Pool Cover Question

[kimray]

In looking for info on another subject, I ran across an old post and in a pic that was posted, I noticed what appeared to be a stand with a pool cover that could “rolled” over the above ground pool.
I have seen those on inground, but not above ground.
I struggle every year with closing because no matter what I do for a cover, it doesnt work and I end up with 100lb or more of wet leaves and a cover that are sunk. Literally may as well leave it uncovered LOL!! But thats not what I need advice on.
Does anyone know the pic I refer too? Or similar?
I would like to look into something like that

 

[Pv2]

what kind of winter temps do you get? I run my intex vacuum all winter and basically leave the pool open. (solar cover) set the pump to run any hours we might have a freeze or in general a few hours every day early in the morning. it can be challenging to clean the vaccum or scoop leaves when the water is 40 degrees but we usually get enough warmish days here an there through the winter it works out ok.

 

[kimray]

what kind of winter temps do you get? I run my intex vacuum all winter and basically leave the pool open. (solar cover) set the pump to run any hours we might have a freeze or in general a few hours every day early in the morning. it can be challenging to clean the vaccum or scoop leaves when the water is 40 degrees but we usually get enough warmish days here an there through the winter it works out ok.

We may have a few nights that it dips to the 20s but mostly a mild winter. It’s not the cold temperatures I’m concerned about it’s the 12 trees that hang over my backyard that drop about 50 pounds of leaves into the pool in the fall and winter.
There is absolutely no way a vacuum could keep up with that. When my Yard Guy comes in the spring he rakes up about 40 contractor size bags of leaves.
So I definitely need some type of cover and I was hoping with some type of reel set up that it would hold it firm enough that the cover wouldn’t just sink down into the water.
I have tried leaf nets, covers with the holes in them to drain the water, cold covers without the holes in them, cover pumps, staking the cover to the ground, it doesn’t matter. Very quickly the amount of leaves when they’re wet gets so heavy that it sinks the entire cover to the bottom of the pool

So I don’t really care what type of cover it is I just need some thing to keep the leaves out that will actually stay taught over the pool

 

[Pv2]

all that might come close are the covers with big inflatable things in the middle to create a slope and I expect they don't really work too well either. there are dome-like frames that can fit over above-ground pools that have a clear vinyl/plastic cover intended to create a cheaper "indoor pool" effect, but I imagine wind and weather is hard on them. I am sure during leaf fall one would have to empty vacuums or scoop daily.

 

[kimray]

all that might come close are the covers with big inflatable things in the middle to create a slope and I expect they don't really work too well either. there are dome-like frames that can fit over above-ground pools that have a clear vinyl/plastic cover intended to create a cheaper "indoor pool" effect, but I imagine wind and weather is hard on them. I am sure during leaf fall one would have to empty vacuums or scoop daily.

I’m looking for that reel that I keep seeing in peoples pictures where they can roll the cover onto the pool and roll it back.
That’s what I’m posting about, that’s what I’m looking for.
Wanting somebody that can point me in that direction.
Hoping I can rig up a cover from there

 

[Pv2]

I’m looking for that reel that I keep seeing in peoples pictures where they can roll the cover onto the pool and roll it back.
That’s what I’m posting about, that’s what I’m looking for.
Wanting somebody that can point me in that direction.
Hoping I can rig up a cover from there

you may be thinking of something on in-ground pools? with tracks on the sides? almost always a rectangular shaped pool? the only other reels for above ground pools that I know of are for solar covers (the floating bubble wrap stuff), not winter covers.

 

[kimray]

No, the picture I saw somewhere on an old archive post on this forum was absolutely an above ground round pool, that’s what got my attention.
And again I really don’t care what kind of cover it is…it could be a solar cover, it could be bubble wrap for all I care, as long as it keeps the leaves out of the water

 

[kimray]

As I mentioned in my original post, I would like for somebody to either show me the pictures of that reel system or point me in a direction on how to set that up

I really wasn’t looking for advice on a winter cover per se.

 

[Pv2]

you are asking us to post a picture you saw somewhere? you saw the picture, perhaps link to the thread,

solar covers won't keep leaves out, they only cover the water and don't go on top of the top rails. stuff that gets on top falls down the sides and into the pool.

Amazon.com

 

[kimray]

I’m guessing you didn’t read the original post lol

I plainly said that I did not know where it came from as it was a very old thread that I ran across while searching another issue. And I also asked if anyone happened to know what the picture was or one similar to point me to it
Thanks though!

 

[kimray]

you are asking us to post a picture you saw somewhere? you saw the picture, perhaps link to the thread,

solar covers won't keep leaves out, they only cover the water and don't go on top of the top rails. stuff that gets on top falls down the sides and into the pool.

Amazon.com

The hope is if I can see the reel system, maybe I can come up with a way to rig some type of cover that will do what I need to do. I expect it to be a custom situation. I was just looking for the reel for a starting point

 

[kimray]

you are asking us to post a picture you saw somewhere? you saw the picture, perhaps link to the thread,

solar covers won't keep leaves out, they only cover the water and don't go on top of the top rails. stuff that gets on top falls down the sides and into the pool.

Amazon.com

To the video. No that was not it. What I saw was a freestanding set up placed on the ground at the end of the pool and the cover was rolled out over it.
If you don’t know what I’m referring to that’s fine I’m hoping that someone here remembers that post or at least the picture or one like it

 

[Pv2]

To the video. No that was not it. What I saw was a freestanding set up placed on the ground at the end of the pool and the cover was rolled out over it.
If you don’t know what I’m referring to that’s fine I’m hoping that someone here remembers that post or at least the picture or one like it

above ground reels for solar covers all operate on the same basic principles. good luck with your project. be sure to post some notes and photos if it works, I am sure many people would like to know how to keep wet leaves off pools. it is a common problem. most just deal with a spring clean up or tedious ongoing maintenance. or some chop trees down.

 

[Newdude]

Welcome back Kimray !!

I know of two who built a tradional reel on posts so it worked for their above ground pool.



And this one is explained a bit too

Solar reel for 32x16 pool

I’m looking for a solar real with or without the cover for my 32 x 16‘ Intex pool above ground. Everywhere I checked they’re not big enough or for an unground pool. thanks

www.troublefreepool.com

 

[kimray]

above ground reels for solar covers all operate on the same basic principles. good luck with your project. be sure to post some notes and photos if it works, I am sure many people would like to know how to keep wet leaves off pools. it is a common problem. most just deal with a spring clean up or tedious ongoing maintenance. or some chop trees down.

Well as I mentioned previously, 40 contractor size leaf bags is a lot more than tedious maintenance. It was so bad one year I had to drain the whole pool, scoop the leaves out with multiple shovelfuls, scrub all the algae down, and refill it.
I feel like that is about 10 times more than any reasonably sane person would be willing to do every year
And oh I wish I could cut the trees down but only one of them in my yard, the rest of them belong to neighbors and I have no control over it
So here I am

 

[kimray]

Welcome back Kimray !!

I know of two who built a tradional reel on posts so it worked for their above ground pool.

View attachment 601098

And this one is explained a bit too

Solar reel for 32x16 pool

I’m looking for a solar real with or without the cover for my 32 x 16‘ Intex pool above ground. Everywhere I checked they’re not big enough or for an unground pool. thanks

www.troublefreepool.com

Hey there friend!!
I made a post earlier in the season about some cloudy water, got it cleared up though, and I was wondering if you were going to show up lol
So glad to hear from you

Yes! This is very much like what I had seen previously. Be right back, gonna go check this out

 

[Pv2]

here are some options. umbrella style, frame, and inflatable. these are not very practical but I have my doubts about any kind of reel system that can deal with the weight of that much wet plant material. the problem with anything suspended over the pool is that the middle sinks without some kind of support, whether inflatable pillows or some kind of frame.

iPool Umbrella | Above Ground Lap Pool | Therapy Pool

Pair the umbrella with mosquito nets to help keep your iPool bug and debris free so you can enjoy crystal clear water in your very own private swimming pool

fitmaxipool.com

Soft-Side Pool Dome Enclosures - Round

PLEASE NOTE THAT SOFT-SIDE DOMES ATTACH TO THE RAILING IF YOU HAVE CIRCULAR METAL RAILING A CLAMP BRACKET WILL BE PROVIDED IF YOU HAVE A SEMI FLAT RAILING A BRACKET WILL BE PROVIDE - YOU WILL NEED TO SCREW THIS INTO YOUR RAILING

www.poolstore.com

Inflatable TPU Above Ground Swimming Pool Solar Dome Cover Tent W/ Blower/Pump | eBay

(4 inflatable arches will be added to the top of the tent to hold the clear material). CAN MANUFACTURER CUSTOM SIZES TO PERFECTLY FIT ANY SIZE SWIMMING POOL. MADE WITH TPU FABRIC WHICH DOES NOT CRACK IN COLD OR HOT WEATHER LIKE PVC.

www.ebay.com

 

[Newdude]

frame

That's where my head is going. Too many leaves on a solar cover would sink it, or they'd still get in the pool at the edge. For a 15 foot round pool, I'd build an A frame tent like structure for a tarp or the clear plastic roofing panels.

But a quality tarp or pool cover is waterproof (until it rips) and can be pumped and then scooped clean so I don't think I'd ever need to go that far.

and I was wondering if you were going to show up lol

I have no clue how I missed it, it's pages deep and went on for a while. I stop in dozens of times a day but somehow scrolled by it each time. Meh. We're both here now.

 

[kimray]

here are some options. umbrella style, frame, and inflatable. these are not very practical but I have my doubts about any kind of reel system that can deal with the weight of that much wet plant material. the problem with anything suspended over the pool is that the middle sinks without some kind of support, whether inflatable pillows or some kind of frame.

iPool Umbrella | Above Ground Lap Pool | Therapy Pool

Pair the umbrella with mosquito nets to help keep your iPool bug and debris free so you can enjoy crystal clear water in your very own private swimming pool

fitmaxipool.com

Soft-Side Pool Dome Enclosures - Round

PLEASE NOTE THAT SOFT-SIDE DOMES ATTACH TO THE RAILING IF YOU HAVE CIRCULAR METAL RAILING A CLAMP BRACKET WILL BE PROVIDED IF YOU HAVE A SEMI FLAT RAILING A BRACKET WILL BE PROVIDE - YOU WILL NEED TO SCREW THIS INTO YOUR RAILING

www.poolstore.com

Inflatable TPU Above Ground Swimming Pool Solar Dome Cover Tent W/ Blower/Pump | eBay

(4 inflatable arches will be added to the top of the tent to hold the clear material). CAN MANUFACTURER CUSTOM SIZES TO PERFECTLY FIT ANY SIZE SWIMMING POOL. MADE WITH TPU FABRIC WHICH DOES NOT CRACK IN COLD OR HOT WEATHER LIKE PVC.

www.ebay.com

Thank you I will definitely check that out!

But let me clarify on the reel system.
Newdude posted some thing that was a pretty good depiction of what I had seen and what I am imagining is that it would act like a cover that kind of stayed elevated above the water surface as opposed to sitting down on the water, as such, as the leaves collected they could easily be swept off or blown off with a blower off to the side.
Even possibly connecting to a couple of posts on the opposite side of the pool.


Whereas the current covers that you tend to find for these type of pools sit more on the top of the water and drape over the sides and even without the leaves it’s very easy for them to sink down below the water level, because even though they have drain holes in them, they don’t drain all that well

At this point I’m really looking for links to either pictures or some possible how to videos for similar things assuming I will have to customize it to my specific need.

 

[Newdude]

what I am imagining is that it would act like a cover that kind of stayed elevated above the water surface as opposed to sitting down on the water

You'd need a safety cover. You can anchor those tightly around your pool.

Or a traditional above ground pool cover that will collect rain water and be drainable without pumping pool water.

Another thought. For all the headache you've been through with this, why not take the pool down for the winter ? It's meant to be put away, and usually I wouldn't but if leaving it up was worse than taking it down......