Hello. Is the pump to get rain water off the top of the automatic pool cover supposed to get most of the water off with the pool cover closed? It's like ours isn't heavy enough to make the water slant towards where the pump is and there are huge puddles all over the cover that the pump can't get. The only way to get the majority of the water off is by opening the cover most of the way which pushes all the rain water into a smaller spot which makes the rain water deeper. I have 2 small children and don't like to leave the pool uncovered like that. Any thoughts?
Automatic pool cover pump
- Thread starter Bec2854
- Start date
Without knowing what cover pump it is specifically it should cause the water to come to the base of the pump without forcing the water to puddle. If it is a little giant it should be heavy enough to cause that.
I've found that I need to sweep the water towards the pump after it has stopped raining. I have used the same little giant pump and the heavier Wayne pump, both needed the water swept towards them.
I also sweep the remaining water when I really care about it, for example trying to keep the pool from loosing too much heat, or if the cover is extra dirty and needs cleaning anyway. If I don't the remaining water usually evaporates within a couple of days, or a couple of hours if the pool is warm taking a lot of the pool's heat with it. If it is windy they also tend to move to where the pump gets them cleared off.
Ours is an old Rule pump that is small/light, but no matter how heavy we would still get small puddles. Even if I walk out on the cover it doesn't cause all of the puddles to come to where I'm standing and I weight way more than any cover pump would, I have to walk around on the cover to get them all to gather together. That said our cover needs replacing so maybe a new more flexible cover would allow the puddles to move around better.
Ours is an old Rule pump that is small/light, but no matter how heavy we would still get small puddles. Even if I walk out on the cover it doesn't cause all of the puddles to come to where I'm standing and I weight way more than any cover pump would, I have to walk around on the cover to get them all to gather together. That said our cover needs replacing so maybe a new more flexible cover would allow the puddles to move around better.
- Jul 16, 2012
- 7,284
- Pool Size
- 27000
- Surface
- Plaster
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- Hayward Aqua Rite (T-15)
It's not different here (LG pump too). My routine is to brush the pooled water toward the pump after a rainy period. I don't like to move the cover much at all with any water on it as the stress put on the ropes is much higher that way. And that's the weak point of any autocover (that and the pulleys). Just make sure to use only a nylon brush instead of one with a stainless/nylon bristle mix for the cover's sake.
Thank you all! I did have one more question - does it matter what type or length hose you use? My husband thinks our hose is too long.
I'm pretty sure I have a 75' hose on mine right now. I think the only issue you might have is if you are pumping up hill. These are low horse power pumps that won't be able to pump water very high.