4th year it's usually looking pretty sad) out of a winter cover but yes they are throw away items
Click to expand...

Here is what I did. I bought a NEW cover (this is important)

I cut a piece of screening about 18" to 24" high and of a length that when bent into a cylinder it fits into the gasket groove on the bottom of the bucket lid. I zip tied the hardware cloth into that shape, and inserted it into the groove.

I then secured the hardware cloth by zip tying it through the holes in the pull off sealing ring of plastic that is on the lid. That is why you want a new lid. If you pulled off that ring to get the lid off of a bucket, then you would have to go about drilling holes into the lid to secure the hardware cloth to. That's just a PIA

I also bent over the top edge of the hardware cloth and trimmed it smooth. I have a thing about pokey wires anywhere near my vinyl liner :)
 
Dave, can you share a pic? That sounds really cool.

I'm almost ashamed to admit that the last two seasons I've just thrown my winter cover in the trash upon opening. With a 30 foot pool and a cover that overlaps it by 4 feet, it takes half a day to clean and dry the cover for storage and I'm doing things like propping it up awkwardly on lawn chairs to help drying, then wind blows it around and for just an extra season or two? So, I've just rationalized that $70 plus the hours it takes me to do other closing functions are just part of the annual cost of closing.

Several years ago, being less financially established, I happily spent my half day cleaning and drying that cover to use for next year, so I make no judgement!
 
You can achieve the same effect by using a 5 gallon bucket and coring 1 inch holes around the bottom perimeter and then taking screening material and wrapping it around the firm bucket securing it with several zip ties connected end to end.
 
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