How to get a cover off easily?

[Jennybird]

Hi everyone,
We officially opened our pool today because the weather is unseasonably warm! I am just wondering how old do you get the pool cover off without dumping most of the water that’s on top of it back into the pool? Is there a trick I’m missing? Thanks!

 

[Newdude]

Welcome BACK Jenny!!!

Cover pumps work well, as does siphoning with a hose. A shop vac would have to stop and be dumped a few times but would also do the trick.

Just be sure that you're not pumping pool water though a compromised cover. They don't last but a season or two and the material may be stretched out/saturated and no longer waterproof. Or if there's a tear somewhere you'll just keep pumping and pumping before you finally

 

[Jennybird]

Welcome BACK Jenny!!!

Cover pumps work well, as does siphoning with a hose. A shop vac would have to stop and be dumped a few times but would also do the trick.

Just be sure that you're not pumping pool water though a compromised cover. They don't last but a season or two and the material may be stretched out/saturated and no longer waterproof. Or if there's a tear somewhere you'll just keep pumping and pumping before you finally

Thanks New dude! We have a pump, but I did see a couple tiny holes so I think the cover needs to be replaced

 

[Newdude]

but I did see a couple tiny holes so I think the cover needs to be replaced

Try folding the cover in half, kinda like a sludgy taco, on the side without the holes. Then pump the bulk of the taco out. Pull to make a smaller but full again taco and repeat as necessary.

 

[Jennybird]

Try folding the cover in half, kinda like a sludgy taco, on the side without the holes. Then pump the bulk of the taco out. Pull to make a smaller but full again taco and repeat as necessary.

Good idea! We will try that. A sludgy taco is very unappealing tho

 

[VinnyinNJ]

Use a skimmer or leak net to get most of the debris off the cover, use a cover or sump pump to get most of the water off, if it's very dirty use a hose to send the dirt toward the pump. I raise the water of the pool to where it kind of should be to make it easier to slide off. I tend to bring the closer side to us out a little further and then fold the other side over with the side closest to us. Then it's heave ho! We bring the the pool cover as close to out of the pool as we can, and working from the sides lift the cover off the pool. At some point the water on top of the cover is all pooled together and I'll muscle it off the pool. This is probably the worst thing about above ground pool ownership as I usually get the gross stuff all over me!

I don't know if it's any better than what you are doing but it works for us!

 

[Jennybird]

Use a skimmer or leak net to get most of the debris off the cover, use a cover or sump pump to get most of the water off, if it's very dirty use a hose to send the dirt toward the pump. I raise the water of the pool to where it kind of should be to make it easier to slide off. I tend to bring the closer side to us out a little further and then fold the other side over with the side closest to us. Then it's heave ho! We bring the the pool cover as close to out of the pool as we can, and working from the sides lift the cover off the pool. At some point the water on top of the cover is all pooled together and I'll muscle it off the pool. This is probably the worst thing about above ground pool ownership as I usually get the gross stuff all over me!

I don't know if it's any better than what you are doing but it works for us!

Thanks Vinny!