Remove snow from cover?

[negativez0]

This is my first winter with my AGP.

I have a solid cover on it with an air pillow in the middle and water bags attached with Paracord along the sides to keep the cover from flapping in the wind.

Now that winter has really kicked in, should I be removing snow from the cover?

 

[SecoSteve]

As long as the cover is sitting on the water inside the pool, you shouldn't have to remove snow. When I had a AGP, I never shoveled snow off the cover. Now, I'm in Pa, so we don't get nearly as much snow as you. We did have 26" one year though, and our pool survived.

 

[phonedave]

I pump my cover off on a regular basis at the start of the of winter, but once I get ice and snow, I just let it pile up until spring.

 

[Mdragger88]

Around 13 inches of snow equals approximately 1 inch of rain- it’s not as heavy as it looks. Don’t worry so long as the cover is supported by the water in the pool as mentioned above.

 

[cj133]

As long as the cover is sitting on the water inside the pool, you shouldn't have to remove snow. When I had a AGP, I never shoveled snow off the cover. Now, I'm in Pa, so we don't get nearly as much snow as you. We did have 26" one year though, and our pool survived.

I'm not sure where in PA you are, because it varies greatly across the state but NE PA where my dad lives at times gets several feet. I'm not sure if anything close to MN, but certainly a lot more than 26" in a season.
Even in NW NJ I've had 3 feet in one storm.

Point being, you may be in for a lot more.

 

[SecoSteve]

I'm not sure where in PA you are, because it varies greatly across the state but NE PA where my dad lives at times gets several feet. I'm not sure if anything close to MN, but certainly a lot more than 26" in a season.
Even in NW NJ I've had 3 feet in one storm.

Point being, you may be in for a lot more.

The 26" I was referring to was during one storm, and the pool was no worse for wear. I've got a feeling we may be in for a rough winter with more than one blizzard this year!

 

[cj133]

The 26" I was referring to was during one storm, and the pool was no worse for wear. I've got a feeling we may be in for a rough winter with more than one blizzard this year!

I hope so.
I have a beefed up snowblower I still need to really try out with a real storm. Last year was a complete disappointment in that department.

 

[magiteck]

This is my first winter with my AGP.

I have a solid cover on it with an air pillow in the middle and water bags attached with Paracord along the sides to keep the cover from flapping in the wind.

Now that winter has really kicked in, should I be removing snow from the cover?

As long as the cover is sitting on the water inside the pool, you shouldn't have to remove snow. When I had a AGP, I never shoveled snow off the cover. Now, I'm in Pa, so we don't get nearly as much snow as you. We did have 26" one year though, and our pool survived.

This is really the key. The water/ice under the cover should be supporting the weight of the snow on top of it. As long as that’s the case, nothing to worry about it. Wait for the snow to melt and pump off the water in the spring.

I’ve seen people try to pull their covers “tight” instead of resting them on the water, and that’s where the risk is. Because then the weight of the snow can be pulling the walls inward.