Pool still gets filthy with autocover closed

[stephywephy88]

Our new rectangular fiberglass pool and undertrack autocover were installed in April. I painstakingly vacuumed the pool crystal clear on Sunday and today when I opened the cover, the pool is dirtier than it was pre-vacuum. It’s mostly fine dirt particles sunk at the bottom, but the cover had not been open since Sunday.

Am I doing something wrong? Should I be cleaning out the recessed autocover box regularly? Do I just suck at vacuuming and has every fine particle eluded me and resettled? Is this a normal outcome and my pool would be 10x dirtier otherwise? I can post photos of cover install or dirty pool if it helps, but just trying to gauge my expectations for this thing.

 

[Pool_Medic]

Dead algae goes poof into the water when brushed, other particles just push along, I suspect that’s what you’re seeing.

 

[wireform]

Or you retracted the cover with dirt on top and that is what happens when you cover it back and the dirt sticks to the underside and makes a mess of the pool.

 

[Rocket J Squirrel]

My pool is always covered. I don't get fine dirt, but I do get plenty of leaves & bugs via the 3/4" gap at the shallow end. And the occasional live frog or snake.

I would have said you shouldn't need to clean the vault so soon after installation, but it sounds like you do. I guess the installer left dirt in there for you to clean out. With the cover closed, it's easy to brush or blow off the surface dirt, but the vault is always a pain. I only clean mine once a year.

How big is the gap when the cover is closed? You may need an adjustment.

 

[wireform]

I tell all my OP's to get a hand held battery blower get the cover pristine before opening. So far it works for everyone except one guy that doesn't make the effort to get it done.

 

[stephywephy88]

Thank you all! I hadn’t considered algae, but it’s definitely dirt - I just brushed it into a pile in the deep end and felt it in my fingers. Which makes sense, because our landscaping isn’t finished yet and there’s still some fill dirt nearby. We did just buy an electric blower so I’ll do a thorough box and cover cleaning tomorrow. The vault/box was left open(uncovered to the elements) for a month while the fabric came in so it’s probably too dirty in there. There is zero gap on this thing - it goes right up to the coping in the shallow end.

Since you’re here Our autocover has pretty decent fabric wrinkles on the deep wnd and I wonder if that will eventually be a problem?

 

[an1vrsy]

Or you retracted the cover with dirt on top and that is what happens when you cover it back and the dirt sticks to the underside and makes a mess of the pool.

+1

My pool is always covered. I don't get fine dirt

I only get fine dirt, which is on the cover when it is closed then I/we open the cover, and all that fine dirt gets rolled up and it transfers to the bottom side of the cover. And it is so windy here in Las Vegas. No mature trees in our new development.

 

[wireform]

Since you’re here Our autocover has pretty decent fabric wrinkles on the deep wnd and I wonder if that will eventually be a problem?

Those are there to stay and it's just the way they work.

 

[Tane]

This was a lesson learned pretty quick. I had opened my cover without cleaning and on next open I had sediment on the bottom. Since then I changed up how I open my autocover.

What I do now requires two people. I have someone open a little bit at a time, while I stand on the cover reel end and spray off the cover. Keep doing it till the cover is almost retracted.

I pick up all the big debris with a net, then
throw my autocover pump on there and pump out all the water and sediment. The last bit of sediment left I let it fall into the autocover pit. I figured I can come and vacuum/clean that out once I’ve collected a bit in there.

Has worked like a charm and my pool opens crystal clear every time

 

[wireform]

I do similar but at the end I scoop it out with a 5 gallon bucket taking all the debris with the last puddle left.