Auto-cover and pin hole leaks

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TroubleFreePat

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Jun 5, 2013
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Philadelphia, PA
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We have a Cover-Pools automatic cover that was installed with the pool 5 years ago. All summer now, I keep finding a puddle in one area of the cover. It's right under a tree, so at first, I just figured it wasn't getting sun to dry out that area. Or the tree was dropping something weird or. . . Whatever. Today it hit me. There must be a leak. I went out and sure enough, in an area where the cover material folds over itself, there's a bunch of tiny holes.

I looked over the warranty from Cover-Pools and of course they don't cover "pin holes." I can't patch them with the material I have because it's right on a fold of material. When the guys installed the cover, they said these folds would minimize and disappear. Never did, and they didn't bother me that much. Now they bother me!

I emailed the installer today with the photo below. I already know their answer before I even hear from them - this is normal. That's their answer for EVERYTHING. Wish there was another installer in my area, would definitely use someone else to service when needed.

Anyone else with an auto cover experience anything like this? Picture attached as an example of these "folds" - they're more at the front and back ends of the cover.
 

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I would suggest some kind of Goop or similar. Or that spray stuff that can make a screen bottom boat float. There was a picture of it today on a thread.

Neither may be pretty but who cares if it works.

As for the process, I’d put wax paper over top of a pool float and put that in place I set the cover. That’s what I did. I was able to use a regular patch because my large hole was in a flat area.

Maybe also just the same cement that you would use with a cover patch.
 
I have had this experience also. Wrinkles are “normal,” but big ones eventually turn into failure points. They just rub on themselves until they wear through, and as you note, patching over them is impossible.

My last cover lasted almost exactly 5 years, and failed due to such a wrinkle. When I had it replaced, the (same) installer made the vinyl one inch narrower - out of its ~21 foot width - than the failed cover. Bingo, no more big wrinkles! So when you replace it, my recommendation is to ask them to tighten it up by an inch, or maybe more if you judge it necessary.
 
The same thing happened to my previous cover...Wrinkle becomes a permanent crease that wears over time from repeatedly rolling up on itself. ( though it did last a good bit longer than 5 years).
Holes in flat areas are easy to patch, but the creases are next to impossible. The idea of a narrower replacement fabric makes a lot of sense. I guess the only concern would be putting undue pressure on the side rails if it was made too narrow.
 
Thanks for the info gang. I'll try and "patch" the best I can. Now I know about the wrinkles for the next cover. Hard to imagine all that money and the cover only lasted five years.

Really disappointed with the overall install and ongoing support from the installers (PennCo automatic pool covers.) Install was horrible, had a brand new tech that quit the next day and he really messed things up. They come out and service the cover, no better than it was before they were onsite for a few issues and say, "That's normal." These guys are THE distributors for cover pools in my area. But I think I found another company - going to see if they'll service.
 
I do agree that the cover width is likely the key factor in whether you get leak creating folds in the cover. Ours seems to have more of a buckle than a fold at one point. It was also installed in May 2013 but is in quite good shape thankfully. Clearly 5 years is on the early side to have fabric issues, but not necessarily if the cover is folding tight at some location. I think 7-10+ would be reasonable/expected if not using it as a winter cover too. And aside from your specific issue, using Aerospace 303 Protectant will help to keep the vinyl moisturized and guard against some of the UV damage.
 
My auto-cover is on year-round, since I never close my pool for winter. It gets blazing sun in summer, leaves & redwood needles in fall, rained on in winter, and drags over my spa dam each time it opens & closes. I eventually get pinholes due to the spa dam regardless of wrinkles & creases. 5 years may be normal for a year-round cover.

When I remodeled the pool, I made sure to use smooth quarter-round tiles where the cover would drag over tile. So maybe I'll get 6 years out of this one.

My cover installer warned against using any kind of protectant because it would get in the water.
 
Thankfully my cover (used year round in Georgia heat/sun with mild winter) is doing just find 7 years in. No holes noticed, thankfully. I do have a wrinkle when rolling up.

I do wonder if there is any difference in the cover fabric between brands? Coverstar seems to be the most common cover, but our cover is by PoolCoverSpecialists.

Maddie :flower:
 

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Good point Rocket on the 303. Hadn't thought about that.

Finally heard back from the cover people. They NEVER hear of this on pools unless chemistry is off. So they repeatedly said I need to check my chemistry. The end. Thanks a lot.

Spoke to the manufacturer and the lady I spoke with said to send in some pictures. I'll see what they have to say since I'm such an anomaly.
 
TroubleFreePat said:
Finally heard back from the cover people. They NEVER hear of this on pools unless chemistry is off. So they repeatedly said I need to check my chemistry. The end. Thanks a lot.
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My pool cover installer at least admitted that pinholes were normal after a period of time. How would they make any money if covers lasted forever?

However... the manufacturer says not to close the cover if the pool is being shocked. They only want the cover in contact with "normal" water chemistry. Since TFP followers keep higher levels of FC than the conventional 1-3 ppm, I wonder whether there is a grain of truth here.

Spoke to the manufacturer and the lady I spoke with said to send in some pictures. I'll see what they have to say since I'm such an anomaly.
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My prediction: the manufacturer will blame the installer for allowing creases to form.

For my 924 sq ft pool, replacement cost $2200. That included new rails, pulleys, and ropes as well as the vinyl. Basically everything except the motor and spool.

A pool is a big hole in the ground you pour money into.
 
We have been doing covers for 25 years. The wrinkles are a must, you just try to get them to be minimal. If you don't have wrinkles you don't have enough material to support a rain event and it could cause material failure or the tracks to pull off the deck or out of the encapsulation. What we see is covers in full sun lasting 3-5 years if they are dark colors, 5-7 years for lighter colors. You have to remember that covers take a beating from the suns uv rays all day long of the pool is covered. The material is the same pretty well across all manufacturers. Chemistry can play a part in the life of the material, just like with vinyl liners and plaster.
 
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